‘QUIET CRISIS’ — AFT task force studies public work force. Shown are: Dave Rudebock, Jonathan Walters, Steve Porter and David Stallone. — Photo by AFT staff ‘The Quiet Crisis’: recruiting, retaining employees Baby boom retirements could leave state shorthanded By DEBORAH A. MILES Massive retirements by baby boomers could leave the state short of employees over the next decade, according to a national study. PEF’s international affiliate the American Federation of Teachers has produced a report — “The Quiet Crisis” — that says 40 percent of state and local government employees will be eligible to retire during the next 15 years, which may cause a crisis for government employers. “This could affect all public sector unions,” said PEF Region 4 Coordinator David Stallone. “A large percentage of people in public service are over 45 years old who will retire in the next few years, and New York state is having an increasingly difficult time recruiting and retaining new employees.” Stallone was appointed by PEF President Roger Benson to participate in this task force because of his role as labor-management chair at the state Department of Correctional Services. “DOCS is already facing this problem. We have difficulty recruiting nurses, teachers and other staff. We’ve been trying to work with management and the state Department of Civil Service to get salary upgrades for our members,” Stallone said. “But the state needs to do more to attract quality employees.” A number of other agencies also face this problem. Stallone emphasized the union needs to work with the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations to resolve the problem statewide as well as with each individual department. Money talks The advantages of public service has worn thin over the years. Less competitive pay, weaker job security, stagnating pensions and eroding civil service standards have made some government workers leave for greener pastures in the private sector. “The number one recruitment tool is monetary,” Stallone said. The report outlines other potential recruitment approaches, such as a hiring or sign-on bonuses, referral bonuses, internships, home loans, and even moving and parking expenses. It also suggests non-monetary recruitment tools such as flextime, relaxed dress codes and telecommuting, among others. And it addresses several retention approaches to keep qualified people in their jobs. National crisis One of the benefits of this task force is its national participation. “We found what worked in different states, and what would apply in New York,” Stallone said. “The demographics in New York are not unique. This is a national problem.” According to the report, the baby boom generation (born 1946-1964) represents the largest percentage of the workforce, and 42 percent of the 15.7 million people working in state and local government in 1999 were between the ages of 45 and 64. The report brings this looming crisis to everyone’s attention and also recommends what public employee unions need to do. “Not the members, but their unions need to become partners with management,” Stallone said. “We need to work together at resolving this issue before it hits — to head it off at the pass.” Stallone said the task force will take the next step and prepare a resource manual for union and government leaders on how to implement the suggestions and recommendations.