NCJ Number
59252
Date Published
1976
Length
30 pages
Annotation
FROM 1974 TO 1975, NEW YORK CITY BUDGET CUTS REDUCED THE MUNICIPAL WORKFORCE BY 46,436 WORKERS (28.2 PERCENT). THE DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH NUMBER OF HISPANICS, BLACKS, AND WOMEN LAID OFF HAS OFFSET EQUAL OPPORTUNITY QUOTAS.
Abstract
WHITES REPRESENTED 67 PERCENT OF THE WORKFORCE BUT ACCOUNTED FOR ONLY 52 PERCENT OF THE SEPARATIONS, WHILE MINORITIES REPRESENTED 32 PERCENT OF THE WORKFORCE BUT 43 PERCENT OF THE SEPARATIONS. SINCE THESE SEPARATION FIGURES ALSO INCLUDE RETIREMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS, THE IMPACT ON WHITES IS PROBABLY OVERESTIMATED AND THE BURDEN FELT BY MINORITIES UNDERESTIMATED. SINCE WHITE MALES GENERALLY HAVE MORE SENIORITY, THEY ACCOUNT FOR MOST OF THE RETIREMENTS. THEY ALSO ARE MORE LIKELY TO LEAVE TO TO TAKE OTHER JOBS. HISPANIC WORKERS HAVE SUFFERED MOST FROM THE BUDGET CUTS WITH 51.2 PERCENT LOSING THEIR JOBS. BLACK EMPLOYEES LOST 35 PERCENT OF THEIR POSITIONS WHILE BLACK MALES SUFFERED A 40 PERCENT LOSS. OTHER MINORITIES WERE REDUCED 30 PERCENT. WOMEN MADE UP 28 PERCENT OF THE WORKFORCE, 33 PERCENT OF THE SEPARATIONS. THE THREE CATEGORIES IN WHICH MINORITIES AND WOMEN ARE MOST HEAVILY REPRESENTED--PARAPROFESSIONALS, CLERICALS, AND SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE WORKERS--MADE UP 52.6 PERCENT OF THE WORKFORCE BUT 73 PERCENT OF THE SEPARATIONS. AS THESE PEOPLE WERE IN TRAINING POSITIONS PROVIDING NEEDED SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY, THEIR LAYOFFS WERE A DOUBLE LOSS: THE WORKERS PROBABLY WENT BACK ON WELFARE AND THE SERVICES WERE NO LONGER PROVIDED. A POLICY OF STAFF REDUCTION THROUGH NATURAL ATTRITION IS URGED TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF THESE LAYOFFS ON WOMEN AND MINORITIES. APPENDIXES CONTAIN MEMOS TO THIS EFFECT.