NEWBURGH – The Town of Newburgh CSEA plans on filing an improper practice charge against the Town of Newburgh for its laying off of nine full-time and four part-time employees late last month. They are calling for their reinstatement.

The union claims the layoffs, which the town said had to be done because of a severe budgetary crisis, were handled without decency and professionalism.

Five of the impacted workers are CSEA members.

“We have been working hard to build a strong labor-management relationship, but the town completely blindsided us with the layoffs,” said CSEA Local President William Healy. “We have lost a lot of respect for our elected officials after witnessing the lack of professionalism that took place on June 26th when longtime workers were laid off with no notice or decency.”

The union alleged the town laid two employees who were “longtime active, vocal members” of their union.