At the beginning of his administration, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg called on everyone to do their fair share to help ease the budget crisis — but his actions tell a completely different story.

The mayor’s budget cuts and the subsequent layoffs are hitting primarily those who can least afford it. The Dept. of Health and the Dept. of the Aging have continued hiring and promoting managers, while lower-level union workers receive pink slips.

Public documents show that the DOH has laid off 236 union members while only two managers were laid off. At the Department for the Aging, three Nutrition Consultants received pink slips and not one manager was laid off.

“It is outrageous and fiscally irresponsible that these two agencies prepared layoff lists of badly needed workers while at the same time hiring and giving raises to higher-ups,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. “This shows a pattern throughout the city of disproportionately laying off union members while protecting and promoting more highly compensated managers.”

The layoffs at the Dept. of Health include 155 Public Health Assistants. They are responsible for safeguarding the hearing and vision of public school children by administering tests.

In addition, the City Pest Control Aide staff has been reduced by 25 percent. Each Pest Control Aide brings in about $25 per hour per day in fines. The city will lose over $1 million in potential fines and revenues by eliminating these workers. William Chappele, a member of Local 768, was recently laid off after eight years as a City Pest Control Aide.

“I have my money in the pension plan,” said the Harlem native. “I thought I could keep my job until I was ready to retire.” Municipal employees around the city were under the same mistaken impression as Mr. Chappele. While high-salaried managers are getting promotions and raises, veteran city workers like Mr. Chappele now face an uncertain future.

— Alfredo Alvarado