Scroll down to read this
month's member's letters.
Defends caution over SEFA
pledges
To the Editor:
I am responding to the letter in the December-January issue
concerning PEF’s recommendation that members specify their
SEFA pledges benefit non-profit organizations other than those
identified as competing with state employees for state work.
This recommendation is not based in greed. Rather, it is
concerned with maintaining the quality of state services, and
with re-establishing the civil service system.
From its beginning, the current state administration has
energetically pursued contracting out state work to the private
and voluntary sectors. Its success can be measured in the
consistent erosion of state jobs. However, the harm reaches far
beyond the state workforce.
A more dangerous result is the extensive compromise to the
quality of key public services. Substituting voluntary-sector
administration of services for their public-sector oversight and
delivery is not working. And the decline in quality falls hardest
on the most vulnerable citizens.
Quality of care suffers because voluntary agencies are not
measured by the same stringent standards applied to state
programs, and because poor compensation and lack of job security
at these voluntary agencies have made recruitment and retention
of able staff next to impossible.
Ironically, the shift from the public to the voluntary sector has
even failed in its most hyped promise: reduced costs. Savings
from diminished employee benefits are eaten up by redundant
contract management and exorbitant salaries for upper management
in these “charitable” organizations.
As taxpayers, PEF members have an interest in discouraging the
leeching of public-sector strength for the sake of increasing the
voluntary sector’s span of control.
Add up the degradation of quality service, the threat to
civil-service jobs, and the neutral budget effects. Clearly, PEF
members share an interest in avoiding contributions to voluntary
organizations that have sought to do the government’s work.
MARY C. MAHONEY
Malta
A rendezvous in Albany
To the Editor:
Once again, it’s approaching that time of year when PEF
sisters and brothers can exchange greetings and ideas at the
center of New York State, Albany. Feb 16-18, we will have the
opportunity to express our views and share common bonds at the
Black and Puerto Rican Legislators Association weekend. On April
20-22, the Hispanic Legislative Task Force Conference —
Somos El Futuro — will reinforce PEF members’
commitment to political, social, educational and cultural
agendas.
Interested PEF members who would like to attend should first
contact their council leaders and regional coordinators to seek
help in offsetting some of the expenses. The Hispanic Committee
of PEF has very limited funds, so, first reach out to your PEF
division leaders and coordinators for matching funds for
registration fees, travel and lodging costs.
I am looking forward to meeting with PEF members at both events.
Hasta luego.
SAN VARGAS
Chair, Hispanic Committee of PEF
Retirees need
vets’ buy back
To the Editor:
Sherry Halbrook’s article on the Veterans Buy Back
legislation points out that if you retired before December 21,
1998 you are not eligible for this benefit.
The buy back of military service credit in the state pension
system for veterans before that date was only open for one year
back in the 70s. In effect, many of us were denied buy back then,
as well as now.
“Private Ryan” is not being saved. He is being shafted.
Joan Christensen, my state Assembly member in the 119th district,
informs me that bill A11501 was passed last year, by the
Assembly. This bill should be supported by PEF to be presented
and passed in the state Senate and signed by the governor. It
would go a long way to rectify the wrong.
GEORGE BURTON
Marietta
Letters policy
The Communicator welcomes
letters to the editor about union issues and events relevant to
PEF's diverse membership.
All letters are subject to editing for space, fairness and good
taste.
Please keep them brief (up to one page, double-spaced or a
maximum of 250 words), and please include your name and phone
number for verification.
Send letters to:
The
Communicator
Public Employees Federation
P.O. Box 12414
Albany, N.Y. 12212-2414
or email Denyce Duncan Lacy,
Executive Editor The Communicator - Director of Public Relations mailto:dlacy@pef.org
or Sherry Halbrook, Editor of The Communicator- shalbrook@pef.org