 WTC RECEPTION — PEF President Roger Benson speaks at the union’s Celebration of Life Reception in NYC. — Photo by Bill Sachs Quality public services — as important now as on September 11 By ROGER BENSON We launched the first phase of our campaign to preserve state services last month. We began this campaign with a “Hometown Heroes” media blitz targeted at state policymakers, showing some of the vital services we provide every day, not just in times of crisis. The September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and subsequent bio-terrorism threats effectively underscored the need for high quality public services. However, most people don’t realize the services PEF members provide touch virtually every aspect of their lives. The fiscal affect on the state of New York of the attack on the World Trade Center is staggering. The upcoming budget negotiations will be extremely difficult. We are committed to ensuring the vital public services that New Yorkers depend upon every day, the services that give the state the ability to respond to disasters such as September 11, services we provide, are not sacrificed to fill the state’s budget gap. The state’s fiscal crisis will necessitate some budget cuts, and where these cuts are made will be determined over the next few months. The current size of the state’s contingency fund will be a major point of contention between the Legislature and the governor. When the governor and the Legislature deliberate on ways to address the state’s budget gap, it will be our job to make sure they recognize the vital services we provide and the sacrifices PEF members have made in their dedication to serving the citizens of New York. We will work with the governor and the Legislature during this crisis. However, we will also fight to ensure we are treated fairly in the budgetary process. Should the state’s fiscal crisis necessitate reductions in state services and the state work force, we will press to be certain that before these reductions are made, every option available is used to maintain our job security and not exacerbate short staffing. And, if reductions are necessary, we must make sure attrition and broad incentives are used to minimize the effect on our members. As I have said and written in the past, how the state’s leaders address the fiscal issues resulting from the September 11 attack will speak volumes about New York. We also know that how hard we work to fight to preserve state services and how successful we are will speak volumes about us. 'We will also fight to ensure
we are treated fairly in the budgetary process.’ — Roger
E. Benson, PEF President |