PEF Contract Team preps for
'03 PS&T talksBy SHERRY HALBROOK
Just as the US Olympic teams didn’t wait until now to start training, PEF’s PS&T Contract Team isn’t waiting for bargaining to start next winter, to begin its rigorous preparations.
The team began preparing at PEF in early January with training that will include, among others, legal and fiscal issues, such as the Taylor Law and a review of state finances, and a close look at how each article of the current agreement is working.
In coming months, the team will begin to actively solicit ideas and comments from PEF members.
Appointed by PEF President Roger Benson, the team of experienced PEF leaders is chaired once again by Eric Miller of PEF Region 9, a dentist from the state Department of Correctional Services.
PEF Director of Labor Relations Roger Scales is chief negotiator.
The team also includes:
• PEF Trustee Arlea Igoe, of the state Office of Children and Family Services in Albany;
• PEF Region 4 Coordinator David Stallone, an education supervisor at Auburn Correctional Facility;
• PEF Region 12 member Donna Rodriguez and Region 1 member Olivia Robinson of the state Department of Taxation and Finance;
• Region 10 member Lola Parks Guerra and Region 8 member Lou Matrazzo of the state Health Department;
• Joe Tewksbury of the state Division of Parole in PEF Region 2;
• Juanita Babcock of the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities in PEF Region 7;
• PEF Region 3 member Rosemary Williams of the state Office of Mental Health;
• Kartikey Adhvaryu of the state Transportation Department in PEF Region 11; and
• PEF Region 4 member June Edwards of the state University of New York.
“We represent a good cross-section of the PS&T membership from throughout the state,” Miller said. “But we will also have guidance from PEF’s statewide leaders, its convention delegates and Executive Board, its labor-management and contract committees and thousands of individual members who will contact us or speak with us at meetings we will hold throughout the state.”
The committee is supported by experts from PEF including Director of Contract Administration Robert Carrothers, associate counsel Elizabeth Hough, health program analyst Deborah Stayman, contract administration assistant Meghan Hunt and others as needed.
Member Mobilizer's crucial to
PEF’s contract effort“Our PS&T Contract Team will represent PEF at the bargaining table,” said Contract Chair Eric Miller, “and our success will be directly dependent on our power.
“Fully mobilized PEF divisions increase our power and, so far, more than 45 PEF divisions have achieved full mobilization,” Miller said. “That number has to keep growing and so does mobilization training to make sure this union is in shape for the difficult struggle ahead.”
If your division is not already among the ranks of the fully mobilized, talk with your division leader immediately to volunteer as a member mobilizer and find out how you can help.
And to become part of PEF’s “Active Informed Member” network, register with PEFonline@pef.org to get action and informational updates about the contract and other important issues every week.
“It’s always a good idea to check PEF’s Website regularly for current news,” Miller said. “And if you don’t have online access, just call the PEF Information Line at 1-800-553-2445 and read The Communicator.”