 MAKING THE LIST — PEF
PS&T Contract Team member Olivia Robinson finds a
dentist who accepts GHI insurance during a phone survey
in December at PEF headquarters.
Salary increases
remain top issue
Leaders open PS&T contract talks
Articles and photos by DEBORAH A. MILES
With the current PS&T contract expiring on April 1,
PEF President Roger Benson and the union’s contract
team kicked-off 2003 negotiations at the end of January,
meeting with George Madison, director of the
Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) and
other state representatives.
“We are going into these talks with
confidence,” Benson said. “We have pride in
what we have accomplished in the past, the power to
achieve another fair contract, and the purpose to
understand this will not be a quick process. I am
confident our team will eventually bring to the
membership a contract we can embrace.”
Being prepared is the negotiating team’s strength.
Last year, team members attended more than 50 meetings,
arming them with suggestions and concerns from members
across the state.
“More than ever, PEF is meticulously prepared for
this bargaining,” said PEF Vice President and
PS&T Contract Chair Ken Brynien. “One of the top
issues is salary increases in each and every year. We
will not accept any zeroes.”
 Economy remains factor
Analysts say the state’s economy is in its worst
condition in 50 years, with an estimated $8-$10 billion
deficit likely in 2003-04. PEF leaders say they are
taking the economic climate into consideration, but also
note the significant raises since September 11, 2001 that
were negotiated for most public-sector employees in New
York, including firefighters, teachers, health care
workers, police, school employees and many others.
“These working people deserved at least a
cost-of-living raise and so do PEF members,” Brynien
said. “We plan to reject any bonus offers, like the
one recently accepted by the New York City Transit
Workers Union. We consider that a zero, and will
negotiate more patiently to achieve no zeroes.”
PEF leaders are also reviewing strategies that other
unions used during negotiations, such as the success of
the United Federation of Teachers (UFT). After a
three-year battle, UFT won raises of 6 percent to 8
percent for its members.
“Even though the economy is in crisis, current
bargaining patterns establish that people working for the
federal, state and county governments are getting
raises,” said PEF Director of Labor Relations Roger
Scales, the chief PS&T negotiator. “Our members
have to expect similar raises.”
 CALLING ALL DENTISTS —
Members of the PS&T contract team Joe Tewksbury and
Region 8 Coordinator Lou Matrazzo survey dentists about
GHI insurance coverage for PEF members.
Raise patterns encouraging
Effective in January, the US Office of Personnel
Management gave non-military federal employees a 3.1
percent across-the-board salary increase, and military
personnel received 4 percent.
The Wall Street Journal reported last September that
“salary freezes will be rare next year, and raises
are likely to be slightly higher overall.” The
newspaper reported on average, salary increases are
expected to be 3.9 percent for salaried overtime-exempt
employees, 3.8 percent for salaried union workers and
non-union hourly workers, and 4.1 percent for executives,
based on a survey of 1,045 companies by consultant Hewitt
Associates.
“We will closely monitor the economy, to know what
is realistic in negotiating wage increases,” Scales
said. “And we will continue educating our members as
to the raise patterns established by the various levels
of government.”
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COMMUNICATOR HOMEPAGE
Inside This Issue:
Features
Ad blitz aims to save jobs,
services
Pataki eyes budget cuts
ERI savings slim pickings
for state
Bill outlaws discrimination
is now law
Leaders open PS&T
contract talks
PEF honors its Ground Zero
heroes
Departments
President's Message: Budget
balancing act
You Said It: Member's
letters this month
Health & Safety:
Smallpox vaccine concerns
Member
Mobilization:Organization is key
Nurses' Station: Lobby Day
plans for May
Health Notes: Empire Plan
number reaches all
Retirees In Action: Losing
ground financially
PEF Membership Benefits
Program & Travel Corp
Union Matters
Worker's Rights
Reg. 8 brings holiday cheer
State promises Rx for
docs’ pension-credit snafu
They got the 'write stuff':
• Furlani • Wilcox
AED training provides
statewide life support
PEF, Black Caucus plan
receptions
Apply May 1 for Jean DeBow
scholarship
PEF magazine, TV ad win big
2003 Election Rules Dates,
Rules, Requirements
Other Links
Professional Directory
Members' Classified
Member Communicator Feedback
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