E. Board prepares
for future
By DEBORAH A. MILES
Two PEF Executive Board meetings were held during the last half of 2006,
and the focus at each was to prepare for the future.
At the August meeting, PEF President Ken Brynien stressed the importance
of PEF leaders working together to gain power and demonstrate a unified
front, especially with legislative issues.
Brynien spoke on improving communications with members and other
professional groups who share common goals, and said PEF would work with
other unions to form a coalition when needed.
PEF Vice President Pat Baker was charged with leading and establishing a
coalition force, as well as being a Political Action Committee (PAC)
co-chair with Vice President Joe Fox to better organize the New York
City area.
Secretary-Treasurer Arlea Igoe said her main concern was the fiduciary
responsibility of PEF and reminded everyone to follow the PEF policies
to avoid disagreements.
Igoe also talked about mutual respect, a budget that is on target, and
monies used for fight-back campaigns from the contingency fund.
The board voted to establish a $50,000 Flood Relief Fund for members
affected by the June 2006 flooding in the southern and western tiers of
the state. The fund would provide a $500 payment for members who
document their losses. Applications were accepted through December 31,
2006.
The board also appropriated up to $50,000 for a campaign to push the Go
Public Cost/Benefit Analysis bill in the next legislative session.
Another motion passed to reallocate $28,000 remaining from the state
Department of Labor campaign to the continuing struggle against the
state Division of Parole administration.
Igoe reported that some staff at PEF headquarters had been trained to
use a defibrillator.
At the November meeting, the Executive Board discussed the unions
position on the plan released by the Commission on Health Care
Facilities in the 21st Century, known as the Berger plan. The board
reallocated $50,000 from the Go Public campaign to start the wheels in
motion for a media blitz, rallies and lobbying efforts to save SUNY
hospitals, which the state panel wants to privatize.
Newly elected Lt. Gov. David Paterson was the guest speaker and
discussed some of the changes and reforms Gov. Eliot Spitzer had in mind
for the state, and their desire to work with labor unions.
Members also discussed ways to keep costs down at the PEF convention
that will be held in New York City in September 2007.
|
Executive Board
vacancy filled;
four more seats open
By SHERRY HALBROOK
One new member of the PEF Executive Board was elected in December to
fill a mid-term vacancy.
The special election process began in January to fill four other board
vacancies.
Joe Greenfield was elected in December to fill Board Seat 50
representing members at the following state Department of Correctional
Services facilities Sing Sing, Green Haven, Bedford Hills, Arthur
Kill, Queensboro, Taconic, Bayview, Edgecombe, Lincoln, Fulton and
central administration.
Candidates were free to circulate nominating petitions in January for
the following board seats:
Seat 85 representing members (other than teaching and research nurse
2s) at the state University of New York Health and Science Center in
Syracuse, and all members in SUNY at central administration, and the
following campuses Albany, Alfred, Binghamton, Brockport, Buffalo
State, Buffalo University, Canton, Columbia-Greene, Cortland, Delhi,
Empire State, Environmental Science and Forestry, Fredonia, Geneseo,
Morrisville, New Paltz, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Potsdam, and Purchase;
Seat 180 representing members at the state Health Department
(including those on the main office payroll) working in PEF Regions 1-7
(except Saranac Lake), in Herkimer, and at the Oxford and Batavia
Veterans Homes;
Seat 190 representing state Health Department members (including those
on the main office payroll) who work in Region 8, at the Wadsworth
Centers, Axelrod, Griffin and all related labs; and
Seat 485, representing certain PEF members of PEF Division 190C at the
state Department of Taxation and Finance and the state Division of the
Lottery in PEF Region 8.
If more than one candidate is certified for a seat, ballots will be
mailed February 13, returnable to the American Arbitration Association
by March 6. |