(L-R) Tracy Rosano, Meghan Allen, Robert Carrothers, Deborah Stayman, Lorraine Simpkins, Elizabeth Hough, Lisa Newmark. Photo by Darcy Wells

Contract Administration — raises, benefits and priceless concern

By DEBORAH A. MILES
Negotiating the PS&T contract is among the most important and visible activities the union does on behalf of the membership.

Equally important, PEF works diligently to assure the contract is enforced and members receive all of the benefits it offers.

The Contract Administration Department provides the technical expertise to support both of these important endeavors.

The department’s director, Robert Carrothers, plays a leading role at the bargaining table when the PEF contract team meets with representatives from the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER). He credits the people in his department for providing the fine details and technical understanding needed to negotiate a contract.

Carrothers refers to his staff of six as “invaluable.” They include: three associate counsels, Elizabeth Hough, Lisa Newmark and Tracy Rosano; a health program analyst, Deborah Stayman; and a health benefits specialist, Lorraine Simpkins. Meghan Allen, the contract administration assistant, provides support for contract negotiations, tracks grievances and maintains records of grievances and arbitrations. She also serves as the official PEF recorder for contract negotiations.

Carrothers has been head of the department since 1997. He said it works as a team and independently. It is the main point of contact with GOER and oversees the enforcement of PEF contracts.

“The staff advises PEF leaders, members and other PEF staff on technical interpretations of the contract and reviews all contract grievances before they are advanced to GOER,” Carrothers said.

The attorneys spend a lot of their time representing PEF members in non-disciplinary contract grievances, such as overtime, compensation issues, leave disputes, challenges to inappropriate counseling memoranda and scheduling issues. Because of the backlog of these cases, PEF and the state entered a memorandum of understanding in March 2006 and agreed to implement a pilot program to expedite grievance processing.

“Since this program was implemented, the backlog of old grievances has significantly declined,” Carrothers said. The department has two people who work exclusively on assisting members with health benefits.

“If you encounter a roadblock or have a problem navigating your health benefits, this department can intercede on your behalf,” Carrothers said. “If you are unable to resolve a particular issue through your insurance company or agency health benefits administrator, our contacts often help bring the issue to closure.

“While most situations are unique, we provide assistance on issues ranging from improper coverage denials, billing disputes, and enrollment problems to provider complaints,” Carrothers said.

The health benefits staff also monitors the latest developments in the health insurance industry and assures PEF the necessary expertise to negotiate the highly complex details of the health benefits package.

“Our job is to help PEF negotiate the best possible contract and to see that PEF members are not denied the opportunity to utilize the benefits that it contains,” Carrothers said. “The dedication and talent of my staff in contract administration make that possible. You can’t put a price tag on the good things we do,” Carrothers said.

For more information about the negotiations process and latest news, visit the PEF Web site at www.pef.org and click on contracts.

The Communicator Feb. 2007

Features
Saving SUNY hospitals
Spitzer's plan comes in focus
Lifesaving tools in NYS prisons
The Winner's Circle

Departments
President's Message
You Said It
Member Mobilization
Legislative Action
Retirees In Action
Getting To Know PEF
The Back Cover Ad
Membership Benefits &Travel

Union Matters
Black Caucus plan reception
Nurses' plan Lobby Day
Lawmakers visit CDPC
Sunmount member dies
Div. 343 mouurns member
Federal budget battles
The Joy of Giving
COLA is top contract issue
Military leave benefits extended
PEF wins Medicare Pt. B lawsuit
Redler earns activism award
E. Board prepares for future
E. Brd. vacancy filled, seats open
LabCorp gets Empire contract

Other Links
Professional Directory
Members' Classified
Communicator Feedback
Prefer The Online Edition?
How To Advertise with PEF
The Communicator Staff

Questions on this website?
Email the
Communicator Webmaster