SOLIDARITY — PEF Division 167 members from Western New York DDSO and Children’s Psychiatric Center wear anti-privatization stickers to support a statewide message aimed at the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. — Photo by Dave Chudy

Thousands wear stickers to fight privatization
By DEBORAH A. MILES
On January 13, nearly all 5,000 PEF members who work at the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) wore anti-privatization stickers to work to send a message to OMRDD Commissioner Diana Jones Ritter and Carl Letson, director of the Broome Developmental Disabilities Services Office (DDSO).

Members decided to show administrators how they can band together quickly and in all statewide locations, especially when a facility is threatened by privatization.

PEF leaders decided on a “Sticker Day” as part of the union’s strategy to combat privatization, according to Executive Board member Jim Moffit.

Board member Ed Snow, PEF’s labor-management chair for OMRDD, said, “We wanted to act as one group of people and make it known we are against privatization of a group home. We believe our message was heard by local management people, and talked about in Albany. The solidarity of 5,000 people should be a signal we have the ability to mobilize the work force around an issue.”

The issue is the possible privatization of the Margaretville Individualized Residential Alternative (IRA), a part of the Broome DDSO.

PEF Division 197 Council Leader Tim Nannery said the administrators of Margaretville conducted studies to see where spending could be cut.

“Will this kind of study go beyond Margaretville?” Nannery asked. “PEF is looking at the bigger picture. We want to take a look at formula, mentality and why this has come about.”
The jobs of PEF members who work at Margaretville are safe for now, but approximately a dozen Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members have been transferred to other facilities.

“It may seem surprising PEF took this stand with Sticker Day when our members aren’t being affected. However, in the long run, privatization affects all of us,” Nannery said.
Scott Sayward, a social worker at Sunmount DDSO, said he can’t speak to the specific changes occurring at Margaretville, but he is concerned about privatization in general.

“The concept of choice is present in all of OMRDD’s basic services,” Sayward said. ”State-run homes are an option people consider. The alternatives are homes that are privately owned and operated. Many times, when a consumer’s living situation is not working out in a private agency, state-operated IRA’s provide an appropriate and viable alternative. Privatization of these facilities would be a mistake.