Members transfer to other facilities after layoffs
Nine PEF members at the Bernard Fineson Developmental Disabilities Services Office in Queens Village were given notice in November they were being laid off.

PEF President Ken Brynien wrote a letter to Gov. David Paterson stating his concern the action violates the governor’s no-layoff agreement with PEF.

PEF had been aware for months the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) needed to reduce its work force because of closing the Howard Park unit. Both the union and state hoped it could be done through attrition.

PEF Executive Board member Ed Snow, PEF’s labor-management chair for OMRDD, said the agency has been extremely cooperative in working with the union.

“OMRDD has worked hard with PEF to make sure no one hits the streets,” Snow said. “We are working together to find jobs for these members in other locations. The agency wanted to find jobs and positions for people, and it has done some of that. OMRDD wants to keep people working and not on the unemployment line.”

PEF Division 207 Council Leader Elizabeth Cheese said the nine people include a mental hygiene staff development specialist 3 who has worked at Bernard Fineson for 16 years, seven habilitation specialists and one recreation therapist. Cheese said several have been transferred to other facilities and every attempt is being made to relocate the rest.
— Deborah A. Miles