DON'T KILL HOPE — PEF President Roger Benson
addresses the press at the Institute for Basic Research on
Staten Island in
February, championing for continued care of the mentally
ill. PEF Division 345 Council Leader Mike Fenko, PEF Vice
President Pat Baker and Division 198 Council Leader Jemma
Marie Hanson listened while Benson attacked the
governor's executive budget which proposes to shut down
state psychiatric centers. — Photo by Ken Dischel
Stopping
job-killing layoffs
By ROGER BENSON
On January 29, the governor unveiled his Executive
Budget. We all understand the severity of the fiscal
crisis that faces New York, and we hoped the pain of this
crisis would be tempered with fairness.
Instead, what was unveiled was a budget proposal that
allows the state’s wealthiest individuals and
corporations to shirk their responsibility to deal with
the state budget deficit, while those who can least
afford it pay the biggest price.
In his address, the governor emphasized this budget was
about choices: “job-killing taxes,” or jobs.
The governor is only partly right; it is only about jobs,
private and public sector jobs. Nearly 1,800 state
workers face the abolishment of their jobs and the
potential of layoff under the Executive Budget.
If allowed to stand, these job-killing layoffs will
devastate not only state employees and their families,
but also the services we have committed our lives to
providing. They will further damage our economy and place
the state’s fiscal burden on the shoulders of those
New Yorkers who are least able to carry it.
We will work with the governor where we can, but we will
take the fight to the streets of New York to save public
services if necessary.
Our highest priority is to make sure not one PEF member
is laid off. We will work with the governor where we can,
but we will take the fight to the streets of New York to
save public services if necessary.
We have begun mobilizing from Long Island and New York
City to the state’s Southern Tier. We will show
there is a better solution to the state’s fiscal
crisis than balancing it on the backs of the most
vulnerable New Yorkers; that New York’s richest
individuals and most profitable corporations must bear
their share of the burden as well.
This is only the opening gambit in what promises to be a
very long and difficult budget process. PEF will wield
all its political strength during this legislative
session, and I am confident that the final state budget
will fairly share the pain of New York’s fiscal
crisis to every sector, including the rich and corporate
New York.
“our highest priority is to
make sure not one PEF member is laid off.”
– Roger E. Benson, PEF President
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COMMUNICATOR HOMEPAGE
Inside This Issue:
Features
New pact ends 20 years of
sick-leave inequity
PEF wins $1.75 million for
members
Downstate members to save on
fares
Stay in the know with
contract talks
Early Retirement window is
closing fast
Budge
Breakdown
PEF fires back against
proposed budget
Program, job cuts in
proposed state budget
• Office of Mental Health
(OMH)
• OMRDD
• Office of Children
and Family Services (OCFS)
• Transportation Department (DOT)
• Office of General Services (OGS)
• ENCON
• Education Department (SED)
• VESID
• Health Department (DOH)
• Department of
Corrections Services
• Division of Parole (DOP)
• Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV)
Departments
President's Message:
Stopping job-killing layoffs
You Said It: Member's
letters this month
Health & Safety: Working
conditions symposium
Member Mobilization:
Exposing weakest links
Nurses' Station: LobbyDay
plans for May 5th
Health Notes: Expanded
coverage for women
Retirees In Action:
Death-benefit coverage
PEF Membership Benefits
Program & Travel Corp
Union Matters
DVD on members’
accounts of workplace violence
Hidden talents emerge among
members
State AFL-CIO offers
scholarship
Election Board meeting
DCAAccount user? File IRS
form 2441
2003-2006 Elections
Corrected Definitions
Other Links
Professional Directory
Members' Classified
Member Communicator Feedback
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