ON THE DOTTED LINE — PEF President Roger Benson and
Director of the Governor's Office for Employee Relations
(GOER) George Madison sign a Memorandum of Agreement at
PEF headquarters last month allowing all PEF members 13
days of sick leave per year. Looking on is PEF Director
of Labor Relations Roger Scales, GOER Assistant Director
Rebecca Caudle, PEF Secretary-Treasurer Jane Hallum and
PEF Vice President and Contract Chair Ken Brynien. —
Photo by John Epting
All
full-time members get 13 days
New pact ends 20
years of sick-leave inequity
By SHERRY HALBROOK
For the first time in decades, all full-time PS&T
employees will earn a full 13 days of sick leave per
year.
PEF and the state have signed a memorandum of
understanding that gives three additional days of annual
sick leave to employees hired on or after April 1, 1982,
bringing them to the total of 13 days already available
to members hired earlier.
“This is something PEF has been working on for 20
years,” says PEF President Roger Benson. “The
significance of this agreement is that it has been made
without a PEF contract concession, and fulfills a
handshake agreement which we reached with the state last
summer.”
“A significant injustice has been corrected,”
said PEF Director of Labor Relations Roger Scales.
“No longer will PEF members work alongside other PEF
members, perform the exact same job, yet accrue fewer
days of sick leave.”
The leave is very valuable to PEF members in several
ways, Scales said.
“Members use their accrued sick leave to maintain
full-pay status during periods of illness,” he said.
“And if you are fortunate enough to remain healthy
and not need to charge your sick days, they will come in
very handy when you retire.”
Up to 165 of the unused days may be used to calculate
your retirement service credit. And you can cash in up to
200 days to help pay for your health insurance premiums
during retirement.
If you are on the state administrative payroll, you will
begin earning 13 days starting March 27. For those on the
institutional payroll, the agreement kicks in April 3.
Members working a 10-month academic year or working less
than full-time, will begin earning sick leave at an
equivalent rate.
“This enhancement could not have occurred without
the support and unity of the PEF Executive Council,
Executive Board and, ultimately, the 2002 PEF Convention
delegates who recognized that to achieve this success
required that our union speak with one voice,”
Benson said.
“While others unsuccessfully attempted to achieve
this in past, it was only possible now because PEF
leaders from throughout the state worked together in a
focused fashion for nearly a year to benefit our members.
We will need to continue this kind of leadership and
singular purpose to achieve success in the PS&T
contract negotiations that have just begun.”
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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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