To the Editor:
After working for New York state since 1964, I retired in 2003.
During that time, I endured the fiscal crisis in the 1970's, the crisis in the 1980's and the crisis in the 1990's. Each time, we lost pay by giving up pay raises and/or having our pay lagged a week or two.
By the time I retired, three weeks of pay were lagged and three or four times we did not receive any annual pay increase. During this span of almost 40 years, New York state was either broke or flush with cash.
What I can’t remember is a single occasion when NYS said thanks to its employees and offered to restore a lost annual pay increase.
Can anybody remember it?
Unfortunately, since retirement my pension, compared to Social Security, has lost 21 percent of its value in less than six years. This includes the two NYS pension adjustments I have received and is equivalent to a loss of $2,100 for every $10,000 of pension.
The abuse continues even in retirement.
EDWARD R. SMITH
Ballston Lake
Support bill on bullying
To the Editor:
I refer you to NYS Assembly Bill 10291 which would amend the Labor Law to establish a civil cause of action for an abusive work environment.
Bullying, sometimes referred to as mobbing, is endemic to the workplace, as 16 percent to 21 percent of workers have reported being subjected to health-endangering workplace bullying, abuse and harassment. That’s four times greater than the rate for sexual harassment.
The methods used are often insidious: innuendo, gossip, verbal abuse, public humiliation, social isolation and censure. The victims suffer from severe depression, anxiety, post-traumatic-stress disorder, insomnia and loss of appetite. At least 10 percent of the victims suffer from severe physical illness, or attempt or commit suicide. Often the victim ends up with a breakup of his family and in financial ruin.
Management often initiates or condones workplace bullying and mobbing when it suits management’s purposes.
PEF and its members should support this legislation as an important tool in fighting this insidious form of workplace violence.
JOHN F. DOOLEY
Jackson Heights
Editor’s Note: The Assembly bill number listed above was for the 2008 session. This legislation, which was introduced by Assembly Member Steven Englebright and Sen. Thomas Morahan, has not yet been reintroduced in the 2009 session. If it is reintroduced, it will be assigned new bill numbers.
PEF took no position on the legislation in 2008.
If you feel you are being bullied or harassed at work contact your PEF steward or field representative for assistance. The state has policies against a hostile work environment and Article 36 of the PS&T Contract prohibits discrimination.
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