Is protecting Social Security
important to you? Sign up now to support COPE.Do you want to see your nation's leaders focus on your business, your issues - education, health care, a strong economy, a healthy and crime-free environment and reducing the national debt? Then enroll now as a COPE contributor.
PEF builds political clout one member at a time, one COPE contributor at a time. By joining COPE - PEF's Committee on Political Education - you add your voice to those of thousands of other PEF members working for strong, responsive government.
Politicians have to listen when voters speak with one clear voice, one strong will.
Individual action is important, but its effect can be magnified tremendously when tens of thousands of voices, votes and campaign dollars are carefully focused to get the maximum result. And that is what COPE is all about.
"PEF can be a significant force when we combine and concentrate our resources on very specific political challenges and goals," said PEF Vice President Ken Brynien, who heads the union's COPE and political action programs.
"Under federal law, we can only use voluntary COPE contributions to support candidates for U.S. Senate, Congress, or for president," Brynien said.
But a strong COPE fund is more than just a war chest for national election campaigns.
"A strong COPE fund is an engine that drives the union's prestige, clout and political presence wherever we look to promote our members' interests," Brynien said.
"Believe me, state lawmakers, the governor, state commissioners and virtually all of the policy makers and power brokers who can make or break our contract talks, legislative agenda and workplace struggles - from Albany parking to job safety and privatization - see our COPE fund as a measure of the commitment of PEF members.
"It's a potent symbol of how determined PEF's members are to have a voice in key decisions, to influence public policy and to see our needs and views respected," Brynien said.
"When you authorize a COPE contribution of just $2 per pay period, you are putting those power brokers on notice that you and your union mean business, that you are a force to be reckoned with."
PEF members are protected by strong oversight and democratic structures and policies for administration of their COPE fund.
The union's candidate endorsements and campaign contributions are carefully reviewed by more than 100 members serving on PEF's network of regional and statewide political-action committees and the union's 100-plus officers and Executive Board representatives.
"I support COPE
and I urge all of my fellow PEF
members to do the same because I'm convinced that what we achieve in our contract
negotiations will be a direct result of how the politicians perceive our political power."And the most convincing demonstration of our commitment is financial.
"When the governor's contract team looks across the bargaining table at our negotiator, they measure his strength by the number of us backing him up with a solid commitment.
"While political power will not guarantee us a better contract, it will dramatically improve our chances. "
- Dennis Anderson
State Dept. of Audit & Control
Editor's note: The COPE contribution level mentioned above is only a suggested amount. It is up to individual members to decide whether they want to contribute and how much. The union is prohibited by law from discriminatory treatment of members based on their participation in COPE or lack of it.