Scroll down to read this month's member's letters.
Tell
lawmakers we need pension COLA
To the Editor:
I am a retired NYS employee and a member of PEF Retirees.
I have been retired since June, 1986 and in all that time
I have received only one pension supplementation.
In fact, I am living on 1988 dollars.
I and all retirees need regular cost-of-living increases.
These benefits should be retroactive increases exceeding
30 percent.
I have called my Assembly member, state senator and the
governor on this issue. I urge all retirees to do the
same.
Remind them that we vote, as do our wives, children and
families, and politicians can expect retribution at the
polls if our request is not answered.
Vincent J. Vetter Jr.
Utica
Register,
vote, lobby for contract
To the Editor:
Please campaign for all state workers to become
registered voters. It is the single best defense each of
us has to ensure politicians take our needs seriously.
We have rallied, paraded and challenged our governor and
legislators to provide us with our fair share through
contract justice.
They are not paying attention. Their reply has been
insulting. Why? Because too few of us are registered
voters and even fewer actually vote.
We need to become more assertive by addressing our
respective officials individually.
Telephone, write, e-mail, use picket signs addressing
representatives specifically. Above all, let them know
you are a registered voter who will vote in the next
election, by an absentee ballot if necessary.
Then, ask the tough question, “Where do you stand on
providing state employees with a fair contract?”
Elections are often won by a small margin. Once
politicians realize we are sincere about affecting their
well being, they will begin to support us or suffer the
election consequences.
LYNN DOVE
Poughkeepsie
Poor
benefits, low pay hurt families
To the Editor:
I know we will never have a high living standard working
for the state, but I hoped the offset for low pay would
be better medical/optical/dental care.
My children’s eyesight is changing as rapidly as
they are growing and need eye exams at least yearly.
After a recent trip to the eye doctor, the cost was $500.
Why can’t we at least provide decent health care to
our family? With the benefit plan, one gets
Clark-Kent/Coke-bottle glasses. Light-weight glass and
normal frames are not included.
Dental benefits, which are so important, are even worse.
The downstate pay adjustment is ridiculous. We can’t
get overtime where we work. We have few advancement
opportunities. If we do get promoted, we can lose
longevity pay and face seven (salary) steps before we get
back to the job rate.
I could go on and on. Why can’t some of these
problems be improved? Does anyone care?
Robert Pratt
Sayville
Editor’s note: Many of the pay and benefit problems
cited by the writer would be addressed if the state
accepted PEF’s PS&T contract proposal.
Letters policy
The Communicator
welcomes letters to the editor about union issues and
events relevant to PEF's diverse membership.
All letters are subject to editing for space, fairness
and good taste.
Please keep them brief (up to one page, double-spaced or
a maximum of 250 words), and please include your name and
phone number for verification.
Send letters to:
The
Communicator
Public Employees Federation
P.O. Box 12414
Albany, N.Y. 12212-2414
or email Denyce Duncan
Lacy, Executive Editor The Communicator - Director of
Public Relations mailto:dlacy@pef.org
or Sherry Halbrook, Editor of The
Communicator- shalbrook@pef.org