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DOT members meet with lawmakers
By DEBORAH A. MILES
Throughout the month of March, PEF members from the state Department of
Transportation (DOT) are doing more than inspecting bridges. They are laying a
new foundation with lawmakers across the state to reject the proposed
legislation that would implement the “Design Build” and “Transportation
Development Partnership” programs.
“Along with our concerns for the budget, these programs are being brought-up
during our hometown campaign to educate lawmakers,” said Paul Gendron, PEF
Region 5 Political Action Committee chair and a civil engineer 2 in the DOT
Binghamton office.
Both programs would increase DOT’s dependence on more costly consultant
engineers, expand the use of no-bid contracts and limit public oversight of the
state’s program to maintain and expand its transportation infrastructure.
“Our DOT labor-management team decided these programs in the Executive Budget
are just too important. Our goal is to educate legislators who are members of
the state transportation committees,” Gendron said.
PEF members from DOT who are knowledgeable on transportation issues will
accompany PEF political action liaisons (PAL) to the meetings.
“It’s an educational process for all involved,” Gendron said. ”There is a wide
range of responses from the lawmakers. Some are receptive. Others are willing to
work for our issues.”
“I commend PEF’s DOT Labor-Management Committee for delivering a statewide
message in each home district legislative office,” said PEF President Roger
Benson. “The union’s crusade to curb the use of consultants and make the state
more fiscally accountable is reaching a stronger level with this effort.”
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The Communicator April 2006
Features
Agencies wastes $ on
consultants
Members
work to stop bad budget
DOT members
meet lawmakers
PEF gets
support in stopping cuts
DOT members
tell all at hearing
New program
addresses grievances
Battle for
accountability heats up
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