YOU
GOT IT — State Comptroller Allan Hevesi is congratulated by PEF President Roger
Benson on receiving the union’s endorsement for re-election. — Photo by Bill
Sachs
PEF’s skills, experience paying off in state budget
battle
By ROGER BENSON
Last month, in response to the proposed state Executive Budget, PEF established
priorities to protect the vital state services our members provide, fight
privatization and continue to provide for a sound retirement.
As a result of PEF’s ability to quickly interpret, analyze, educate and mobilize
around damaging state budget proposals, PEF is well positioned as the
negotiations between the governor and the Legislature begin in earnest. As the
Senate and Assembly wrapped up their respective budget bills, nearly every one
of PEF’s priorities was addressed, although not entirely to our satisfaction.
I wrote last month that, until the negotiations are complete, we must remain
vigilant and continue to press our issues with the Legislature so that during
the final budget negotiations our issues remain in the forefront. This is
particularly true for a handful of issues surrounding the potential closures of
state-operated group homes and the proposed privatization of a minimum-security
youth facility in the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS).
Additionally, two major transportation privatization initiatives proposed by the
governor and given limited support by the Senate — design-build and
public-private initiatives — at this date are still being given consideration.
These proposals represent the most recent salvo against our struggle for
accountability, transparency and value in state government.
No PEF jobs are directly affected by the design-build and public-private
initiatives as they are currently proposed. However, many of the state’s largest
public-works projects would be placed beyond the reach of recently enacted
accountability and anti-privatization measures, and into the hands of
profiteering consultants and contractors.
We have a long record of success on our budget fights, and I am confident of our
ability to affect these issues. Member-for-member, PEF is a leader in the
state’s legislative arena. We have become quite effective at shaping and raising
the profiles of issues to protect, not only the members we represent, but also
the citizens who rely on our services and the taxpayers who fund them.
Our effectiveness in stopping damaging proposals, such as the attack on OCFS and
design-build and public-private initiatives, lies with our ability to act
quickly using the tools we have worked hard to strengthen: political action,
public relations and member mobilization. With these tools and an involved
membership, I am certain our message will be heard.
The Communicator April 2006
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