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PEF probation officers demand fair contract in Albany
By DARCY WELLS
It was a standing-room only crowd at Albany’s State of the County address on
March 13 and the majority of the crowd was made up of PEF Division 502 probation
officers.
Wearing bright yellow PEF scarves and buttons the officers frequently
interrupted their new council leader, Kevin MacNeil with applause as he
addressed county leaders demanding a fair contract. But the real shocker came
when county leaders got up out of their seats and joined PEF members in a
standing ovation.
Revolving Door
“We are now in our 27th consecutive month of working under an expired contract,”
said MacNeil, a probation assistant who took over the leadership role after the
previous council leader left Albany County probation for employment elsewhere.
“Normally, in his absence, the assistant leader would be here, but he recently
left our department. That would leave the position to our elected secretary. You
guessed it, he also recently left our department to seek employment elsewhere.”
MacNeil then read the names of 16 probation officers who recently left the
department for better paying jobs. “That’s a combined 150 years experience
gone,” MacNeil told legislators. “You can see, we have a problem.”
PEF President Roger Benson also spoke during the public comment period of the
county meeting telling legislators it is fiscally irresponsible for the county
to train probation officers only to watch them move on to higher paying jobs in
neighboring counties or with the state.
“Low pay is the main reason Albany County can not recruit and retain workers,”
said Benson, whose remarks also were followed by applause.
“These officers are paid $2,798 less than in Schenectady County, $1,361 less
than in Rensselaer County and $5,000 less than state parole officers.
They are leaving because they simply can’t afford to keep their jobs,” Benson
said.
Another probation officer with 11 years on-the-job said he has held down a
second job for the past seven years to make ends meet.
“I’m not here to whine; I like my job,” said probation officer Kevin Hall. “I’m
here to ask you to bring our salaries in line with other departments across the
state.”
PEF leaders said the contract negotiations continue, but the end result must be
fair and equitable and address the issues and needs of current and future
members.
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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
Departments
President's Message
You Said It
Retirees In Action
Membership Benefits &Travel
Union Matters
PEF political
endorsements...
Probation
officers want fairness
Parole
officers caseload is murder
Nurses must mobilize
to pass...
Performance
award checks coming
Progress: Stop Workplace Violence
Promotion Test
Battery update
PS&T
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2006
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State must
re-bid Rx contract
New web site
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