LOCATION PAY — PEF Vice President and PS&T Contract Chair Lou Matrazzo explains the importance of building a coalition with other unions for a location pay increase in the next contract. — Photo by Richard Dillard

PEF, CSEA, UUP unite on location pay

By DEBORAH A. MILES
The importance of building a coalition with other unions for a location pay increase in the next PS&T contract became evident at four meetings held at the end of February at the Hauppauge State Office Building, SUNY Stony Brook and PEF Manhattan and Brooklyn offices.

PEF Vice President and Contract Chair Lou Matrazzo said convention delegates voted unanimously to make location pay a priority, and the way to win this benefit is with a grass–roots effort with the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) and the United University Professions (UUP).

At the Hauppauge State Office Building, nearly 300 members attended as well as CSEA Regional President of Long Island, Nicholas J. LaMorte.
“Location pay is an issue for our unions to work on together because of where we live,” La Morte said.

“This is something we need to stand strong on together. The situation of inadequate pay for state workers on Long Island transcends any philosophical differences we may have as unions. We are totally together on this issue.

“I didn’t need a report from the Fiscal Policy Institute saying state workers living in high cost-of-living areas are underpaid. However, I’m glad the study was done. It reaffirms the fact people living downstate, and especially on Long Island, really have it tough to make ends meet on the salaries they are paid by the state,” LaMorte said.

John P. Schmidt, UUP chapter president, attended the Stony Brook meeting and echoed those sentiments.

Matrazzo added, “We are ready to start negotiations when the governor appoints a state director for employee relations and a chief negotiator for the PS&T contract talks. Now, with the backing of CSEA and UUP on the location pay issue, we have the power to make life better for all state employees who live in high cost areas.”

For detailed information, visit www.coalitionforlocationpay.com

IT’S ABOUT LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION — This ad appeared in a February issue of The Chief Leader. A brochure was mailed to legislators and handed out to other union coalition supporters and members.

The Communicator April 2007

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