To the Editor:
On two occasions in the past month, I attempted to purchase discounted ski tickets offered by the PEF Membership Benefits Program and was told they weren’t in stock. One was for Mountain Creek, the other for Gore Mountain.
As a dues-paying PEF member and a shop steward, I find this unacceptable.
It appears to me the PEF MBP is not doing its job in maintaining a proper inventory. In turn, I got no benefits in these instances.
I think the program should do a better job in making sure that all benefits advertised are in fact actually offered to its members.
HERBERT SWEET
Latham
Editor’s note: The PEF Membership Benefits Program works hard to make every
benefit fully available to every eligible PEF member. No PEF dues are used
to pay for this program or the benefits it offers.The MBP has subsidized and sold thousands of tickets at discounted prices to PEF members this season for Gore Mountain. The program also has sold thousands of discounted tickets to Mountain Creek and other ski resorts.
The MBP must pay for these tickets in advance. If the weather is too warm or there is little snow, MBP receives only partial credit for any unsold tickets it returns at the end of the season. If the resort closes, goes out of business or is sold, MBP may not recover any money or credit for its unsold tickets. Therefore, it’s important for MBP to limit this risk so it can continue to offer a wide variety of subsidized tickets to PEF members.
All MBP ads and promotional materials caution members to allow up to two weeks for processing and delivery. Members are limited to 10 discounted tickets per venue, per season. They may also buy up to an additional 10 tickets from MBP at the full price.
Mobilize PEF for tier reform
To the Editor:
This is a continuation of an issue raised in previous letters to the editor. Bill A.7128 (which would grant additional pension service credit to employees who contributed to their state pensions for more than 10 years) should be passed, and so should Bill A8558 that would allows certain members of the NYS Retirement Fund to file for retroactive membership in an earlier pension tier.
Section 803 of the Retirement and Social Security Law allowed those of us, who did not join the retirement system when we could have, a chance to apply for admission to an earlier tier. Section 803 expired October 24, 1996, and those of us who were unaware of that second opportunity are severely penalized.
Why can't PEF help to organize all of us who want tier reform to pressure state legislators who have the authority to bring these bills to the floor for votes?
MICHAEL HALL
Apalachin
The Communicator Letters policy
We welcome 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.
Email letters to thecommunicator@pef.org:
Or regular mail to:
The Communicator
Public Employees Federation
P.O. Box 12414
Albany, N.Y. 12212-2414
Email to Sherry Halbrook, Editor or Darcy Wells, Editor-In Chief
