PEF President Brynien's Message

By KENNETH BRYNIEN
Since December when the governor introduced his Executive Budget, PEF has mounted a fight-back effort to defeat proposals that unfairly target our members, and cut our wages, health benefits, and retirement and pension benefits.

The governor’s proposals and our response have unified our members with one goal: to preserve our members’ job security, the gains we have achieved as a union in wages and benefits, and our rights as a union regarding collective bargaining.

We have used mobilization, public relations, political action and legal action, all in an effort to thwart the governor’s proposals. However, the best and most powerful weapons we have in this fight are you, our members. PEF is fortunate to represent the most educated and informed employees in the state workforce, and because of this and your activism, you are our best advocates. The most effective action we can take is on our own behalf.

As you may be aware, as part of our fight-back efforts, I have enlisted your help in writing to our legislators to let them know we will not let the governor balance the budget on our backs.

By all accounts, these efforts have begun to pay off; many lawmakers have told us your letters are the most they have ever received on a single issue. I am confident they recognize the strength behind those letters and understand the importance of acting to address the unfairness of the governor’s proposals.

I want to thank everyone who has done their part and sent letters or contacted their legislators. And if you have not mailed your letters yet and the budget is not already adopted when you read this, please make your voice heard.

While I cannot guarantee success, I can guarantee PEF will use all of the resources at its disposal to fight the governor’s givebacks and, with your support putting muscle behind our efforts, there is no doubt we will be heard.