MAKING THE ROUNDS - PEF President Roger Benson talks
with members at the March OMH Safe and Therapeutic Unit
Conference in Schenectady.
- Photo by Ken Dischel
PEF can't
achieve anything without you
As you may be aware from
reports in The Communicator, the PEF Hotline and Web page, the
state is in no hurry to settle its PS&T contract negotiations
with PEF.
As state employees, we know too well how the state Taylor Law
tilts the negotiations' playing field against us. Without binding
arbitration or the right to strike, our hands are shackled when
it comes to contract negotiations.
Throughout PEF's history, its leaders have sought ways to
overcome this legal disadvantage. We have found the only
effective way is through political action, supported by a
focused, well organized and mobilized membership.
We have begun the long-term process of building PEF's untapped
power by organizing and mobilizing as many of our members as
possible. Building a strong and organized membership will be a
potent weapon against those who are not sympathetic to our needs.
Last year, we began to get a taste of the value of political
action and how it can work for us.
We could point to many examples of exactly how much of a
difference we made on the political front during the last
legislative session.
For instance, we blocked many initiatives that would have damaged
our interests. We helped get the biggest improvements to the
state pension system in nearly 20 years. And we helped win
restoration of millions of dollars for vital state services at
the Office of Mental Health and the Transportation Department,
among others.
We also had a major influence on the outcome of a campaign that
was in the national spotlight. The importance of PEF's political
action was made crystal clear in last year's U.S. Senate race.
Just ask Chuck Schumer about the influence PEF had on his
successful campaign for the U.S. Senate.
However, in politics it's not what you've done, it's what have
you done lately. While we have laid a strong foundation for
political activism, we must continue to be effective and to build
more power and more influence. That can't happen unless every one
of us gets involved in delivering our message to our elected
representatives. And we must be willing to back it up with
action.
The most effective unions politically are the ones that can
depend on their members to turn out for rallies, to be involved
in telephone and letter-writing campaigns, and to visit their
legislators.
We are working hard to create this same capability. PEF has
launched a campaign to organize and mobilize our members through
a new network of Member Mobilizers. Our goal is to help as many
members as possible become effective activists, involved in PEF
efforts, campaigns and programs to improve the terms and
conditions under which we must work.
Coordinated member actions supporting a clear and focused message
can and does influence political leaders and their decisions.
We have already made positive changes. If we expect to achieve
more positive changes in job security, stronger contracts,
retirement reform and merit-system enforcement, we must become
even more active and coordinated.
To get what we need, in our contracts, the state budget and
legislation, we must be able to make the state's political
leaders recognize that there are good reasons to work with us and
a stiff price to pay if they don't.
Your PEF leaders have turned the corner. We understand that just
to go on doing what PEF has always done before is not enough. It
will never achieve what our members need most.
Only when each of you is fully involved and ready to act, will
PEF have real influence.
Save A Tree & Stop The Presses. I'll read the Communicator online!