We do so much for so little
To the Editor:
This is in response to Jonathan Wolfinger’s letter in the March issue of The Communicator, titled “PEF should do more, ask for less.”
When it comes to “so much gimme, gimme in the world today,” King George (Pataki) and his political cronies head the top of that list.

They were the ones who “tookie, tookie” big-time raises for themselves and offered zeros for the folks who provide the services for you.
The “willingness” of PEF people to serve, was and is always there. Zero raises for four out of eight years and the work ethic never diminished.
Pull your head out of the sand! We deserve better!
Allan S. Lind
New York City

Did more, but it didn’t work
To the Editor:
I am writing in response to the naivete expressed in the letter by Brother Wolfinger that calls for the union to make state agencies more productive, etc. I would like to correct this misperception by relaying my experience with attempting to do just what he recommends.
First off, according to Edwards Demming, the father of the “quality” movement, it is not a primary responsibility for the workers to lessen bureaucracy or find ways to become effective and productive. In fact, Demming states that the workers, alone, could not do this, even if they wanted to. This responsibility is management’s, who has sole control over recourses and the means of production.
However, this does not mean that the union cannot work in partnership with an enlightened management to do what Wolfinger suggests.

In fact, against the recommendation of many of my colleagues, I attempted to do just that as council leader at Craig DDSO when I embraced the Quality Through Participation initiative within the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities that was initiated by Gov. Cuomo and current Commissioner Maul.

After more than two years of hard work (much of it uncompensated), I believed we were making some headway to the benefit of the clients we serve, the workers and the taxpayers.
However, what was the reward when Gov. George Pataki took office: layoffs, larger caseloads, turn-key, expectations to do more with less, and no raises for two years.
Therefore, given my personal experience, the only famous quote that I currently embrace is: “You got yours. Now, we want ours!”
James Carlisle
Conesus

Did more, but it didn’t work
To the Editor:
Although this poem written by my daughter portrays me as a beer-swilling couch potato, it shows how our contract struggle has filtered down to the family level:

“Dad”
He sits, eyes fixed on the TV,
Getting up for a new beer,
Or maybe kissing me.

While on the screen Homer’s a moron,
And we sit like mummies,
When the language is foreign.

And when he starts to chat about his day,
It usually ends up with,
“When do I get my pay?”

This man is great in many ways,
And because of the stinkin’ governor,
He ain’t getting no raise.

But when he hugs and doesn’t think
About those days or day,
Then worries quickly go away.

And so in conclusion to this poem,
I really love this man,
But now I’ll be a goin’.

By Dixie Appel, age 10

Dixie wrote this with no prompting by me.
Harold Appel, MD
New York City

Letters policy

The Communicator welcomes 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.

Send letters to:
The Communicator
Public Employees Federation
P.O. Box 12414
Albany, N.Y. 12212-2414

or email Denyce Duncan Lacy, Executive Editor The Communicator - Director of Public Relations mailto:dlacy@pef.org
or Sherry Halbrook, Editor of The Communicator- shalbrook@pef.org

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