 CARE ABOUT HEALTH CARE — PEF President Roger Benson addresses nearly 40,000 demonstrators at an April rally in Albany calling for the state to restore funding for hospitals, such as Roswell Park, and nursing homes. — Photo by Deborah A. Miles Key to job security: strong, focused voices By ROGER E. BENSON The job security of our members is a top priority of this administration. We have built a record of not a single layoff of a PEF-represented permanent state employee over the last six years. This success in protecting our members from layoffs has not happened by accident. PEF has deliberately and steadily worked to increase our influence in the political arena, and on a per-member basis has become one of the strongest voices for public employees in the state. The state’s fiscal crisis is a severe test of our ability as a union and as a political force to protect the job security of our members, but I am confident we are meeting the challenge. We have not been shy about taking the lead in organizing and mobilizing our membership to fight for the services that are so essential to the citizens of New York. PEF was one of the first to recognize the long-term impact of the national recession and 9-11 terrorist attack. We were the first to implement a job security campaign to protect our members. We were the first to propose a solution to the looming gap in tax revenues. We were the first to implement a campaign asking everyone to do their fair share to carry the state’s fiscal burden. We were the first to organize a significant fight-back to challenge cuts proposed in the Executive Budget. It is this preparation that makes us leaders. However, our ability to lead the fight for job security and protect our members’ jobs hinges on our participation in activities that give us our voice in the political arena. The pages of this month’s Communicator are filled with pictures and stories from rallies where our members have organized and answered the call. Our members have sent thousands of letters and made hundreds of phone calls to legislative leaders, and those leaders are listening. This budget fight will not be over until the final budget is in place and the state’s fiscal storm has abated. Until then. job security will remain “Job One” at PEF. I extend my appreciation to the many local PEF leaders and staff who have made our efforts so successful. |
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