TALLYING THE VOTE – PEF Divisions
Comptroller Valerie O’Dell records the number of votes from each PEF
Region from Jeff Zanio of the American Arbitration Association in
Manhattan on April 11. — Photos by Richard Dillard
Landslide vote ratifies PS&T contractBy DEBORAH A. MILES
In a landslide vote of 34,758 to 1,214, PEF members in the PS&T unit ratified their four-year pact with the state April 11. It was the highest number of votes ever cast for a new contract.
The votes were counted by the American Arbitration Association in New York City, where nearly two-thirds of the membership returned their ballots.
The highlights of the agreement include a 3 percent salary increase retroactive to April 2, 2007, and a 3 percent raise retroactive to April 1, 2008. Another 3 percent salary increase is effective April 1, 2009, and a 4 percent raise is effective April 1, 2010.
The payment dates for the raises have not been set at this time, but members should expect to see the retroactive pay and other increases starting in late June. Specific information will be available after the pay bill is introduced into the Legislature and processed by the Office of the State Comptroller.
“This contract was extremely popular with our members as exemplified by the vote,” said PEF President Ken Brynien. “Members from Long Island to Buffalo have applauded the efforts of PEF’s negotiating team for closing a deal that addresses the needs of our members today and in the future.”
Some of the highlights of the new pact include a health insurance package with additional benefits and modest co-pay increases. The deal also includes location pay increases for members who reside in high-cost areas, extension of educational programs, an increase in job rate on salary schedule effective the last year of the agreement, and continued support for meal allowances, labor-management committees and inconvenience pay.
A different time
This contract stands out for more than just great benefits and high voter turn-out.
It goes back to the beginning of negotiations when Eliot Spitzer was governor and appointed Gary Johnson as head of the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations. PEF was bargaining with new players this time, and all was going well.
“The state’s team was highly professional and showed us respect,” said PEF Vice President and contract chair Lou Matrazzo. “Things moved along, until the end of December. So PEF made another historic move January 14.”
Matrazzo was referring to the meeting between top state administration officials and Brynien, PEF Secretory-Treasurer Arlea Igoe and members of the contract team.
“This was a very serious stage of bargaining,” said PEF Director of Labor Relations Roger Scales. “PEF had not been offered a deal comparable to those provided other state bargaining units. The meeting at the Capitol was intended to get us beyond this impasse and it did. President Brynien let the governor and his officials know this union would not accept a sub-standard agreement.”
Member support
“I would like to thank our members for supporting this contract, and for their patience,” Brynien said. “In the beginning of negotiations, I asked each of you to stand strong with us, and you did. You were ready to join us in a fight, if we had asked.
“The previous agreement was struck after a 19-month stretch of actual bargaining. This time, our team got the deal squared away in nine months. Our negotiators spent a lot of time traveling, talking to members, explaining the specifics and contract language.
“For their selflessness, their dedication, and their perseverance, we owe the contract team a debt of gratitude,” Brynien said.
