Governor, why aren't you listening?
- Stop union busting
- No layoffs
- Stop playing politics
with people's lives

Keep standing strong for us
To the Editor:
Outrage! That’s the first thing I feel when reading the letter sent to us from Gov. Paterson, after seeing the letter from PEF on how many things we offered as a way to deflect layoffs.
I want to know why the governor cannot understand that laying off more people is not the way to go.

I see waste all the time in state government and one of the biggest wastes of money is the reliance on costly consultants. How can you be a consultant and work in the same place for nine years doing what any state employee could do for much less?

PEF has shown the state could save $730 million over three years by replacing half of the consultants with state employees; that’s more than $243 million a year in savings. Why can’t he get the point?

PEF, keep standing strong!

Too many times we got nothing from the state. Now, we need to stand up and stand together. Do not fall into the blackmail trap by the governor.
Thanks for standing up for us!
JAMES STATOM
Albany

PEF must not back down
To the Editor:
I read the governor’s sleazy, insincere letter today. I doubt he actually wrote it; it reads like something hastily put together by a working group, probably a bunch of appointees sitting around a conference room table.

We should ignore it, as the propaganda it plainly is, and focus on the real problem.

The governor obviously is trying to undermine the collective-bargaining process. If he succeeds in rewriting our contracts mid-term, then no contract ever will be worth the paper it’s printed on.

It’s not about money. It’s about undermining the unions and making room for private consultants and political appointees.

Paterson’s a quisling, a Republican in Democrat’s clothes. Stand up to him. Don’t give him an inch. Vote him out by a landslide in 2010.

If he lays anyone off, petition the next governor to re-hire everyone with back pay and an apology from the state.

Don’t back down!
PHILIP PERRY
Gloversville

Ax political appointees
To the Editor:

Don’t give in to the governor.

The thousands upon thousands of overpaid political appointees is where the real waste is. Let’s point out these positions for what they are.
AL and MARY MATROSE
Chestertown

Donate your raise; He’s not
To the Editor
Gov. David Paterson has spurned PEF’s recommendations as to how the state can save billions of dollars of waste.

Now, he’s attempting to blame the workers that keep our state operating, and provide for the benefit and safety of our state residents.

Alas, some of our PEF and other union members have bought into this scare tactic. Instead of standing firm, they are melting and demanding the unions give back our hard-earned pay and benefits.

I have a great solution to offer to those people, and it should be publicized to all civil service workers throughout our state and nation. Nothing would prevent any individual member from voluntarily sending a check for the amount of their net pay increase, on a regular basis, to their respective governmental authority (city, county, state, or federal),for it to use to keep both civil service and patronage employees on the payroll.

In fact, if enough civil service workers do this, their respective authorities will be able to continue to award outrageously costly contracts to their political friends and contributors, which often have resulted in replacement of civil service employees. They can also redecorate their lavish executive offices, and pay exorbitant rent to their allies who have given proper donations to their election campaigns.

As for myself, along with others who have stood tall and refused to buckle under to the immoral threats being thrown at us, I say to Gov. Paterson and all other mayors, governors, and President Obama: “I will not cede one cent of my hard-earned salary and benefits to enable government to continue business as usual, replete with both waste and corruption!”
ED WLODY
St. George



The Communicator Letters policy
We welcome 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 thecommunicator@pef.org:
The Communicator
Public Employees Federation
P.O. Box 12414
Albany, N.Y. 12212-2414

Email to Sherry Halbrook,  Editor or Darcy Wells, Editor-In Chief