TOP HONORS — Edith Cooper, assistant council leader of Division 245, received the 2002 Quality Service Award from PEF President Roger Benson for her dedication, compassion and commitment to excellence. — Photo by Bill Sachs Summary of PEF Executive Board March meeting By LINDA RUBIN The PEF Executive Board met at the Quality Inn in Albany on March 7 and 8. Louis Matrazzo was sworn in as Region 8 coordinator, along with Board Members Ray Lee (Taxation and Finance), Piper Lutbak (Higher Education Services Corp.) and Susan Woytak (Office of Mental Health). The minutes from the previous meeting were adopted as printed. Discussion of the PEF budget was the first item of business. After Secretary-Treasurer Jane Hallum responded to several questions, the budget was adopted as printed. A proposed e-mail guideline policy was discussed and a decision on the issue was postponed until the June meeting. The Executive Board went into executive session to discuss a federal indictment pertaining to the PEF former administration. President’s report President Roger Benson gave updates on the administration’s priorities. Regarding job security, he reported that although no layoffs are planned in the state budget, it does include a continued reduction in the state workforce and hits especially hard in OMH where there is already a serious staffing shortage. PEF will address this by home-district lobbying of state lawmakers. Benson also reported: • Preparations for contract negotiations were moving along; • The 25-55 Bill is the union’s retirement-reform priority, however Tier 2 and Tier 1 reform proposals were still alive; • Vice President Joe Fox will head a new civil-service enforcement effort that would include a quarterly newsletter to PEF leaders; • Region 12 Coordinator Ruth Gaines will chair the Full Staffing Committee, replacing Fox in that position; • The bill banning mandatory overtime for nurses is also a legislative priority; • The Building Evacuation Program funded by the PEF Membership Benefits Fund would be implemented at a regional level by the PEF Health and Safety staff. • Each of the PEF families affected by the World Trade Center disaster have received approximately $65,000 due the generosity of SEIU, AFT, NYSUT and the Robin Hood Charitable Fund. Staff, committee reports PEF Director of Legislation Brian Curran and Assistant Director of Civil Service Enforcement Marty O’Connor gave updates on the state budget and legislative priorities, and answered Board members’ questions. Director of Downstate Field Services Kalli Zervos reported on the NDRI contract negotiations, and a motion was approved to send the proposed contract to those members for ratification. Assistant Director of Mobilization and Education Eric Miller gave an update on member mobilizing and the coming PS&T contract negotiations. He announced there were currently 63 fully mobilized divisions. Director of Labor Relations Roger Scales gave updates on several issues, including grievances over Article 12.17 and the Standby/On-Call issue; TransitChek, and the downstate (Dutchess, Orange and Putnam County) differential. Director of Contact Administration Robert Carrothers gave an update on bargaining-unit-determination challenges and reported hearings were scheduled on several old challenges. Executive Board Member and EAP representative Patricia Smith gave an update on a proposal to privatize the NYS Employee Assistance Program. Smith stated that although the LifeWorks Program has been well received, PEF supports keeping the EAP program separate from the LifeWorks program. Executive Board Member Greg Case reported on his participation in the Cornell University Union Leadership Institute. Other business A motion was approved to recommend that Benson ask the PEF research and legal departments to prepare a proposal for the AFT Convention regarding prevailing wages. Fox presented several options for the 2002 PEF Convention agenda and, after discussion, the agenda was approved. Time will be allocated to address proposed resolutions each day of the convention. Delegate apportionment for the convention was also approved. A motion was approved to amend the endorsement procedures regarding special elections to add, “Regions will get at least 10 days to meet, discuss and make their recommendations to the PEF Political Action Committee.” A motion carried to make an early re-election endorsement for state Assembly Member Paul Tonko. A motion was also approved to recommend that the Statewide PAC bring an endorsement recommendation regarding the Democratic Party primary for governor to the June Executive Board meeting. A motion was also approved for “Mail Guidelines for the Submission of Convention Resolutions.” This allows for late resolutions being accepted, as long as the envelope is postmarked by the deadline date, and is received no later than eight days after the deadline. Edith Cooper, assistant council leader of Division 245, was presented with the Quality Service Award, honoring her volunteerism for supervising a family disaster center after September 11. The Executive Board meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m. March 8.