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COMMUNICATOR HOMEPAGE
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| Thanks for all your hard work To the Editor: Reading Roger Benson’s article in the May issue of The Communicator (“Key to job security: strong, focused voices”) brought back memories of 20 years ago. Roger stated, “We have built a record of not a single layoff of a PEF-represented permanent state employee over the last six years.” In April 1983, I was a permanent state employee in a title with 14 permanent employees and 11 provisional or temporary workers. All of the provisionals and temporaries were laid off and two permanent employees were laid off as well. I was one of those. It wasn’t until 1985, that I returned to my position at the state Department of Motor Vehicles. In my opinion, PEF is strongly dedicated to its members’ job security. I am grateful the leaders and members of PEF are committed to their brethren. PEF is not merely reactionary, but vigorously and aggressively fights for the preservation of jobs by all available means. I am optimistic that your efforts will not be in vain. Thank you all for your unceasing work. DENNIS LINDHURST Albany PEF convention can be anywhere To the Editor: Letters printed in the May issue of The Communicator suggested that, since we work for the New York State, we have an obligation to hold PEF conventions inside the state. I do not agree. A couple of years ago, the state Legislature passed a bill that would have improved the work environment for PEF members. The governor vetoed the measure stating that if we wished to gain such a benefit, we should negotiate for it. When the state wishes to change a term or condition of employment, it has to negotiate the matter with us. It generally costs PEF more money to hold conventions in New York State than outside it. Furthermore, except in New York City where PEF has never held a convention, there are no facilities that can house the entire convention and all of the delegates. This lowers the value of a convention and creates unnecessary danger for PEF members who are not present when the convention is held under one roof. Accordingly, until the state sits down at the bargaining table and offers us something in exchange for limiting our convention sites to New York, I feel we should keep our options open. KEVIN E. JONES Albany Defends surtax on top income To the Editor: In May, The Communicator carried a letter from a state retiree now living in Florida who took PEF to task for supporting a surcharge on New York’s upper income earners to raise tax revenues needed to maintain vital state services. Rather than support a modest progressive tax that is backed by 73 percent of this state’s residents, the retiree condemns the surcharge, claiming it amounts to “socialism.” He adds that New York is “already overburdened [with] state expenditures.” While untrue, that apparently was all right with him when he was making his living off those expenditures he now criticizes. The proposed surcharge will increase state taxes for somebody making $125,000 by only $175. According to the Fiscal Policy Institute, the identical person with an annual income of $125,000 already pays $1,800 less in taxes because of the federal tax cuts of 2001. While most PEF retirees and current members (including this writer) abhor the idea, the Florida retiree must like the governor’s proposal to have former employees pay a larger percentage of the soaring costs of health insurance. After all, it doesn’t raise taxes. That would save the upper income crowd some tax money and help to shore up “the free-enterprise system” the retiree holds so dear. RICHARD A. ENSMINGER West Seneca 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: The Communicator Public Employees Federation P.O. Box 12414 Albany, N.Y. 12212-2414 email Denyce Duncan Lacy, Executive Editor The Communicator - Director of Public Relations dduncanlacy@pef.org Sherry Halbrook, Editor of The Communicator- shalbrook@pef.org |
