PS&T
negotiations advance with ‘new’ GOER
Story and photo by DEBORAH A. MILES
Now that the formal handshaking is over, PEF’s PS&T contract team has been on a
roll, meeting and talking with negotiators from the Governor’s Office of
Employee Relations (GOER).
They met seven times in May.
At the first meeting, negotiators exchanged conceptual proposals. They also
discussed and signed-off on ground rules, according to Roger Scales, PEF
director of labor relations and chief negotiator.
“This initial stage of negotiating may lack luster, but it is a vital and
necessary step to fully understand each other’s positions,” Scales said.
“With new leadership at GOER, I’ve seen some remarkable differences. For
example, both teams agreed on the ground rules at the first meeting. In the
past, it took much more time.
“The teams have a job to do,” Scales added. “We can expect the new GOER will be
as responsible to its principles as PEF will be to its members.
“There may be difficult times, as it goes with the territory in real labor
negotiations. But I am cautiously optimistic both teams will have the will and
wherewithal to stay focused, even during a storm, and arrive at a negotiated
settlement,” Scales said. “It’s professionalism.”
PEF Vice President and contract team chair Lou Matrazzo said PEF negotiators are
advancing proposals that address the many needs of the PS&T unit.
“PEF has 56,000 people from grades 1 to 38 in every agency and in the executive
branch,” Matrazzo said. “Our agreement is far more difficult and complex to
negotiate than those of the other 14 bargaining units that negotiate with GOER.
“Fair, across-the-board raises is the one issue which ties us all together,” he
said. “Many of our members want to know when raises will be addressed. In past
bargaining rounds, raises were negotiated toward the end of the process when it
was clear what costs and expenses are associated with the entire deal.”
For the most recent updates on negotiations, visit the PEF Web site, sign-up and
read the Active Informed Member (AIM) update,
www.unionvoice.org/pef/home.html or call the weekly PEF Information Line.
The Communicator June 2007
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