PEF Retirees In Action

The Binghamton Chapter of PEF Retirees will host our Summer Leadership Conference July 21 and 22.

Binghamton has long provided leadership for the PEF Retirees. Past chapter president Ray Ferraro served as statewide PEF Retirees president for eight years. During his tenure, we grew from 4,100 to nearly 13,000 members.

The current chapter president, Karl Wokan, has continued the work of the PEF Retirees in the Binghamton area. Karl tells us his leadership team brings 129 years of state service experience to the chapter.

“Our goals are to keep members informed about issues that affect public retirees, health care, the cost of living and taxes,” Karl said. “We all need to be heard. Retirees from several agencies have provided examples of how contracting out has cost the state millions of dollars. We also know millions could be saved by reviewing the numerous state authorities, which are havens for political patronage.”

The Binghamton chapter has increased its membership over the past three years. Vice-President Eileen Theodorou, Treasurer Laura Copp and Secretary Anita Tyrrell are doing an excellent job for the PEF Retirees.

Karl and all the members of the PEF Retiree Executive Board are working throughout the state to protect the benefits of our retirees. We are loathe to see any diminishing of the gains and recognition seniors have experienced in our society. As Karl has so aptly pointed out, “We have valuable contributions to make, but we must insist that we are heard.”

He states, “We must keep our members aware, since many think nothing will change after they retire. We constantly must fight to keep our rights and benefits intact.”

I wrote to all active members of PEF Retirees in March asking them to contact their state senators and Assembly members and say we were especially concerned about the possibility that retired and current state employees would be required to contribute to Medicare B premiums. We also were alarmed about the proposal to create a new Tier 5 for future retirees.

Our members’ response was overwhelming. Legislative staff have commented on the volumes of protest mail they received. Thank you for your help. We were rewarded when these two items were excluded from the 2009-10 state budget.

Send your e-mail address to rmango@pef.org to get PEF Retirees news alerts.