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Contract team gives GOER detailed PS&T
proposals
By DEBORAH A. MILES
During May and June, PEF’s PS&T contract team held nearly two-dozen meetings
with negotiators from the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER).
These meetings were considered the first phase of negotiations for the new
contract and consisted of exchanging and discussing more than 200 proposals.
“The tone of negotiations has been professional and constructive,” said PEF Vice
President and Contract Chair Lou Matrazzo. “Patience is a key component in these
meetings. Our team has clearly laid out all the facts with PowerPoint
presentations by members who are experts in their fields.
“We are ready for the next step at the bargaining table, when both teams will
either agree to the proposals or withdraw those where no agreement is likely. We
will know soon if the GOER team receives approval to move forward,” Matrazzo
said.
“What we’ve accomplished is an in-depth look at the proposals discussed,” said
Roger Scales, PEF director of labor relations and chief negotiator. “This
understanding of each other’s proposals is critical to our success in a future
stage of actually agreeing to contract changes.”
The teams have explained their proposals on educational programs, family
benefits, the Employee Assistance Program, family and environmentally friendly
work schedules, telecommuting, flex time, compressed workweeks and other topics.
Raises are usually negotiated at the end of the process when it is clear what
costs will be associated with the entire deal.
They also began bargaining for Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) and the
Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. The RPCI and schools’ negotiations must be
settled for the parties to reach a final PS&T agreement.
Scales said PEF presented a detailed health insurance proposal, while the
state’s proposal was “vague and in line with its conceptual nature at the early
stage of bargaining.”
The teams will continue to meet during the summer, and updates will be posted on
the PEF Web site, the Active Informed Member (AIM) e-mail bulletins and on the
PEF Information Line.
The Communicator
July/August 07
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