Scroll down to read this
month's member's letters.
Thanks
for new PS&T contract
To the Editor:
It was a hard battle and you persevered! Thanks. I realize some
would have liked more in the contract, but that should not take
away from the valuable results. Already, I am hearing that PEF
did not get less.
For myself, I am grateful. I will be able to give up a second job
because of the money in this contract. You deserve praise for
hard work. The staff have done a lot of work that probably was
outside of their normal duties.
Again, thanks to all who work for us around the state and at
headquarters.
ED GUIDER
Ballston Lake
Opposes PEF
dues increase
To the Editor:
I recently heard that PEF President Roger Benson is proposing to
increase the percentage of our base pay that we contribute as
union dues to PEF.
I do not agree with this proposal and believe it would be
inconsistent with precedents set by PEF in the past.
When I first worked for the state during the 1980s, PEF members
contributed a specific dollar amount from our paychecks so we
could all receive the same benefits.
Later, PEF changed the dues formula to take a percentage of our
income.
I did not totally agree with this change because people who were
paid higher wages were paying more to receive the same benefits
as those who earned less.
But one positive point for this increase was that PEF never again
would have to ask for a dues increase. PEF would earn more if it
negotiated higher salaries for us in our contracts. I ask that
PEF hold to this promise and abandon its request to increase the
dues. Although I do not closely follow the PEF budget, I do look
to PEF to be fiscally responsible with our dues payments. Any
increase in revenue to PEF that is brought about by our salary
increase should adequately enhance our union operations and
benefits.
If PEF has been burdened with additional expenses, they can be
paid for if the budget is managed properly. Cuts can be made
within the budget to pay for any new and unplanned expenses.
Political campaign contributions can be cut. In 1998, when Gov.
George Pataki sought his second term of office, PEF did not
support him, nor his opponent. Yet we have just voted on a good
respectable contract with the governor and his administration.
JAMES A. SACCO
Buffalo
Editor’s
note: According to PEF Secretary-Treasurer Jane Hallum,
PEF’s expenses already have been significantly reduced.
Further cuts cannot be made without compromising PEF's ability to
serve its members.
Even with this cost cutting, but without a dues increase, PEF
would have a deficit of $875,000 by next year that would grow to
$2.6 million by 2005.
A dues increase is also needed to meet new obligations from
PEF’s affiliated international unions — the Service
Employees International Union (SEIU) and the American Federation
of Teachers (AFT). The internationals have increased their
assessments on PEF by a total of $2.3 million over the next five
years. These increased assessments will fund lobbying and
political organizing at the federal level to protect
members’ rights from the well-funded attacks of
anti-public-employee groups.
Additionally, building on PEF’s success, and achieving even
better contracts in the future will require new funds for
political action.
One of the reasons PEF has been successful in its contract and
legislative efforts was the help provided by friends in the
Legislature, and PEF must continue to build those relationships.
For more detailed answers to questions about the proposed dues
increase, go to PEF’s website at www.pef.org and click on
“Latest News.”
Thanks
Ferraro for COLA effort
To the editor:
In the last issue of The Communicator, PEF Retiree President Ray
Ferraro rightfully thanked those who supported efforts for a
permanent pension cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for PEF
retirees and many others. I would add one name to the top of that
list — Ray Ferraro’s. During the long struggle for a
COLA, Ray put in countless hours on behalf of our retirees. His
efforts should be recognized and appreciated.
Dave
Grier, president
PEF Retirees Region 2 Chapter
Letters policy
The Communicator welcomes
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
or email Denyce Duncan Lacy,
Executive Editor The Communicator - Director of Public Relations mailto:dlacy@pef.org
or Sherry Halbrook, Editor of The Communicator- shalbrook@pef.org