HONORED — PEF President Roger Benson presents Jill
Dangler with PEF’s Quality Services Award. Shown are
George Dangler, Jill, PEF Region 6 Coordinator Mike
DelPiano and Benson. — Photo by Bill Sachs
Highlights of
PEF Executive Board’s June meeting
By LINDA RUBIN and SHERRY HALBROOK
On June 6 and 7, the PEF Executive Board met at the
Desmond Hotel in Albany.
Donald Reinhard was sworn in as a board member
representing members at the state Health Department.
The minutes of the previous meeting were adopted with a
minor change to include the postponement until June of
e-mail training for board members.
A short video was shown from the AFT regarding
“Right to Work” in Oklahoma.
President
reports
President Roger Benson reported on external challenges to
PEF such as the economy, the state Office of Mental
Health’s desire to close facilities, proposed
changes in the Labor Department and PEF’s
endorsement for governor.
Benson also addressed internal challenges, including
member education, and involvement in targeted elections.
And he reported on his administration’s goals of job
security, full mobilization and retirement reform.
Legislative
issues
Various PEF staff reported on the state budget and fiscal
concerns, as well as two retirement incentive proposals
before the Legislature — a traditional early
retirement incentive and a 25/55 provision — and
other legislative issues.
Political issues
Vice President Ken Brynien reported on political action
and announced that two gubernatorial candidates —
Gov. George Pataki and state Comptroller H. Carl McCall
— had been invited to speak at the August board
meeting. The board voted to postpone its gubernatorial
endorsement until August.
Contract, legal issues
Brynien reported on preparations for the upcoming
contract negotiations.
The board also received updates on the arbitration of the
PS&T Article 12.17 grievance, on the TransitChek
proposal and the successful settlement of the bargaining
agreements for the state Schools for the Deaf and Blind.
The board approved a procedure for settlement of PERB
discrimination charges when a member disagrees with the
terms of a proposed settlement.
Secretary-treasurer
reports
The board approved a PEF budget amendment presented by
PEF Secretary-Treasurer Jane Hallum dealing with items
over or under budget by 10 percent or more, which
finalizes last year’s fiscal report. The board also
approved amending the budget to provide for a new staff
position of labor-management assistant.
The board approved guidelines for establishing PEF e-mail
accounts for individuals other than staff. E-mail
training was provided for board members after the recess
on June 6.
Hallum reported that many PEF divisions had been shorted
per capita payments due to the misassignment of members
in PEF’s database. She said PEF will reimburse
divisions for last year after the database is corrected.
Lists with numbers for Executive Board constituencies are
available and will be given to PEF chairs of statewide
labor-management committees.
Fiscal issues
PEF Trustee Olubiyi Sehindemi presented a proposed PEF
policy for fiscal review.
A proposed policy on gifts and gratuities was presented
and tabled until the August board meeting.
The board approved a resolution on Sick Leave Buy Back
presented by Dennis Beagle, chair of the Sick Leave Buy
Back Committee.
The board approved a change in the PEF Code of Ethics to
require any member convicted of, or settling a charge of,
misuse of union funds to repay the union for the amount
improperly obtained or disbursed. Also, the PEF
secretary-treasurer must file charges against the member
with the PEF Ethics Committee.
Health, safety
issues
A motion was adopted to allocate $65,000 from the reserve
fund to build a memorial at PEF Headquarters to honor
members who have died in the line of duty since
PEF’s formation in 1979.
PEF Region 6 member Jill Dangler was presented with
PEF’s Hometown Hero/Quality Service Award for her
determination and perseverance in making Mohawk Valley
Psychiatric Center a safer place for staff and patients.
PEF Health and Safety Committee Chair Ross Aronson
reported on Emergency Evacuation and Preparedness
Training which will begin soon.
PEF elections
The board approved Benson’s nominees — Bridget
Pawelczak, Ed Doyle, Vivian Street, Edith Cooper, Don
Kehoskie, Paul Gendron, Sheila Bradwell, Charmaine
McKetty and Lola Young — to serve on the PEF
Triennial (Regular) Elections Committee.
The board sustained a decision of the PEF Divisions
Committee which had been appealed.
Convention
issues
The board approved a minor change in the 2002 Convention
agenda and a revised convention expense voucher. Both
items were presented by Vice President Joe Fox, the
convention chair.
The board approved sending a proposed constitutional
amendment to the convention for consideration. The
amendment, presented by Constitution and By-Laws
Committee Chair Michael Harrigan, would change the
required advance notice to members for any proposed
change in PEF dues from 30 to 60 days prior to the
convention.
The board turned down a motion to have PEF consult with
its two international affiliates about allowing members
the choice of running for delegate to either of the
international unions’ conventions, instead of being
restricted by their title-group assignment to a
particular affiliate.
|
The Communicator
September 2002
The Official Online Edition of
The New York State Public Employees
Federation
Inside This
Issue:
Features
PEF backs Pataki re-election
bid
PEF Board votes to back
candidates in ’02 races
PEF joins fight against
soaring Rx costs
Early retirement windows
opening
Q&A on 25/55, ERI
9/11; One Year Later:
‘Everything is different’ since 9/11
PEF fights for counseling
Victims’ families
grateful for PEF’s help
Contributions of PEF
activists missed
PEF to dedicate memorial
Departments
President's Message:
Endorsements and Loyalty
You Said It: Member's
letters this month
Member Mobilization: 8 steps
to success
Legislative Action:
Retirement, whistleblower laws
Nurses' Station: Help make
new future for nursing
Retirees In Action: Lucky to
get 1% COLA
PEF Membership Benefits
Program & Travel Corp
Union Matters
2002 Convention Preview
PEF researcher’s
discovery offers hope
Members show interest in
PS&T negotiations
Division 236 at Parole fully
mobilized
Members at Labor Dept. win
back rights
PEF fights big chemo bills
PEF vets keep wagering safe
bet
PEF wins OT pay
Highlights of PEF Exec
Board’s meeting
Member’s kids wins
scholarships
Support true charities, job
security
GET OUT THE VOTE!
Other Links
Professional Directory
Members' Classified
Member Communicator Feedback
Do You Prefer The Online
Edition?
How To Advertise Here
PEF Pride Store
Last Month's Communicator
The Communicator Staff
Questions on this site?
Email the comwebmaster.
 Register here on the PEF Member
Network.Click on pefonline@pef.org
 Click
Here email notice
when next issue is online
Site Map What's New Search
|