 Endorsements – Loyalty,
the ‘carrot’ and the ‘stick’
By ROGER E.
BENSON
Since the PEF Executive Board voted in early August to
endorse George Pataki for governor over Carl McCall,
I’ve heard from a few members who view the
endorsement as a test of our loyalty.
I couldn’t agree more. This endorsement is a test of
loyalty — PEF’s loyalty to no one, except the
members it was created to represent. My loyalty and the
loyalty of the Executive Board is only to the PEF
membership.
There were attempts to cast the endorsement as a choice
between “old” and “new” friends.
However, our board rightly understood that in politics we
have no permanent friends, only permanent issues.
PEF has built its political influence to fight for the
benefit of our members. We have mounted campaigns around
contracts, budget issues and working conditions for our
members, and have shown that by our actions we can alter
the behavior of the state’s political leaders.
In the recent past, politics made a difference in our
contract struggle, retirement reform including COLA, and
protecting state services, especially for the mentally
ill. It is this power that gives our endorsement value.
PEF was presented with an opportunity to garner pledges
on job security and sick-leave parity.
All candidates make election-year promises; not all
candidates can deliver. While PEF and the governor
haven’t always agreed, Gov. Pataki has shown more
than a willingness to work with us on these issues and
has built an almost insurmountable lead in the polls for
this year’s gubernatorial election.
I have not forgotten our struggles, the four zeros and
the proposed closures of psychiatric centers. I also
recall the successful outcomes of those struggles. We
will always have issues with the boss, no matter who is
elected. This is the nature of the labor-management
relationship.
However, we also haven’t forgotten that our elected
leaders react to public pressure. We have spent the last
five years building our power and refining our ability to
apply pressure. We must now take advantage of the
opportunities this has created.
The metaphor of the carrot and stick is often used to
describe political relationships, and it is an apt
metaphor for PEF. We have shown that we know how to use
the stick. Now, we must also learn to use the carrot.
Gov. Pataki has earned our endorsement on the strength of
his job-security record and pledge on sick-leave parity,
and we must now recognize that with our support.
“Our
board rightly understood that in politics we have no
permanent friends, only permanent issues.”
— Roger Benson
PEF President
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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!
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