PS&T CONTRACT UPDATE
State stonewalls compensation proposals
Members tell PEF: What do I want to see in the new contract?

PEF’s bargaining team continues to meet weekly with representatives from the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER), but more than 150 days past the expiration of the PS&T contract, the state has yet to put a wage package on the bargaining table.

In July, the union’s negotiators submitted its compensation proposal that demands raises in each and every year of the contract, and the team is still waiting for a response.

“GOER has not offered a single economic proposal. It seems as though the state’s negotiators aren’t authorized to discuss economic matters,” said Ken Brynien, PEF vice president and contract chair.

Keeping a close eye on the state’s fiscal climate, PEF’s negotiators said they will clarify the percentage amounts for annual raises when GOER’s representatives indicate they can do substantive bargaining on economic matters.

To find funding for wage increases, PEF leaders unleashed a “cut state waste” campaign during July and August showing how the state could save as much as a quarter of a billion dollars.

“Cutting state waste essentially means letting state employees do the work they are trained and qualified to do, and not paying outside contractors an exorbitant price to do the same work,” Brynien said.

PEF leaders enlisted the support of its membership by asking state workers to fax a prepared letter to the governor during July. And through member mobilizers, thousands of post cards signed by members protesting the use of contractors will be given to the governor in September.

The bargaining teams will continue to meet throughout the fall. For weekly updates, visit the PEF Web site at www.pef.org and click on the orange contract button. You may also receive weekly Active Informed Member (AIM) updates to your home by sending your e-mail address to PEF. — Deborah A. Miles

To learn about future topics at the bargaining table, members are invited to visit the FAQ section on that Web page.

PEF and the state have tentatively agreed to keep the same language in the new contract for the following articles:

• Bill of Rights
• Article 1 – Recognition
• Article 2 – Statement of Policy and Purpose
• Article 3 – Unchallenged Representation
• Article 5 – Management Rights
• Article 6 – No Strikes
• Article 11 – Accidental Death Benefit
• Article 16 – Staffing
• Article 19 – Parking
• Article 23 – Layoffs in Non-Competitive Class
• Article 24 – Labor/Management Committee Process
• Article 28 – Distribution of Directives,

Bulletins or Instructions
• Article 37 – Indemnification
• Article 39 – Clinical Privileging and Credentialing
• Article 40 – Credit Union Space
• Article 43 – Printing of Agreement
• Article 45 – Benefits Guaranteed
• Article 46 – Conclusion of Collective Negotiations
• Article 47 – Severability
• Article 48 – Approval of the Legislature

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