Decide ‘different’ is good
Delegates reject changes to PEF constitution

By SHERRY HALBROOK
Delegates to the annual PEF convention last month rejected proposed amendments to the union’s constitution and bylaws that would have changed the titles and/or constituencies of PEF vice presidents, trustees and regional coordinators.

The first proposed amendment would have changed the title of the three existing vice presidents to “executive vice president.” PEF’s 12 posts of regional coordinator would have been renamed “vice president.”

A rose by any other name...
PEF Region 10 Coordinator Jennifer Faucher supported the title change. She said the title of regional coordinator is unfamiliar to other unions and creates confusion when she works with them. They don’t understand that in PEF a regional coordinator is comparable to a regional vice president in most other unions.

PEF Region 3 Coordinator Frank Besser agreed.

“Support this amendment,” Besser told the convention delegates. “I am president of the Rochester Area Labor Federation, and the other unions don’t understand my PEF title.”

However, Region 7 Coordinator Bill Crotty made an impassioned plea to stick with the terminology that sets PEF apart.

“I’m against this change,” Crotty said. “We were founded because we wanted to be different. We don’t need to be just another union. Other unions know us because they know our power comes from our members. We should be proud of our union and keep it as it is.”

PEF Executive Board Member Mike Keenan echoed that call.

“I’m also against this,” he said. “We founded PEF because we wanted to have more democracy. PEF’s regional coordinators are held more accountable than regional vice presidents in other unions.”

The amend-ment did not receive the support of two-thirds of the delegates and failed.

Easier said than done
Debate was more lengthy and just as intense over the second proposed amendment, which would have changed the constituencies for the three PEF trustees from statewide to area-based. One would be elected by members in Regions 1-7, a second from Regions 8-9 and the third from Regions 10-12.

The amendment also would have moved the trustees’ elections off of the triennial election cycle used for all of the other offices, by temporarily switching to a two-year term of office for the trustees elected in 2006.

These changes were meant to separate the trustees — who are charged with being independent watchdogs over the other offices in the union — from the political process involved in the triennial elections.

PEF President Roger Benson spoke in favor of the proposed change.

“For too many years, we have heard the trustees are too closely linked to the party of the president and the secretary-treasurer,” Benson said. “This amendment would change the trustees to a different election cycle and would change their constituencies to large regions of the state.”

When the votes were counted, this amendment failed to receive the two-thirds majority required for passage.

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Features
Convention: wrap:
Delegates set top PEF Priorities
Resolutions focus on benefits, work...
PEF ready for many challenges ahead
Union remains financially sound...
Delegates reject constitution changes

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You Said It: Member's letters this month
PS&T Contract Update: Patience, timing
Members' take on contract talks
Member Mobilization: Workshop keys
Members Highlights
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Legislative Update: Gov. vetoes bills
Health Benefits: Enrollees’ costs rising
PEF Membership Benefits & Travel Corp

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The Trustees Report '03 Convention
Financial Statements & Information
DOCS members Privatization Buster
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Taking the state workforce pulse
Nominees needed for Region 4
MVP to serve 3 more counties in ’04
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