PEF delegates affirm union’s leadership role

By ROGER E. BENSON
Twenty-five years ago, PEF held its first convention. At that convention, the delegates set the direction of PEF as a union, laying the foundation for PEF’s activism and leadership as a statewide voice for public employees.

This activism and leadership have led us to many successes over the years, most recently our unparalleled success in job security, stronger contracts, and retirement reform. It is this activism and leadership that we will use in our fights against budget cuts, the threats of contracting out and privatization, and the anti-government services and anti-union environment emanating from Washington.

Our delegates at this year’s convention placed PEF squarely in the leadership role in these struggles, officially kicking off our Cut State Waste – Not State Workers campaign to identify and expose wasteful spending, contracting out and privatization. This campaign will be one of PEF’s highest priorities as we look toward protecting the vital services our members deliver. We will let the public know that our members and the services we provide offer the best value for taxpayer dollars, and use this as a basis for remedying short staffing as well as a source of funds for our fight for a fair contract.

Our delegates also voted to ensure the participation of PEF in the fight by our international affiliates to end the anti-government and anti-union policies of the Bush administration. We will be working with SEIU and AFT to maximize the impact that PEF has in the presidential election by providing resources and volunteers in states critical in the election.

The fight and fire that first spawned PEF and later became our trademark remains. The delegates have set the direction of PEF for the upcoming year, but it will be your action that will guarantee the success of these efforts and determine PEF’s role over the next 25 years.

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Inside This Issue
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

Departments
President's Message: Delegates lead
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
Nurses' Station: Fight for public health..
Legislative Update: Gov. vetoes bills
Health Benefits: Enrollees’ costs rising
PEF Membership Benefits & Travel Corp

Union Matters
We will never forget...9-11-01
The Trustees Report '03 Convention
Financial Statements & Information
DOCS members Privatization Buster
Phipps wins 2003 DeBow scholarship
Nurses respond to blackout
Closings of VA hospitals spur action
Taking the state workforce pulse
Nominees needed for Region 4
MVP to serve 3 more counties in ’04
Convention Photo Gallery

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