PEF’s
help came when most needed
To the Editor:
I want to thank Jonathan Rosen, PEF director of safety and health, so very much
for his help in navigating my dilemma with Workers’ Compensation, the state,
etc.
He was patient, hopeful and caring at a time when I was frustrated and
frightened. I have not forgotten any of that. I am so grateful to have had him
on my side.
I am now about to retire from the state Division of Parole and I am better off
than I would have been had I not been able to rely on him.
Again, I thank him and PEF.
GAIL R. BROOKS
Rockville Centre
Pension reality check applauded
To the Editor:
I would like to commend the editors of The Communicator for providing a reality
check in the September issue to those persons continuing to request increases in
certain pension benefits for Tier 3 and Tier 4 members.
PEF has secured significant advances over the past few years in eligibility and
benefit levels. Our ability to retire at age 55 with 30 years of service at
about 60 percent of our final salaries would be looked at with envy by most
other retirees. The NYS Constitution also protects us from future reductions in
benefits.
As a Tier 3 member with 28 years of membership in the state pension system, I
contributed 3 percent of my salary for about 22 years. Expecting compensation
for my contributions in excess of 10 years, simply because I happened to have
joined the system before 1990, is unjustified.
Members should become aware of actions being taken elsewhere. Public employees’
pension contributions have been increased in Illinois and Maryland. Oregon is
attempting to retroactively reduce retirement benefits. Many states are
considering changing to defined-contribution (rather than defined-benefit)
plans.
Private-sector efforts to abolish established plans have been well-publicized. A
recent series of articles in The New York Times addressed the growing impact of
increased public-employee benefits on municipal budgets.
Remember, we also pay property taxes.
I am appreciative of a “Cadillac” of a pension plan; I don’t expect a
“Mercedes.”
JEFFREY ARMON
Troy
PEF visit helps improve safety
To the Editor:
This is a thank you to PEF for the August site visit of PEF Director of Safety
and Health Jonathan Rosen and health and safety specialist Matt London to Auburn
Correction Facility.
John Furness, who was then PEF Division 299 council leader at Auburn, asked for
the “walk through” with PEF health and safety staff after an incident in which
an attempted rape and possible homicide of an Auburn civilian employee was
thwarted by another civilian employee.
Auburn CF is among those at the top of the list of state’s correctional
institutions for incidence of violence according to information compiled by PEF
Health and Safety.
A debriefing with Auburn Superintendent Harold Graham and department supervisor
David Stallone called particular attention to safety concerns in the facility,
and now management and the union are working jointly to address those concerns.
Also Division 299 has incorporated “Health and Safety” as a regular
labor-management agenda item at the monthly meetings with management.
It’s nice to think the visit by Rosen and London made a difference. Thank you
again, PEF.
JOHN M SROKA
Auburn
The Communicator
Letters policy
We welcome letters to the editor about union issues and events relevant
to PEF's diverse membership.
All letters are subject to editing for space, fairness and good taste.
Please keep them brief (up to one page, double-spaced or a maximum of 250
words), and please include your name and phone number for verification.
Send letters to:
The Communicator
Public Employees Federation
P.O. Box 12414
Albany, N.Y. 12212-2414
Email to Sherry Halbrook,
Editor or Darcy Wells, Editor-In Chief