Executive
Board makes tough decisions at August meeting
By LINDA RUBIN and SHERRY HALBROOK
The Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates
— Gov. George Pataki and state Comptroller H. Carl
McCall — addressed the PEF Executive Board at its
August meeting in Albany to ask for the union’s
endorsement. The board voted to support Pataki.
Vice President Ken Brynien, chair of the PEF Statewide
Political Action Committee, presented its recommendations
for endorsements in other elections to the board, which
debated and voted on candidates in hundreds of state and
congressional elections.
(Click Here to see the September
issue of The Communicator for a list of the resulting
endorsements.)
Issues getting
addressed
President Roger Benson announced he had a hand-shake deal
with the governor to enable all PEF members to once again
earn 13 days of sick leave.
Among the union’s other top achievements so far this
year, Benson cited enactment of the 25/55 retirement
incentive and Parole Officers Confidentially bill, an
agreement with the state to begin a TransitChek pilot
program and the successful conclusion of contracts for
members at the schools for the deaf and blind.
The board approved sending the proposed 2003 PEF
Legislative Agenda to delegates at the convention in
October for adoption.
Benson reported PEF’s influence within the AFL-CIO
is increasing and he said the union must continue to
build alliances with other organizations, especially
regarding health benefits.
Rough road ahead
In discussing long-term challenges, Benson said the state
appears headed for huge budget deficits next year and the
union should continue to work hard at collecting
political chips.
One of the most important short-term challenges for PEF,
Benson said, is getting PEF divisions fully mobilized and
becoming involved in grassroots campaigns.
Vice President Pat Baker reported on the Job Security
Campaign and the board approved $1 million for a new
phase of the 2002-’03 campaign.
PEF elections
Mary Mahoney was sworn in as the new Executive Board
representative of members at the state Health Department.
The board voted not to hear a Special Election Appeal
filed by Jim Close.
The Regular/Triennial Election Committee presented
proposed rules for the 2003 elections. After discussion,
the board decided to review them further at its November
meeting.
Getting ready to
bargain
PEF Director of Labor Relations Roger Scales reported on
the status of grievances relating to PS&T Contract
Article 12.17 (Timekeeping). Scales said the arbitrator
is not expected to issue a decision on the first of these
grievances for several months
Brynien introduced members of PEF’s team for
negotiating the next PS&T contract, which he chairs.
The team members are Donna Rodriguez, Joe Tewksbury, Lou
Matrazzo, Rosemary Rossi Williams, Olivia Robinson,
Kartikey Adhvaryu, Juanita Babcock, Lola Parks Guerra,
David Stallone, June Edwards, Todd Fryer and Arlea Igoe.
Scales is chief negotiator and is assisted by Director of
Contract Administration Bob Carrothers and other staff.
Brynien reported the team had been studying the contract
and had scheduled meetings with members in every PEF
region to discuss issues.
Holding on to
purse strings
The board adopted a policy limiting individual members to
receiving gifts and gratuities from PEF of no more than
$75 per year.
Secretary-Treasurer Jane Hallum announced the PEF Policy
Manual will become available online once new equipment
PEF has purchased is installed.
She reviewed procedures for soliciting amendments to
PEF’s budget and discussed division expenditures and
financial training for division officers.
Division council standards were approved by the board.
This outlines the mandatory requirements per the PEF
constitution or policy as well as other standards to be
followed.
President Benson reported the average number of fully
trained stewards in PEF divisions is 45.7
percent and he is committed to seeing that steward
training be continued.
The board voted to have the secretary-treasurer
investigate the expansion of PEF’s information
technology services and report at the November board
meeting.
Board member Pat Leanza urged his colleagues to discuss
the issue of direct-deposit for travel reimbursements
with their agency labor-management chairs, even though
the topic has already been raised by the Governor’s
Office of Employee Relations.
The board adopted a policy regarding the criteria for
deciding which members’ names should be engraved on
the PEF Memorial to its fallen members.
Convention
planning
Vice President Joe Fox reported on preparations for the
October PEF convention.
A motion was adopted to recommend the convention seat
nine potential delegates from the state Insurance Fund.
Hallum reminded the board that delegates to the
convention must decide their agencies’ Executive
Board constituencies for the PEF triennial elections next
year.
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COMMUNICATOR HOMEPAGE
Inside This
Issue:
Features
PEF’s political action
efforts pay off
Union's top COPE-people take
a bow
Nurses protest at SUNY
Downstate Med.Center
Long view snags threat to
PEF jobs
PEF Scholarships and
financial aid
- January time to apply for student financial aid
- PEF to award 10 Scacalossi Scholarships
- Unions offer $$$ to top students
- Neil Boyle lives on through scholarships
- Tap into a Union Plus
scholarship
Departments
President's Message: Ready
for '03 challenges
You Said It: Member's
letters this month
Member Mobilization:Building
union power
Nurses' Station: Fight for
healthier health care
Health Notes: Choosing your
health plan
Retirees In Action:
Legislative battles ahead
Member In Action: Highlights
page
PEF Membership Benefits
Program & Travel Corp
Union Matters
Trustees Report to the '02
convention
Agency-fee procedure
outlined
Financial Supplement (Audit)
PEF helps spotlight poor
care, understaffing
Members’ 9/11 tribute
on US State Dept. Website
Union striving to keep
service-credit bill alive
Members' vacation credits
safe
Members on military leave health insurance safe
Court: GOER must enforce
order at SIF
PEF rallies to aid injured
member at DOT
Test drive online training
Contract offers DOCS members
help with tuition
ERI windows already opened
or opening
File your HCSAccount claims
by Mar. 31
E- Board makes decisions at
Aug. meeting
Black Caucus to host Holiday
Party
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