BEATING THE SYSTEM — PEF President Roger Benson presents the 2002 Privatization Award to Ed Snow, treasurer of PEF Division 242, at the 24th annual PEF convention in Buffalo. Snow stopped management attempts to contract for services already provided by PEF members. — Photo by John Epting

Long view snags threat to PEF jobs

By SHERRY HALBROOK
When it comes to privatization of public services, sometimes it’s what you don’t see that can get you. That’s the message from Ed Snow, treasurer of PEF Division 242 at Sunmount Developmental Disabilities Services Office.

Snow is PEF’s 2002 Privatization Buster of the Year — a distinction he won for his skepticism and tenacity in ferreting out the underlying implications of a state plan to “augment” services at two Sunmount community programs.

The plan to add “Article 28 clinics” to state-operated day-habilitation programs in Speculator and Long Lake seemed harmless enough when it was proposed.

However, the more Snow — an intermediate care facility program manager — learned about the plan, the more questions he had.

By pressing the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities for more information and monitoring the state Health Department Website for new Article 28 approvals, Snow discovered that the proposed contractor, New Dimensions, was offering some services, such as physical and occupational therapy, that duplicated those already being provided by PEF members at the Speculator and Long Lake sites.

And he found New Dimensions potentially could end up replacing even more PEF positions providing primary medical, dental and therapy services to the Sunmount clients.

“I just kept contacting the deputy director to ask for more information about the proposal and the required Certificate of Need for New Dimensions,” Snow said. “This really came down to ‘fighting city hall’ and that’s not easy to do, especially when I have to work in the same environment with the deputy director and administrators on a daily basis.”

Finally, Snow was able to show that too many of the proposed new services were already in place and New Dimensions withdrew its proposal, rather than restrict its contract to just supplementing what the state workers were already doing.

“New Dimensions is already providing services at the Sunmount DDSO, and we have a mix of state and contract employees providing similar clinical services. This kind of thing is going on all over the state. These Article 28 clinics started out to serve a niche and have expanded to potentially replace PEF members.

“I don’t think the state planned to lay off our members, but the threat to job security is real from Article 28 providers, such as New Dimensions,” Snow said. “From my experience, our members can and do provide these services as well as private agencies, and the state has more quality control and accountability with its own employees.

“As PEF members,” he added, “I think we have to take a close look at the immediate effects of such proposals, and also look at what’s likely to happen down the road.”

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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