Tiers
3, 4 take double hitTo the Editor:
We read in the November issue of The Communicator about seeking enactment of S.4554/A.7128 and making it one of the highest priorities. It further illustrates the disparity between Tiers 1 and 2, and 3 and 4. We hope your efforts are actualized.
Members of Tiers 3 and 4 also must wait six years for their first cost-of-living pension increment. If you factor in the actual cost of living in the real world, these same tier members have witnessed their incomes decline by at least 20 percent to 25 percent.
RICHARD TOMASUOLO and
EVELYN CANCELA
4-day workweek = less pollution
To the Editor:
I work for the state Department of Transportation (DOT) in its Region 7 local programs unit and am mostly unsupervised in my duties. I travel a considerable distance to and from work, consuming fossil fuels and emitting pollutants into the fragile environment.
I have suggested to my supervisor that those of us who could be allowed to work a four-day workweek, should be allowed to do so.
Since it isn’t happening at my suggestion, then I can only wonder why the state would not embrace the idea of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and contributing to cleaning up the environment by allowing as many employees as possible to park their fossil-fuel-consuming and environment-polluting vehicles one day a week.
Of course, I also would experience a considerable savings in terms of dollars and cents if I didn’t have to fuel that vehicle one day a week.
Constructive comments as to the legalities of such a policy are desired and welcomed.
CHARLES ROY
Lowville
Editor’s note: The writer is seeking a compressed workweek, a form of alternative work schedule under PS&T contract article 32.7. Such programs can be developed at state agencies or worksites through their joint labor-management committees.
Members may contact their PEF council leader or field representative for information about alternative work schedules at their agency or site.
This letter has been forwarded to the PEF chair of the Joint Labor-Management Committee at DOT.
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