SPECIAL DELIVERY — PEF V.P. Ken Brynien speaks at Albany rally delivering members’ pledges to hold out for a fair contract offer. — Photos this page by Bill Sachs, John Epting and Ken Dischel

Contract rally sizzles
By SHERRY HALBROOK
It may have been a chill, dull March day, but it could not dampen the spirits and fiery words of nearly 500 PEF members from throughout the state and their supporters who rallied outside the state Capitol on March 4.

Shouting, “State contractors got their share, zeros for us isn’t fair,” the demonstrators paraded through the Empire State Plaza and poured out into the rally site at the east end of the Capitol below the governor’s offices on the second floor.

They came to deliver thousands of pledges from PEF members and their co-workers, vowing to reject any state contract offer that fails to raise base pay every year, maintain health benefits and hold the line on premium hikes for employees and retirees, and provide pay boosts for employees in high cost-of-living areas of the state.

“Get out of that bunker, and meet the troops!” PEF Region 8 Coordinator Lou Matrazzo called out to Gov. George Pataki from the Capitol steps.

GOT MAIL? — PEF leaders Lou Matrazzo, Bernice Jones and members deliver their message at Albany rally. — Photos this page by Ken Dischel, Bill Sachs, John Epting, and Mario Bruni

Outrageous premium hikes
Matrazzo, a member of PEF’s PS&T Contract Team, gave the crowd insights into what’s been going on at the bargaining table for the last year.

“When we bring up one of our priority issues at the bargaining table,” Matrazzo said, “the state’s chief negotiator, Rebecca Caudle, always has the same response, ‘We’re not interested in that.’” 

“What they are interested in, is a shift in health insurance premiums to state employees,” Matrazzo said. “They tell us they have no money for raises, and they want our professionals to punch time clocks. Well, we’re not interested in that!”

The crowd, decked out in bright gold scarves imprinted with “PEF” in dark blue letters, responded with enthusiastic cheers and waved plastic clappers to show their support.

“It’s wonderful to see the support you are giving our contract team,” said the team’s chair, PEF Vice President Ken Brynien. “We are proud to have all of you standing with us,” he said, recognizing representatives of the Communication Workers of America, Teamsters, Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees, the Capital District Area Labor Federation and the Labor Religion Coalition of the Capital District. The United Steelworkers of America was also present.

“We have been negotiating for more than a year, and we’re here tell the state, ’No,’ to raising health care premiums by as much as 50 percent (for the least senior) PS&T employees and future retirees,” Brynien said. “And ‘No,’ to hiking our share of the cost for prescription drugs up to 400 percent.”

As long as it takes
“We will fight to make sure we get what we deserve,” Brynien vowed. “We hope this will not last a long time, but we will rally, we will e-mail, we will march, and we will picket until we are offered a fair contract!”

It was a sentiment, that PEF President Roger Benson echoed and drove home.

“We will not sell out for a cheap contract,” Benson said. “We will deliver a fair contract.”

“I hope the state realizes this rally could be just the beginning,” Matrazzo added.

Communicator Homepage April 04

Inside This Issue
Features
Contract rally sizzles
Rally activists speak their minds
PEF weighing its options
Keep Fulton Corrections open
Camp McGregor’s fate depends...
Lawmakers save Middletown Psych
PEF helps elect Fields to office
Changing the world, one cow at a time

Departments
President's Message
Member's Mailbag
Nurses' Station
Retirees In Action
Members' Highlights
Back Cover Ad
PEF Membership Benefits &Travel

Union Matters
Union halts layoffs at OCF
Judge backs nurses right to back pay
Member keeps lifesaving blood flowing
Deadline nears for OT meal allowance
PEF sending first heroes into national...
Labor community helps state workers
Grant walks the walk
Reg. 1 member running to retire
Candidates sought for E. Board
Join PEF Hispanic Committee at Somos
2004 Convention Delegate Info

Save these dates:
April 21-25
Somos El Futuro!
The annual weekend conference in Albany of the Caucus of NYS Hispanic and Puerto Rican Legislators
For more information, to volunteer, or make reservations for the reception, call Helen Brooks at the PEF Legislative Office, 1-800-724-4997.

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