SHOW US REAL MONEY - PEF members in NYC confront Gov. Pataki outside the Yale Club in Manhattan.
- Photo by Bill Sachs

By DENYCE DUNCAN LACY
Scores of PEF members are keeping the union's fight for a fair contract on the front burners of state government, as they confront Gov. George Pataki at his public appearances around the state and conduct rallies, marches and informational picketing to publicize the union's demands.

The members are angry over the state's April 22 contract offer of zero raises for four years - the only offer the state has made. The anger is especially acute because of the governor's decision to award himself and his top staff pay raises of 30 percent to 80 percent, while offering rank-and-file workers zero raises.

"It's time to come back to the bargaining table with a reasonable contract proposal, governor," PEF President Roger Benson said at a demonstration in Schenectady in June.

"You've been saying you think New York's state employees are the best public employees in the country and that you will treat us fairly. It's time to make reality match that rhetoric."

Benson was joined by more than 100 PEF members and members of the Civil Service Employees Association outside the Ramada Inn in Schenectady, where the governor was scheduled to attend a fundraiser for Schenectady's
Republican mayor.

Shadowing the governor
The showdown in Schenectady was one of PEF's 13 major demonstrations demanding a fair contract since the state made the zero-raise contract offer on April 22.

Placard-carrying members led similar protests at various locations in Albany, Manhattan, Ryebrook, Syracuse, Buffalo and Rochester, and union leaders say they will continue to follow the governor on his public appearances until a fair deal is offered.
More than 100 PEF members also took part in an informational picket and march on the Governor's Mansion in Albany in June.

The demonstrators chanted "What do we want? A contract! When do we want it? Now!" and passed out "Pataki dollars," fake dollar bills with a zero denomination. The faux money includes a toll-free phone number to the governor's office and urges concerned New Yorkers to call the governor and demand a fair contract offer.

"PEF-TAKI" - PEF Secretary-Treasurer Jane Hallum looks on while PEF Staff Director Steve Chamberlain dons a Pataki mask and sports Pataki dollars during a contract rally outside the governor's mansion. - Photo by Ken Dischel

Back to kindergarten
At the Governor's Mansion, PEF Secretary-Treasurer Jane Hallum chided the governor for his handling of the contract negotiations with PEF, borrowing from the popular self-improvement book, "Everything I Need to Know in Life I Learned in Kindergarten."

With the help of PEF Staff Director Stephen Chamberlain - disguised with a mask as Gov. Pataki - Hallum asked PEF members to rate the governor's performance using the standard state performance-appraisal system. On a scale ranging from "outstanding" to "unsatisfactory," the demonstrators gave Pataki the lowest grades on such kindergarten skills as "sharing with others,"

"understands number concepts," and "communicating with others," because of his failure to offer the union members a fair contract. "Maybe the governor missed a few classes," Hallum said drawing the crowd's applause.
"He's the first governor of New York who needs remedial kindergarten."

Pataki Zero Dollars -Click Here

March on the Governor's mansion - Click Here

Home

Back To Top

Save A Tree & Stop The Presses. I'll read the Communicator online!