MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD - 
PEF Secretary - Treasurer
Jane Hallum encourages members to speak out against Pataki's four
year zero salary increase offer during the PEF/CSEA contract
rally at the state office campus in Albany.
- Photos by Sherry Halbrook
Negotiations
going nowhere fast
State stonewalls contract talks
By ERIC MILLER
Well past 160 days into negotiations and 90 days after the
expiration of the PS&T contract, the Pataki Administration
continues to show no interest, whatsoever, in reaching a fair
contract settlement with PEF.
On June 7, the state's chief negotiator told PEF's PS&T team
the state would take as long as necessary to achieve a settlement
which met its interests, whether it took "three months or
eight months."
Not only has the state failed to put a fair wage package on the
table, it has only offered four zeros. Moreover, the state has
agreed to sign off on two minor technical points of contract
language, and verbally agree to a few others.
Clearly, the governor feels no political vulnerability for not
settling. The issues identified by the membership are on the
table, but the state has recently resorted to distasteful
responses such as "this is the most outrageous piece of crap
I have ever seen or heard."
Unless and until the governor feels political vulnerability, the
current stalemate will continue.
Feeling the heat
STRONG SHOWING
- Hundreds of union members turned out for the joint PEF/CSEA
contract rally at the state office campus in Albany in May.
We've begun to make him feel the heat.
Like a rolling brush fire, protest against the governor's
attitude and position is growing. Rallies pop up throughout the
state. Thousands of members call the governor at 1-877-373-7920.
Legislators are contacted. Letters are written to legislators,
the governor, and local newspapers. This pressure must continue
and increase dramatically until the right threshold is reached.
It takes more than one person to knock down the wall. It takes
all of us.
Each and every PEF member must stand up; step forward; and speak
out. Don't assume someone else will do it. Encourage others to
get involved. The governor doesn't think you make a difference,
can make a difference, or will make a difference. Prove him
wrong.
You're worth it
Will you just sit back and let the governor give himself a 38
percent raise, making him the highest paid governor in the
country, while he doesn't want to give you any raise for four
years? 
Are you worth less than those other state officials who have
received raises ranging from 16 percent to 79 percent?
Didn't you help create the state's current surplus by the
sacrifices you made in four of the last eight years, when you
received zeros?
Haven't you had enough of this nonsense? Don't you feel you are
being more than reasonable and fair in your demands for a
three-year contract with a 5 percent base wage increase each
year?
Don't you believe that the cost of living in the downstate
metropolitan area requires a reasonable differential?
So far, the governor doesn't hear you and he's apparently not
even trying to hear you. Make it harder for him to ignore us.
Pick up your phone. Participate in rallies. Visit your
legislator. Write letters to your newspaper. Demand a fair
contract, now.
Miller is chair of the PEF PS&T Contract Committee.
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