“Our responsibility to ensure the integrity of state services has now become even greater.”
By ROGER E. BENSON
Twenty-six years ago when I became active in PEF as a union steward, I believed my job was to enforce the contract and share information with PEF members at my worksite. As my union responsibilities grew, it became clearer that we also had a responsibility to advocate for the state services we provided and, in many cases, the clients we served.
Today, this responsibility has become even more necessary. Our job as union leaders and members is to protect the integrity of the services we provide, as well as safeguard taxpayers from wasteful and sometimes even criminal mismanagement.
In a stunning admission of a cash-and-carry government in Albany, a state assemblyman claimed that “…state government is not only under a cloud, but is operating in a manner that I could best describe as criminal enterprise,” alluding specifically to the criminal convictions and resignations of several state legislators who took kickbacks for influencing the award of state contracts and took gifts and services from contractors looking to do business with the state.
Add that to the conviction of the Assembly legislative counsel, for non-consensual sex, and the sexual high-jinks of a downstate assemblyman with an intern, and a long shadow is cast over the image of public servants; an image that suggests that improper and illegal behavior of state employees and elected officials is commonplace. We all know it is not.
The pervasive perception of wrongdoing — whether real or not — does an enormous disservice to the vital work that PEF members do. However, it also demonstrates the atmosphere in which we must work. Many state agencies have inspector generals soft on enforcement, which has led to selling parole release, deficient care of mental health clients and our seniors, and even directing contracts to politically connected contractors.
Our responsibility to ensure the integrity of state services has now become even greater. PEF and its members continue to work to protect the public interest and often have been victimized by management for doing so. We have filed charges against the Health Department for retaliation against whistleblowers. We have been successful in protecting DOT whistleblowers.
We will continue to expose waste and inefficiency, as well as corruption our members have observed. PEF has dedicated significant resources in our fight against the waste of contracting out and privatization. We are fully prepared to expose the “criminal enterprise” whenever it can be documented.
The work we do as state employees is important to all taxpayers. When we allow activities that taint our important mission, a disservice is done to all public employees. Even though we public employees are not responsible for the tarnished image of public service, we must now redouble our efforts and restore our reputation for quality service and integrity.
Thank you for your important work.
The
Communicator July/August 04
Inside This Issue
Features
Close corporate tax loopholes
Contract Update: Progress...
OCFS anti-privatization bill
Legislation
budget bottleneck
PEF, DOP salute parole officers
Foreign nurses
need VisaScreen
Departments
President's Message
Member's Mailbag
Nurses' Station: Pay is the issue
Health Notes
Retirees In Action
Back Cover Ad
PEF Membership Benefits &Travel
Union Matters
Member
unearths holocaust tale
Dell elected to PEF E. Board
Operation ICE, a mobilization....
L-M
Conference highlights
Labor Day '04 around NY state
E-Board
picks Kerry for Prez
PEF E.Board March meeting
Campaign 2004
Donating blood rewards winner
Edwards earns SEFA award
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