Contract best deal possible
To the Editor:
I’ve heard a lot of grumbling about the tentative PS&T contract, but I think we should all thank PEF’s negotiators for a job well done. Given the state’s financial condition, PEF negotiated a great deal.
We’re in, by most accounts, the worst financial environment for the state since the Depression. The state is looking at a huge deficit over the next three years. The last time PEF negotiated under these conditions, we got zeroes.
This time, we'll get four base-wage increases, three more sick days, salary grade parity with the Civil Service Employees Association for the majority of our members, and our longevity awards will be added to base salary when we're promoted.
For all this, we gave up virtually nothing and we beat back the state’s demands that we make more concessions than the other state-employee unions.
Is this the best contract PEF ever negotiated? Probably not. Is this the best contract we could get in the current environment? Definitely.
ED LUCAS
Albany
Tentative pact too divisive
To the Editor:
One of the purposes of a union is to present a unified front when negotiating a contract with the employer, while representing the best interests of all its members. The tentative 2003-2007 PS&T Contract fails to do this. By negotiating benefits for only certain grades, PEF does not represent its entire dues paying membership.
Under this proposed contract, merit advance steps are provided for employees in salary grades 1-18, and only employees in grades 17 and below are eligible to exchange leave for the $400 credit to offset the employee’s share of health insurance premiums.
To allow the state to dictate which employees are eligible for certain benefits creates dissension within the union membership and weakens PEF. You are creating a dangerous precedent.
What happens the next time if the state chooses not to negotiate certain benefits for salary grade 16? When benefits are provided to some members, comparable benefits must be offered to all dues-paying members.
I cannot support this proposed contract in its present form. I will vote “NO” and will urge my co-workers to do the same.
MARION BLEIWAS
Queens Village
Protect workers before moving
To the Editor:
PEF and Civil Service Employees Association members who work at 5 Penn Plaza, 1 Penn Plaza and Gertz Plaza are still worried about the state’s plan to move us early next year to 90 Church Street, a building adjacent to the World Trade Center construction site.
Why? Because we’re still waiting for omitted information about the post 9/11 clean-up and renovation of the building. It is critical that the building’s managing agent, Boston Properties, and the state Office of General Services protect the building’s occupants.
The July 9 issue of The Chief-Leader quotes Robert Selsam, senior vice president of Boston Properties, as saying the building's air-intake vents were "thoroughly cleaned" before being encapsulated. Meanwhile, the manufacturer of the encapsulation material, Global Encasement Inc., appears to say just the opposite on Its Web site,
www.encasement.com.
It says, "Even after extensive cleaning of the building's air-intake vents, laboratory testing confirmed there was still lead and a number of other heavy metals present on these metal surfaces.” But that after coatings with sealant GE-60, "Lab results showed that no traces of any heavy metals remained on the surfaces."
The state has not given PEF the test results for air-intake vents and air-handling units, despite repeated requests. And the experts PEF consulted know of no other instance of treating heavy metal contamination of air-intake vents by this method.
We support the redevelopment of lower Manhattan, but public health concerns must be the highest priority.
PAUL STEIN
New York
The Communicator
Letters policy
We welcome letters to the editor about union
issues and events relevant to PEF's diverse membership.
All letters are subject to editing for space, fairness and good taste.
Please keep them brief (up to one page, double-spaced or a maximum of 250
words), and please include your name and phone number for verification.
Send letters to:
The Communicator
Public Employees Federation
P.O. Box 12414
Albany, N.Y. 12212-2414
Denyce Duncan Lacy,
Executive Editor The Communicator and
Director of Public Relations dduncanlacy@pef.org
Sherry Halbrook, Editor of The Communicator - shalbrook@pef.org
The
Communicator September 04
Inside This Issue
Features
Union
votes on new PS&T pact
Members 'shadow' governor
PEF at SEIU & AFT conventions
Departments
President's Message
Member's Mailbag
Legislative Action
Nurses Station
Member Mobilization
Retirees In Action
PEF Membership Benefits &Travel
Union Matters
Lockport ratifies
4-yr pact
Bill for NY's citizen soldier
Member is NY Guard Soldier '04
PEF candidates '04 endorsements
Scacalossi scholarships winners
Communicator/ PR Kudos
Exec. Board June meeting
Convention Preview 2004
Unseenamerica photo classes
Back Cover Ad: Contract ballot
Other Links
Professional Directory
Members' Classified
Member Communicator Feedback
Do You Prefer The Online Edition?
How To Advertise Here
PEF Pride Store
The Communicator Staff
Questions on this site?
Email the Webmaster