Field Services is comprised of three directors and their respective staffs within the 12 geographic regions of PEF in New York State.  There are 29 field representatives and 15 administrative employees assigned to Field Services.  They handle the day-to-day administration and enforcement of the contracts for the PEF/State (PS&T) and other public and private-sector bargaining units that PEF represents.

            Over the past year, Field Services personnel have participated in a variety of PEF initiatives intended to empower members and generate more active participation in the Union.  Regional training initiatives have produced innovative and participatory workshops such as “Know Your Contract” and the “Member Mobilizing” pieces.  These workshops have been developed and refined by collaborative efforts of Regional Coordinators, Field Directors, Field and Mobilization and Education staff to produce meaningful and informative in-service pieces.

            In addition to the mandate by the Administration to an on-going commitment to include more and more members in the Union, Field Services is charged with the defense of our contract in the grievance/arbitration arena. Field and administrative staff daily respond to problems of average members by assisting them in the filing of contract, non-contract and discipline grievances. 

            PEF’s prior commitment to external organizing met its most crucial test recently during a strike at Lockport Memorial Hospital (between Rochester and Buffalo) involving non-PEF represented nurses.  While the PEF members at the hospital were not on strike, they were impacted by the strike in the form of layoffs when the hospital had to transfer patients to other facilities and “shut down” operations involving our members’ work. President Benson, Secretary/Treasurer Jane Hallum, Vice President Joe Fox, Regional Coordinator Joyce Degenhart and PEF Region 1 members and staff joined in solidarity with the striking Union, offering moral and financial support to our PEF members who were laid off as a result of the strike.

Improper Practice (IP) Charges Settled From August 2000 Through July 2001

            14 IP Charges were filed

            18 IP charges were resolved. Ten were won prior to a hearing. Four were settled prior to a hearing. One won after a hearing. One was settled after a hearing. One was lost prior to a hearing. One was withdrawn prior to a hearing. Currently, four cases are open.

Grievance Appeals Report from August 2000 - July 2001

            During the same period, six grievance appeals were heard. Four were denied and two were sustained.