Executive Board Minutes
February 1 & 2, 2007
Desmond Hotel, Albany, New York
President Brynien called the meeting to order at approximately 9:00 am. Members joined in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. A moment of silence was observed for Al Langner, a PEF member from the Insurance Department. An announcement was made introducing the new stenographer, Marlene Pressman. Returning Board member Joseph Greenfield, representing DOCS was sworn in.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
President Brynien indicated that Ron Goldstein submitted agenda items that upon review by counsel were not appropriate to be included in the agenda. He noted that the first item was covered through collective bargaining with USW and an unfair labor practice charge would likely be filed if it was imposed. The second was determined to be a personal decision and the third was to be included in the Secretary-Treasurer’s report. Mr. Goldstein moved to amend the agenda and add the item of Officer’s Salaries. The motion was seconded and debate ensued. The question was called and debate was closed. The motion did not receive the required majority vote and was defeated.
The President announced that an item was inadvertently left off the agenda under the President’s report. He noted that there was the potential for an organizing drive involving government employees in Allegany County. He then requested and received the Board’s approval for discussion of the potential organizing campaign under the President’s report.
Susan Kent moved that PEF committees be required to provide written summaries to the Executive Board on a quarterly basis. The motion was seconded and debate was held. The motion received the required majority vote and was added to the agenda under Member Item B.
Craig Speers requested that the PEF Research Department provide the Board a list of all of the Spitzer appointees at the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner levels. President Brynien agreed to the request.
The President moved to adopt the agenda as amended. The motion was seconded and carried.
Approved Agenda
Call Meeting to Order
Pledge Allegiance to the Flag
Approval of the Minutes
Secretary-Treasurer’s Report
Budget
Banking Committee Report
President’s Report
State Budget Update
Potential Allegany County Organizing Drive
Committee Reports
Convention
Agenda
Future Convention Sites – 2009 / 2010
Delegate Elections Committee
Delegate Election Rules
Delegate Apportionment
Member Items
Internal PEF Committees, re: Complaints/Grievances – Jones
Written Summaries of PEF Committees to Executive Board – Kent
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
The minutes were moved, seconded and adopted as printed.
SECRETARY-TREASURER’S REPORT
Budget
Secretary-Treasurer Igoe noted that an updated contingency fund campaign expenditures report was distributed.
The Secretary-Treasurer explained that due to the increased cost of the Convention in New York City, cuts had to be made within the budget to cover the additional $800,000 needed for the event. She noted that in making the cuts, funds were erroneously taken from the Training Committee. She requested an amendment to restore $5,000.00 to their Committee budget.
Secretary-Treasurer Igoe introduced Scott Ray, Chair of the Budget Advisory Committee to provide information and answer questions on the proposed budget. Mr. Ray noted increases in the current capital payments to the Internationals, Convention costs and increases in salaries and fringe benefits. Therefore, monies were deducted from the Regional Coordinator Training budgets and Political Action. In addition, there would be an anticipated savings in professional fees in the absence of a triennial election. He also noted that they increased the number of members the budget was based on and was hopeful that a change in banking procedures would increase interest income as well.
The Secretary-Treasurer and Scott Ray answered several questions regarding the proposed budget.
A discussion was held regarding the potential for Membership Benefits to fund additional PEF programs and events. Secretary-Treasurer Igoe and Vice President Joe Fox responded to questions from the Board. Susan Kent requested clarification about how membership benefits funds are being used to fund a PEF retiree position. PEF’s Health and Safety Conference and Workers’ Compensation Navigator Training. Susan Kent requested that the Executive Board be provided with a copy of the Membership Benefits budget and the process to make funding requests.
Bob Varano requested that PEF request Membership Benefits fund the PEF Labor/Management Conference and the Regional Coordinator Training budgets. Vice President Joe Fox responded that he would bring it to the Membership Benefits Trustees for their consideration.
Ken Dischel moved that $10,000 be transferred from the Scholarship Committee to the Regional Coordinators for training. It received a second, but was ruled out of order by the Chair because the scholarship applications had already been mailed.
Qaisar Khan called the question, a vote was taken and carried.
On behalf of the committee, Scott Ray moved to adopt the budget with the amendment, adding $5,000.00 into the Training Committee budget. There was a second to the motion and it carried.
Banking Committee Update
The Secretary-Treasurer noted that she and members of the Budget Advisory Committee met with several banks in an effort to move away from Amalgamated Bank.
Secretary-Treasurer Igoe again introduced Scott Ray to give information about the bank meetings. Mr. Ray stated that four banks were interviewed: HSBC, Key Bank, Bank of America and M&T. He discussed several benefits, such as increased interest, use of bank cards, online banking, responding to questions and requests for reports without cost, cash flow forecasting and the elimination of quarterly reports from Divisions. He stated that they would be meeting with the banks again and hoped to bring a more detailed report and recommendation to the Board in May. At that time, a pilot program would be initiated in three regions and in January 2008, they anticipate bringing divisions online. Mr. Ray answered several questions presented by Board members.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Brynien indicated that Labor/Management Chairs were asked to submit suggestions regarding cost efficiencies that could be made within their agency budgets. This information was compiled and sent to the Governor’s Office for consideration.
The President discussed the proposed changes to the Workforce Investment Act and Wager Pizner Acts.
He stated that PEF was notified by the Department of Labor that they still needed a few more weeks to investigate charges pending from the last PEF election. The deadline will now be February 9 and the Board will be notified when the decision is received.
The President noted that GOER had not appointed a Chief Negotiator for Contract Negotiations and no meetings will be scheduled until a representative is named.
President Brynien contacted the Comptroller’s Office with strong concerns regarding the implementation of the new vision provider, IMED. The Comptroller responded that the implementation would continue as planned, but asked that PEF and its members keep them informed of complaints and possible violations of the contract.
President Brynien communicated with the Comptroller’s Office regarding Governor Pataki’s proposed moves of the Food Labs and Data Centers. PEF requested that the moves be postponed until the new Governor has the opportunity to look at the proposals and the Comptroller agreed. The President also spoke to the Comptroller regarding the relocation of work from the Data Center in Albany to IBM in Rochester. The Comptroller stopped the contract and the move did not go forward.
The President stated that PEF is once again trying to form a coalition with other unions on Contract Negotiation issues. CSEA expressed some interest in being part of the coalition and President Brynien met President Danny Donohue to discuss issues of importance to both unions. The President noted that on Friday, Robert Carrothers, Director of Contract Administration will give a presentation on the COLA study that PEF commissioned in cooperation with CSEA and Lou Matrazzo, Vice President and Chair of Contract Negotiations will address the Board regarding coalition bargaining.
President Brynien indicated that he had a meeting with the President of the New York City Chapter of the National Organization for Women. He noted that they are interested in working with PEF regarding mandatory overtime issues.
President Brynien discussed the circumstances regarding PEF’s endorsement of Maureen O’Connell in the seventh Senate District on Long Island. The President explained that due to the lack of time between the Board meeting and the election, the Statewide PAC made the decision to endorse the candidate.
The President spoke about the Berger Commission report and noted that CSEA and UUP are also opposing the report. President Brynien met with Dennis Rivera of 1199 and although they will not publicly oppose the report, they have decided to side with PEF against the merger of Crouse Hospital and SUNY Upstate. The President indicated that in order to increase communication between the unions and the hospitals and develop a plan, we will attempt to set up meetings including PEF, 1199 and the CEO’s of Crouse Hospital and SUNY Upstate.
The President announced the hire of two new staff members in the Legislative Office. Ryan Delgado will work as a Political Organizer/Lobbyist in Albany and Patrick Lespinasse will work as a Political Organizer/Lobbyist in New York City. He also announced the new Field Director in Region 9, Jim Kemenash.
President Brynien stated that PEF put forth a number of bills in the Legislature last year regarding cost benefit analysis, workplace violence and parole legislation, but all were vetoed. The President continued that all of those bills will be reintroduced this Legislative session and the Board will be kept apprised of their progress.
President Brynien announced an after-hours number that PEF members could call in the event of an emergency. The number is: 888-850-7409. The number is staffed by an answering service trained to notify the appropriate staff person to assist the caller.
State Budget Update
The President stated that prior to its release; PEF met with the Division of Budget (DOB) and asked several questions regarding the upcoming budget. President Brynien announced that PEF’s Civil Service Enforcement Department had researched the new budget and announced that Tom Cetrino, Director of Civil Service Enforcement will give a presentation of their findings to the Board on Friday.
Potential Allegany Organizing Drive
The President stated that about 120 Allegany County employees in professional titles approached PEF to get information about the union. However, before PEF could proceed with the organizing drive, they needed to obtain Board approval. President Brynien introduced Margaret Messer, Director of Mobilizing and Tom Privitere, Director of Field Services, who met with Allegany County employees. They answered questions from the Board about their meeting. A motion was made authorizing PEF to organize the Allegany County unit. It received a second, a vote was taken and it carried.
Presidential Endorsement
President Brynien expressed that both AFT and SEIU are going to be making early endorsements for President. He indicated that if PEF wanted to have a voice and influence their decisions, they need to make an endorsement decision by early Fall.
The President briefed the Board on issues that SEIU was addressing such as: technical changes to the Kentucky River decision and working to defeat the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABR). President Brynien also announced that Dennis Rivera of 1199 was stepping down as leader of 1199. SEIU formed a union within a union called SEIU Healthcare and Dennis will be running the union and organizing across the country in healthcare.
Convention Committee
President Brynien introduced Joe Fox, Vice President and Convention Committee Chair to update the Board on the Convention. Vice President Fox noted changes to the preliminary agenda. To accommodate commuting delegates, most of the events were moved to the afternoon or early evening. Also, due to the high cost of food and beverage, the Farewell Dance could not be held at the hotel. He stated that members of the Convention Committee from downstate were researching the possibility of moving it to another location. He asked Lola Parks Guerra, Executive Board and Convention Committee member to discuss their findings. Ms. Parks Guerra stated that the Committee located a hall and including catering, staff and entertainment, they event could be held for $21,000.00. Based on a show of hands, Vice President Fox moved from the Chair, to have the Farewell Dance instead of the Cocktail Reception. Charlie Kelefant amended the motion to hold the Cocktail Reception in place of the dance. It received a second and debated ensued. Jeff Janiszewski called all matters before the house. Debate was closed, a vote was taken on the amendment and it failed. A vote was taken on the motion to have the Farewell Dance at another location and it passed. Vice President Fox noted that the agenda would be amended and distributed to the Board.
Vice President Fox asked the Board to advise him of areas from which they want him to obtain proposals for future Conventions. The Board members requested bids from Niagara Falls, Rochester, Washington DC, New Orleans, Albany and Schenectady.
Delegate Elections
President Brynien introduced Gail Noble, Chair of the Delegate Elections Committee. Ms. Noble presented changes to the Election Rules she moved that they be accepted and received a second. Kevin Jones moved to amend the rules to add that all statements appended to election grievances from other PEF members be sworn and notarized. The motion received a second and carried. A vote was then taken on the main motion and it carried.
Delegate Apportionment
Ms. Noble requested any changes to the Delegate Apportionment from the floor. Several Board members proposed changes, a vote was taken and they were approved. Don Morgenstern requested that the vote regarding the move of three SUNY campuses into Division 194 be handled separately. After discussion from Mr. Morgenstern and Susan Kent, a vote was taken and the Board recommended to defeat the request to move the members at SUNY represented by SED Division 194 to the State Education Department delegate constituency. Ms. Noble moved to accept the apportionment as amended, it received a second and carried.
MEMBER ITEMS
Defibrilators in PEF Regional Offices
Secretary-Treasurer Igoe reported that the defibrillator program in the Regional Offices is being rolled out according to the joint Health and Safety Contract that was established.
Documentation for Appeals
The Secretary-Treasurer added that they will be developing a procedure to provide copies of all responsive documents that are filed to all other parties involved in election grievances and that Kevin Jones had withdrawn his member item on that issue.
Requirement of Written Committee Reports
Susan Kent moved that Committees meeting during the quarter submit a report to the Board through the President’s Office for distribution. It was seconded, but ruled out of order. The President then agreed to provide relevant information regarding committee meeting decisions.
The meeting recessed at 4:11 pm on Thursday.
President Brynien called the meeting to order at 9:15 am Friday. Members joined in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Vice President Lou Matrazzo, Chair of Contract Negotiations addressed the Board
regarding coalition bargaining and talked on meetings that had already transpired to that end.
Bob Carrothers, Director of Contract Negotiations addressed the Board regarding a COLA study of New York State commissioned by PEF in cooperation with CSEA. Mr. Carrothers presented the report findings and answered several questions from the Board.
Tom Cetrino, Director of Civil Service Enforcement gave a presentation on the state Budget and answered questions presented by the Board members.
A motion to adjourn was made, seconded and carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Arlea Igoe
Secretary-Treasurer