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PEF Raises Concern over the Future of Services for New York's Most Vulnerable Citizens

2012-02-14T19:56:17Z

ALBANY, NY - New York State is on the fast track toward Medicaid managed care that would nearly, if not totally eliminate state-provided mental hygiene services. Today, Pat Baker, vice president of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF), warned lawmakers of the long-term implications on the most vulnerable New Yorkers if these proposals go forward.

"Several elements of the proposed Executive Budget aim to provide integrated health care at a much lower cost," Baker said. "What we should pay attention to is a diminishment of quality in services and the unraveling of the safety net on which our most vulnerable citizens rely in times of crisis."

Baker testified at the state Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees' hearing on Mental Hygiene in Albany. The proposals include giving the state Office of Mental Health (OMH) unlimited authority to reduce beds and close facilities statewide with only 30 to 60 days notice and virtually no input from the people who depend on these services or the professionals who provide them.

"One facility slated for closure is Kingsboro Psychiatric Center in Brooklyn, which is identified as the single highest user of mental health services in the state," Baker testified.

Similarly the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) would provide managed care for the disabled by a network of not-for-profit providers.

"Long-term residents of state-operated group homes are being moved out of their homes to make room for individuals being discharged from institutions. For some, these are the only homes they have known for decades. OPWDD claims to put "people first," yet here the people are last, and the money is first. It is shameful," Baker said.

Additionally, the state hopes to privatize the care and security services for sexual offenders now in OMH units. Baker warned lawmakers the state determined these offenders to be too dangerous for release into the community at the end of their prison terms and not to become complicit in creating this threat to public safety.

Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is doing his job

2012-02-13T23:08:22Z

ALBANY, NY - The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) today commended State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli for his stand in favor of a secure pension fund for public workers.

"Tom DiNapoli is talking about the facts, and the facts show our defined benefit-pension system is the best way to provide retirement security," said PEF President Ken Brynien.

"Meanwhile, the highly paid lobbyists for millionaires in the Business Council and other right-wing groups are trying to take money out of the pockets of nurses, firefighters and other workers, so Wall Street can further enrich itself at the expense of the middle class.

"I understand why the supporters of Tier 6 are afraid of the truth, because the truth is their plan will hurt the average worker and make retirement with dignity an impossibility.

"They are attacking Comptroller DiNapoli because he simply set out the real facts, as he is obligated to do as a fiduciary:

• The average pension in the State Retirement System is $19,151 per year;

• 76 percent of these pensions are less than $30,000;

• When Tier 5 was adopted two years ago, the governor's Division of Budget projected it would reduce pension costs for state and local government by more than $35 billion over 30 years; and

• We don't need a Tier 6 to cut pension costs, we just need to let Tier 5 work.

"The millionaires and lobbyists who want to take away the hope of a secure retirement from hard-working nurses, firefighters, teachers and other workers should be ashamed," said Brynien.

"Tom DiNapoli has been recognized nationally for having one of the best-managed state pension funds. We are proud New York has a comptroller who tells the truth and stands up for the rights of people who work for a living."

PEF Budget Priorities

2012-02-03T21:16:24Z

PEF is calling on state lawmakers to modify the Executive Budget in several areas. Our collective action is necessary for success in the budget battle ahead.

Memo to NYS Legislators

Health care providers at Kingsboro Psychiatric Center react to closure notice

2012-02-02T18:24:05Z

ALBANY, NY - The doctors, nurses, technicians and social workers who provide health care services at Kingsboro Psychiatric Center are blasting the announcement Tuesday, January 31 by the state Office of Mental Health (OMH) to close the Brooklyn facility.

The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) represents the workers who want lawmakers to understand the services at risk.

"The plan to close Kingsboro is wrong and irresponsible," said PEF Vice President Pat Baker. "Brooklyn has the highest use of mental health services of any county in the state. Closing Kingsboro would leave the largest consumer of mental health services with no local inpatient care beyond short-term stays in local general hospitals," Baker said.

The OMH has not even waited for the elected representatives of the citizens to vote, it has already sent out notices announcing its plans to close Kingsboro and send patients and their families more than two-and-a-half hours away to South Beach Psychiatric Center on Staten Island. Kingsboro serves a predominantly poor and minority population.

The mental health workers at Kingsboro Psychiatric Center want to continue providing services in an area where there is a critical need for mental health beds serving the underprivileged.

PEF is calling on state lawmakers to step in and preserve mental health care services in central Brooklyn by stopping the closure.

PEF Vice President Tells Legislators to Beware Dangerous Budget 'Reform' Proposals

2012-01-25T16:54:08Z

ALBANY, NY - "It appears, in Albany 'reform' is whatever you spin it to be," said state Public Employees Federation (PEF) Vice President Joe Fox. Fox testified today in Albany at a state legislative hearing on how the governor's Executive Budget proposal would affect the state workforce.

"The Executive Budget calls for what the governor describes as reforms to the state's pension system, Civil Service and some fundamental changes in the way the state does business," Fox said.

"PEF supports true reforms that improve state services, but in this case some of the budget proposals are way off the mark. They would undermine public service, subvert merit and fitness and throw open the door to cronyism, patronage and unrestrained waste.

"For instance, the proposal for a new state pension Tier 6 with dramatically reduced benefits and increased employee costs is called a reform, but would be very destructive to public service. It would mean a lower standard of living for future retirees, reduce the ability to recruit individuals who see public service as a career and create a mercenary mentality where the commitment to public service no longer exists.

"The governor's proposal, which would ensure new employees receive inferior benefits to their more senior co-workers, is symptomatic of the selfish, I-got-mine attitude that has allowed the wealthiest to continue to build their wealth at the expense of the 99 percent," Fox said.

"Several of the proposed reforms to civil service would shred the merit-and-fitness system that protects fairness and high standards," Fox said. "Proposals that are supposed to reduce costs by making it easier for the state to hire and transfer state employees would allow state agencies to bypass the best qualified candidates to hire or promote individuals with lower scores on competitive tests or who haven't even taken the tests.

"Still other proposed reforms in the budget would hand off state services and responsibilities to private contractors and reduce quality standards, accountability and legislative oversight," Fox added.

The testimony in its entirety is available here.