Union members rally to close corporate loopholes
This is the PEF Information Line for Monday April 21, 2003.
PEF members are encouraged to join fellow union members in a rally to “Close
Corporate Tax Loopholes” on Tuesday, April 29 at 12:30 p.m. at the west side of
the State Capitol in Albany.
A rally is also scheduled in Rochester on Saturday, April 26 at 1 p.m. at the
Toys “R” Us store at 1530-1550 Ridge Road. For more information, contact Metro
Justice at 585-325-2560.
On Monday, April 28 at 5:30 p.m., union members in Buffalo are asked to join in
the rally at the Toys “R” Us store, 3030 Sheridan Road, at 5:30 p.m. Call
Citizen Action at 716-855-1522 for further details.
A “March for Public Education” is slated for Saturday, May 3 at the Empire State
Plaza in Albany. Contact Kevin Kroencke, assistant council leader at the State
Education Department at 518-473-4971.
Nurses Lobby Day set for May 5
On Monday, May 5, nurses from across the state will have the opportunity to tell
their legislators that mandatory overtime, inadequate staffing and the closure
or privatization of SUNY hospitals is unacceptable. Please contact your PEF
Regional Office for an itinerary and complete details. For a directory of PEF
offices go to
http://www.pef.org/regionaloffices.htm.
PEF battles to keep IBR open
Late last week, the New York State Institute for Basic Research (IBR) received
international attention for a ground-breaking discovery of the genetic mutation
responsible for progeria — an illness that causes rapid aging and early death in
children.
“This is a fantastic development for children with this disease,” said PEF
President Roger Benson. “Yet IBR, the institution responsible for this
break-through is on the governor’s chopping block. If IBR closes as scheduled in
late June, future benefits of ongoing research will be lost.”
Benson added that members must continue pressure on the Governor and lawmakers
to fight-back and support fiscal alternatives to balance the budget — so
research for the prevention and treatment of illnesses and diseases can
continue.
To join the fight-back battle, send a letter to Governor Pataki by going to
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/nysbudgetgov
PEF Contract Team ready for presentation with GOER
The PEF Contract Team has been meeting with negotiators from the Governor’s
Office of Employee Relations (GOER). This week, the two teams will discuss
travel related demands and PEF will deliver a presentation on special issues
faced by institutional employees including PEF nurses. Later in the month, PEF
and the state will discuss the contract addendum for members who work at the
state Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
Meetings slated for this week
The Region 3 Steward training meeting will be held at the RIT Inn and Conference
Center in Rochester on Monday, April 21 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more
information, call the Region 3 Field Office at 1-800-724-5003.
The PEF Region 8 Civil Service Committee Meeting will be held at PEF
Headquarters in Albany on Tuesday, April 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. To RSVP, call the
Albany Field Office at (518) 785-1900 ext. 228.
That's it for this edition of the information line.