State still doesn’t have a budget

Gov. David Paterson and the Legislature are still working on a budget that was due April 1. PEF and the Civil Service Employees Association have rejected requests from the governor to forgo the contractually negotiated raises. The governor is holding the raises back until the budget is passed. For updates on the budget, visit the PEF website.

PEF testifies on government efficiency

PEF President Ken Brynien will testify Wednesday, April 28 at a Senate Task Force on government efficiency. This public hearing will examine the spending and consultant use at the state Department of Transportation. It will be held in the Van Buren Hearing Room A in the Legislative Office Building in Albany from 1 to 3 p.m.

Region 10 members urged to rally to create jobs, oppose layoffs

PEF members in Region 10 are encouraged to participate in a “March on Wall Street” rally Thursday, April 29. Members will be meeting at the PEF office, 225 Broadway at 3:30 p.m. The rally and march is being organized by the AFL-CIO and will include union members and community activists from around the country to protest the jobs that were lost due to Wall Street’s tanking of the American economy. For more information, call the Region 10 office at 1-800-522-8700.

Region 10 members also are being asked to attend a May Day rally, Saturday, May 1. Members will meet at the Region 10 office at 10:30 a.m. and proceed to Foley Square to join a multi-union rally opposing state layoffs.

A multi-union May Day rally also is being held in PEF Region 8 at the west side of the State Capitol from 1 to 4 p.m. PEF President Ken Brynien will be one of the speakers. For more information, call PEF’s Mobilization Department at 1-800-342-4306.