Budget fight a priority for PEF

PEF and other state employee unions are facing a difficult budget fight. Member support is crucial to help the union win its battles. You can help by being an informed member by visiting the PEF website and signing up to receive the Active Informed Member (AIM) e-mail updates. By doing this, you will be current on the budget fight, as well as contract negotiations, legislation and mobilization activities.

PEF launches statewide ad campaign offering solutions to budget deficit

PEF has launched a statewide television, radio, print and Web advertising campaign to educate the public and legislative leaders on how the state can achieve needed savings without cutting the state work force and sacrificing state services.

“PEF recognizes the seriousness of the current economic crisis, but the governor’s budget has the potential to seriously hamper services New York taxpayers rely on,” said PEF President Kenneth Brynien. “The ads point out PEF has offered several options for the state to achieve the same savings the governor is seeking in givebacks from the state work force,” Brynien said.

The ads, which feature a mad scientist character, will begin running April 5 on broadcast and cable television statewide and on radio in the Albany and New York City markets. Print advertisements have been placed in targeted newspapers across the state and will be supported by ads on newspaper Web sites including The New York Times, New York Post and NY Daily News.

The television, radio, Web and print ads can be viewed at www.pef.org.

PEF president responds to governor’s request for give-backs

In response to Gov. David Paterson’s request for give-backs from state employee unions, PEF President Ken Brynien said, “PEF will not reopen its contract with the state.

“PEF has repeatedly demonstrated the state can meet the governor's target for savings by replacing high-cost consultants with lower-cost state employees, as well as through other options the union have provided.

Until the state moves decisively to slash the use of costly consultants, PEF will not accept any demand for give-backs. PEF members will not pay for the continued use of high-cost consultants."

Raises on horizon for union workers

The Office of the State Comptroller has released the payroll bulletins for payment of the 4 percent salary increase.

PEF members who are on the Institution payroll will receive their raise in the paycheck dated April 22, 2010.

Those on the Administrative payroll will receive their raise in the paycheck dated April 28, 2010.

Copies of the payroll bulletins can be found on the PEF Web site by clicking the Contract Resource Center link.

If you have any questions, call PEF’s Contract Administration at 800-342-4306 ext. 233.