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.

PEF responds to governor’s Executive Budget proposals for 2010-11

The governor’s proposed 2010-11 Executive Budget calls for a quarter-of-a-billion dollars in negotiated give-backs from state employees, when the savings could easily be achieved by reducing the state’s reliance on costly, private consultants.

PEF applauds the governor for recognizing savings can be achieved by reducing the use of consultants. The governor recently proposed to reduce the use of information technology consultants for an estimated savings of as much as $15 million per-year. The governor also identified a savings in his proposed budget by reducing the state’s use of more costly private-contract insurance examiners.

PEF President Ken Brynien said the governor’s consultant reduction plan is only the tip of the iceberg and does not go far enough. PEF’s more aggressive proposal to cut the use of consultants across-the-board in state government can easily achieve the quarter-of-a billion-dollars the governor is targeting from the state work force to close the budget gap.

Brynien said he will not ask members to reopen the contract PEF negotiated with the state in good faith, when many PEF members sit alongside more costly, private contractors who do the same work.

Brynien said PEF is willing to discuss issues that do not involve reopening the PS&T Agreement. He said the union is also waiting for more information on the proposed closures and consolidations the governor has suggested for the state Office of Children and Family Services.

PEF is waiting for more details and will continue to review and examine the proposals made by the governor.

PEF has also identified significant potential savings for the state, such as the reduction in the use of consultants and ways to reduce workplace injuries and their associated costs. PEF has communicated these proposals to the governor.

Check the PEF Web site for more budget updates.