Local PEF leaders can help those being laid off

All PEF council leaders are being asked to review the guidelines for workforce reductions and the information for state employees affected by layoffs. This information is located on the PEF website in the Contract Resource Center link.  As a PEF leader, your role is to monitor, not administer management’s actions and decisions during the layoff period.

If you still have specific questions after reviewing the materials, you should contact a PEF field representative.

Members urged to fight back against layoffs at statewide rally

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last Thursday his plan to layoff thousands of state employees beginning July 15. PEF President Ken Brynien said the governor’s plan is appalling and that the union will fight back.

PEF is planning a statewide rally Monday, June 20 at 12 noon to oppose the layoffs, and demand a fair contract. Please go to the PEF website or sign up for Active Informed Member (AIM) bulletins for the most recent information.

More than ever, PEF needs every member to step up to the plate and help fight against the layoffs, and for a fair contract. Just as thousands of Wisconsin workers rallied when their governor tried to crush their labor movement, it is our time to stand up, be strong, and show our strength in solidarity.

Every PEF region will hold a rally. Information about the location will be available on the PEF website, the official PEF Facebook page and on Twitter. You may also call your regional office for more information.

An important PS&T contract negotiations bulletin is also posted on the PEF website where you can view a summary of the state’s contract proposal and PEF’s counter proposal.

To keep updated, members again are being urged to sign up for the AIM bulletins, and to keep checking the PEF website, Facebook and Twitter.

PEF Executive Board reviews battle plan against layoffs

The PEF Executive Board will hold its quarterly meeting Thursday, March 3 and Friday, March 4 in Albany. The Board will review its campaign against the state’s layoff plan and discuss its legislative agenda.

PEF leaders urge members to be “active”

PEF has reviewed Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed budget and will continue to offer the governor solutions to reduce the budget without state workforce reductions. PEF President Ken Brynien is asking all members to stay informed and be active by visiting the PEF website, pef.org, contacting legislators, signing up for updates and possible calls-for-action.

PEF responds to reports of massive workforce reductions

PEF has had no formal notification regarding proposals by the governor for massive workforce reductions as part of the Executive Budget proposal.

PEF President Ken Brynien said, “We all understand the state’s fiscal crisis and the need to find solutions, but any suggestion of reducing the state workforce by 10,000 to 15,000 would not only cripple the delivery of essential services, it would have a chilling effect on the state’s economy and undermine the state’s fragile recovery. We should all be working together to create jobs, not more layoffs.

“If the governor’s goal is to cut costs, PEF has several suggestions on how to achieve savings without damaging state services and harming the dedicated public employees who provide them. What cannot be lost in this debate is this is not just a spending problem, it is a revenue problem. PEF will present its suggestions to the governor on how to address both issues,” Brynien said.