Albany Probation Officers Protest Lack of Contract

ALBANY, NY - Albany County probation officers, represented by the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF), are protesting their lack of a contract tonight, August 8, 2011, at a meeting of the Albany County Legislature.

The county's nearly 100 probation officers have been trying unsuccessfully to negotiate a contract since August 2008. Their previous bargaining agreement expired December 31, 2008.

The county agreed to give other groups of its employees a 3 percent raise retroactive to January 1, 2009, a $500 bonus effective January 1 of this year, and a 2 percent pay raise effective January 1, 2012, but it has taken a harder line with its probation officers.

The officers have said they are willing to forego the $500 bonus and are just asking for the 3 percent pay raise retroactive to July 1, 2010, and the 2 percent raise increase effective January 1, 2012. So far, the county has refused to agree even to that.

The PEF members want to know why they are denied even a portion of what their co-workers were given, especially since they risk their lives to keep Albany County residents safe by monitoring and enforcing the conditions of release of thousands of offenders.

"Our members who work in the Albany County Probation Department protect the safety and rights of all citizens, but their right to fair compensation is not being respected. If it were, they would have settled this contract long before now," said Albany region PEF leader Bill Wurster.

Statement of PEF President Ken Brynien on Council 82 contract vote

Albany - The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) continues to negotiate with the state in an effort to reach a fair contract for our members. Today’s vote by members of Council 82 to reject its tentative contract agreement with the state speaks for itself.

It is unfair to ask any employee, public or private-sector, to absorb a long-term wage freeze while making permanent cost shifts in benefits to address what is a short-term problem. The members of Council 82 and the ALES unit have said as much in their vote.

PEF has offered the state solutions that will meet the short-term fiscal need identified in the state budget. We are willing to do our part to help the state during this fiscal crisis, but any agreement must be fair. We are willing to accept short-term sacrifice, but not the long-term hardship the state is seeking.

Statement of PEF President Ken Brynien on Contract Negotiations

ALBANY, NY - The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) is very familiar with the tentative contract agreement announced today between Council 82 and the state of New York. The state offered PEF a similar proposal.

PEF has not accepted the state's initial offer because it would impose an unfair burden including long-term hardships on our members and their families. The state's proposal would require an average PEF member to give up as much as $10,000 in salary and benefits every year of the contract. Additionally, the state made it clear that accepting these concessions would not ensure PEF members would not be laid off anyway.

PEF has a counter proposal on the table that would achieve the savings the state needs for this fiscal year. We are willing to accept short-term hardships for what may very well be a short-term fiscal crisis.

The Council 82 agreement in no way sets the groundwork for our continuing negotiations. It should be noted that the bargaining unit that agreed with the governor represents less than 1 percent of the state work force and is a very specialized unit that has been working without a contract since 2005.

Statement by PEF President Kenneth Brynien on Re-opening of PS&T Contract

Albany - "The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) will not reopen its contract with the state of New York.

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

Until the state moves decisively to slash the use of costly consultants, PEF will not accept any demand for give-backs and we will continue to work to protect state jobs.

The anonymous statements from the governor's office vilifying the state workforce and the unions that represent them does not create an atmosphere conducive to a positive solution.

PEF will also hold the governor to his promise of no layoffs through his current term in office that ends December 31, 2010," said PEF President Kenneth Brynien.