PEF hails Gov. Paterson for signing bill restricting nurse overtime
ALBANY – Leaders of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) today commended Gov. David Paterson for signing legislation that will finally set limits on mandatory overtime for nurses.
“We salute the governor for delivering on his promise to sign this bill which offers the first real hope for alleviating the shortage of nurses in our hospitals and other health care institutions throughout New York state,” said PEF President Kenneth Brynien.
“By putting realistic restraints on employers to force nurses to work double or even triple shifts, this law will relieve the terrible strain on nurses and their families and it will ensure patients have the quality of care they need,” Brynien added. “We strongly believe this will open the door for many nurses who left their profession feeling burned-out and exhausted to return with fresh enthusiasm and vigor for their chosen vocation.”
“New York now joins the ranks of other enlightened states that have recognized the level of care improves when the nurses and other caregivers are not forced to work long hours beyond their regular workdays.
Brynien also praised New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno who brought the bill successfully through the Legislature this spring.
“Special accolades go to state Sen. Thomas Morahan and Assembly Member Aileen Gunther who sponsored this bill and worked for years to get it enacted,” Brynien said. “Their loyalty and determination to bring this issue to a successful conclusion kept hope alive in the hearts of thousands of nurses in PEF and many others throughout the state.”
PEF, parole officers show support for officer under investigation
Syracuse–Leaders of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) and
parole officers represented by PEF will be in Syracuse Thursday, August 7,
to show their support for a New York state parole officer whose account of
how he was injured during the pursuit of a fleeing parole violator has been
questioned.
Officer Christopher Thomas has a proven record in law enforcement that dates
back to 1998 when he worked with the state Department of Correctional
Services (DOCS). Thomas has worked as a parole officer in Syracuse for the
past year.
“The Syracuse community is being denied the services of a dedicated public
servant,” said PEF President Ken Brynien. “We stand behind Officer Thomas
during this difficult time. It’s important for the Syracuse community to
know that the presumption of innocence should prevail throughout the
anticipated proceedings.”
Thomas was assigned to office duties as a result of an investigation into
the apprehension of a fleeing parolee December 19, 2007.
Parole officers from as far away as New York City and Albany will be in
Syracuse to show support for Thomas.
“Officer Thomas is committed to making the streets of Syracuse and the
surrounding communities safe,” said PEF Division 236 Council Leader and NYC
parole officer Manuelita Clemente. “He was injured in the line of duty. As
parole officers we understand the danger Officer Thomas faces on a daily
basis. We are proud to stand alongside Officer Thomas during this most
difficult time.”
PEF is New York’s second-largest state-employee union, representing 59,000
professional, scientific and technical employees including 1,100 parole
officers.
PEF backs state workforce; offers solutions to recession
Albany – The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF), the state’s largest white-collar union, today extends its recommendations to help address the state’s fiscal crisis after Gov. David Paterson officially announced this morning the state is in a recession.
“The governor’s willingness to work with labor and be open to ways to address the plummeting revenues related to a deteriorating economy is encouraging,” said PEF President Ken Brynien.
“No one wants to see families suffer during hard times. But taking jobs away from people only creates more hard times,” Brynien said. “The state was in a recession after Sept. 11 and pulled out of it. New York can do it again by focusing on options to reduce state spending while maintaining the backbone of the state, its workforce.
“We agree with the governor that responsibility needs to be shared during this fiscal crisis,” Brynien said. “But the union is disappointed and does not agree the state workforce should be taking a disproportionate share of the burden.
“There are ways to reduce costs without adversely affecting services. Last year, the state spent $3.1 billion on consultants. If state employees were hired to do this work, the state could save between $500 and $750 million annually.
“The state also spent more than $518 million last year in all overtime expenses had the state hired state employees instead of paying overtime, it could save $150 million a year,” Brynien said.
The union president also noted that the bigger better bottle bill, New York’s Returnable Container Act, would raise $25 million this year and $100 million a year, thereafter.
“And, a fourth way we could save $200 million annually is by using combined purchasing for all state-funded health care programs. This would allow the state to use its purchasing power to negotiate lower prices from the drug companies and cut costs for not only the state, but for local governments too,” Brynien said.
“Our top priority is the job security of our members. We strongly oppose cuts to the state workforce that could result in layoffs and will take whatever action is necessary to preserve the job security of our members and the services they provide. But PEF also remains available to work creatively and wisely address the fiscal downturn,” Brynien said.
July 29, 2008
PEF recommends alternatives to rebuild economy
Albany – The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF), the state’s
largest white-collar union, today responded to Gov. David Paterson’s concern
that the state tax revenue is anticipated to be lower than expected with a
longer economic downturn time.
“We understand there will be hardships for the citizens of New York state as a result of the economic downturn, but the state workforce or state services should not bear a disproportionate amount of the burden,” said PEF President Ken Brynien.
“State agency budgets have already been cut by a half-billion dollars as steps were being taken to restore the state’s ability to provide services to its citizens. There needs to be a balance between cost cutting and additional revenue,” Brynien said.
A significant reduction in spending during an economic downturn is not the right way to go.
The union leader said he was encouraged Gov. Paterson was seeking the counsel of Joseph Stiglitz, the noted economist and 2001 Nobel Prize winner in Economics, to explore alternatives to service cuts.
“An alternative previously suggested by Stiglitz to safeguard our workforce, yet address the economic downturn, is to place a temporary surcharge on the wealthiest New Yorkers,” Brynien said. “People in New York whose income exceeds a half-million dollars only pay 6.5 percent of their income in state and local taxes. The rest of the taxpayers pay 12 percent. We can address this issue by temporarily raising taxes on millionaires which would generate up to $3.75 billion dollars a year.”
The state could also save almost a billion dollars by reducing the use of overtime and consultants, according to Brynien.
“The proposal for public private partnerships will not address the immediate fiscal crisis and selling public assets has been a spectacular failure in many other states including Virginia, Texas, Florida and California,” Brynien said.
PEF applauds governor and legislative leaders for putting patient safety first and ending mandatory overtime for nurses
Albany - Leaders of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) commended action by the governor and legislative leaders that will finally set limits on mandatory overtime for nurses.
“This is an important step toward ensuring quality patient care and alleviating the nursing crisis in New York state,” said PEF President Ken Brynien. “Mandatory overtime has made recruiting and retaining nurses nearly impossible in several state agencies. Now, with a ban on mandatory overtime, we are confident nurses will once again return to the profession.”
PEF has been fighting for an end to mandatory overtime for nearly a decade. Nurses from all across the state have rallied, lobbied legislators and shared their stories of being forced to work double shifts.
“No one wants to be the patient being cared for by a nurse, exhausted after being forced to work overtime,” Brynien said. “This is long over due and will go a long way toward fixing a broken health care system. Mandatory overtime forced far too many nurses to leave their calling. At least 14 other states have passed laws or adopted new regulations to protect the public by limiting the number of hours caregivers can work. Now, New York can be added to the list of state’s committed to protecting patient safety,” Brynien added.
“Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno have been strong advocates for action to improve quality of care by eliminating mandatory overtime. Gov. Paterson’s leadership has been crucial in bringing all of the interested parties together to achieve this agreement.
“We would also like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Assembly Member Aileen Gunther and Senator Thomas Morahan. They kept this issue front and center and would not allow it to be set aside. This is the kind of leadership that every citizen can respect,” Brynien said.
Union Nurses join forces for patient safety
Hundreds rally at Capitol urging safe staffing, end to mandatory overtime
Albany – June 10, 2008 - Hundreds of nurses from five prominent nurses’ unions filled the plaza in front of the Capitol steps today calling for legislation that would ban mandatory overtime and ensure safe nurse staffing levels. Busloads of nurses from across the state including members of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF), the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), and the Nurse Alliance of 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East wore brightly colored t-shirts, waved signs and blew whistles to make sure their voices were heard. Mandatory overtime is a major cause of the current nursing shortage nationwide. Every major nurses union in New York supports legislative bill S.6342 (Morahan)/A.1898 B (Gunther) to prohibit mandatory overtime.
“New York’s health care system is in a crisis mode,” said PEF President Ken Brynien. “Mandatory overtime has done nothing but make nurses leave their calling. Almost 30 percent, or 69,000 of the 237,000 registered nurses licensed in New York are choosing not to practice in large part because of mandatory overtime. At least 14 other states have passed laws or adopted new regulations to protect the public by limiting the number of hours caregivers can work. Let this be a historic year in Albany with legislation, passed by both the Senate and Assembly and signed by the governor, to protect patients across the state.”
“If you’re a nurse, the prospect of working mandatory overtime puts you in a difficult position,” said Barbara Crane, RN, president of the New York State Nurses Association Delegate Assembly. “If you leave, you could be charged with patient abandonment and loss of your license, your career, and your livelihood. If you stay, you’re working in fear of not being as sharp as you need to be and making a mistake that could cost some poor innocent soul their life. We already have laws and regulations to set the maximum hours for airline pilots, train engineers, and truck drivers. Why is there nothing for nurses?”
Norma Amsterdam, RN, MA, executive vice president of 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, explained that, “Mandatory overtime and unsafe staffing are nursing and patient care issues that affect all nurses and all patients in New York State. The nurses of 1199SEIU/United Healthcare Workers East have fought to win these protections for our patients and our profession. We choose to unite to overcome these barriers to quality patient care. Nothing is more important today, and we urge our lawmakers to act now.”
“The remedy for the nursing shortage is to recruit and retain qualified Registered Nurses. This can be accomplished by improving our working conditions. We call on our legislators to protect our patients and the nurses that take care of them by stopping abusive mandatory overtime. Not only is it impossible for exhausted, short-staffed RNs to provide quality care for their patients, but they also have responsibilities to their families outside of work,” states Terri Schelter, RN, the legislative political director of CWA 1168, Nurses United. CWA represents around 10,000 health care workers in NYS.
Friday,
June 6, 2008
PEF praises governor’s effort to save taxpayer dollars
Albany - The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) today
applauded Gov. David Paterson’s executive order requiring that contracts
between state agencies and private consultants be justified by savings to
the taxpayers, and open to full public scrutiny.
In recent years, bipartisan reports by separate comptrollers and a study by
the Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) determined millions of tax dollars were
wasted annually through the use of expensive private consultants when, in
most cases, public employees could do the same work for less.
“This is a great day for New York state taxpayers and it’s public servants,”
said PEF President Ken Brynien. “It ensures the taxpayer gets the best
value, and it’s an acknowledgement of the efficiency of public employees.”
“The effective implementation of this executive order could result in
hundreds of millions of dollars in savings for taxpayers,” added FPI
Executive Director Frank Mauro.
In addition to thanking Gov. Paterson, Brynien also acknowledged the work of
state Sen. Joseph Robach, and Assembly Member Donna Lupardo, who spearheaded
a legislative effort related to the order by sponsoring legislation adopted
in 2006 requiring the cost of state contracts with private consultants be
fully disclosed.
President Brynien also recognized the important advocacy of state Assembly
Member Susan John, and Sen. Vincent Leibell, who sponsored legislation
calling for cost-benefit analysis of consultant contracts. “The John/Leibell
bill was the stimulus that helped to initiate the discussions leading to
this executive order,” Brynien said.
Republican former state Comptroller Ned Regan and Democratic former state
Comptroller H. Carl McCall were among the first to alert the public to the
high cost and inefficiency of using private consultants at the New York
State Department of Transportation. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has
also been supportive of PEF’s efforts to reduce the use of unnecessary
consultants in state agencies. Follow up research done by the FPI showed
that similarly wasteful contracts were undertaken for many different types
of consultant work across all state agencies.
“The governor’s executive order is a major first step toward cutting a
significant amount of waste in state spending,” Brynien added.
PEF is the state’s second-largest state-employee union, representing 58,000
professional, scientific and technical employees.
Note: The Governor's office has also issued a press release on this subject
which is being posted at
http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/index.html
Tupper Lake –– Nurses represented by the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) gathered outside the Sunmount Developmental Disabilities Services Office (DDSO) in Tupper Lake today to call attention to the nursing shortage which has reached a crisis stage at the facility.
“Recruitment and retention of nurses is already at critical levels at most state agencies,” said PEF Vice President Joe Fox. “The situation is even worse at state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) facilities, including Sunmount, where inadequate staffing, the potential for workplace violence and stagnant pay make working at these facilities less appealing.”
“The average salary for a nurse at Sunmount is 39 percent lower than salaries offered by other health care centers in the same region,” said Ed Snow, intermediate care facility program manager at Sunmount. “The wage disparity makes it almost impossible to recruit and retain nurses. Nurse staffing ratios have, therefore, created dangerous situations for both consumers and staff.”
Martha Spetla is a registered nurse at Sunmount. “There are times when one nurse is responsible for covering anywhere from 60 to 200 consumers in multiple locations across the Sunmount campus,” Spetla said. “Nurses are spread so thin, we can’t keep up. That opens the door to mistakes and puts patient safety at risk.”
The nurses were joined by members of several other unions who carried signs that read, “Safe Staffing Now,” and “I’m a nurse. I feel your pain.”
“We can’t have our nurses working to the point of exhaustion,” added PEF Regional Coordinator William Crotty. “It’s time to increase the salaries of Sunmount nurses in order to fill nursing vacancies and provide the care critical to the well-being of the people they serve.”
MEDIA ADVISORY
State employees to rally at Sunmount to protest nursing shortage
Tupper Lake – On Thursday, May 29, members of the New York State Public
Employees Federation (PEF) will join members from the Civil Service
Employees Association (CSEA) for a rally to draw attention to the nursing
shortage at Sunmount Developmental Disabilities Services Office (DDSO),
Tupper Lake.
The facility relies on overtime to fill nursing vacancies more than any
other Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD)
facility in New York state.
PEF and CSEA members who work at Sunmount will gather outside the
administration building, 2445 State Route 30, Tupper Lake at 4 p.m. to
discuss the nursing shortage. Members are prepared to talk about the
negative effect the shortage has on patients and staff at the facility, and
will offer their proposed solutions to the shortage.
PEF plan reveals recurring and realistic savings for state taxpayers
Albany - Leaders of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF)
released
ground-breaking research during a press conference in Albany today that
includes a plan to save the state more than three-quarters of a billion
dollars over the next three years.
“Everyone is quick to throw out the popular and overused phrase ‘hiring
freeze’ to solve the state’s budget gap,” said PEF President Ken Brynien.
“Our report, based on research from the Office of the State Comptroller
(OSC) proves the real savings is in a consultant freeze.”
The research, the result of analyzing
data provided under the new contract disclosure law, for the first time
reveals new insights into how much the state spends on consultants and how
much the state could save by having state employees do the work, even when
the cost of employee benefits are included.
“Prior administrations have made headlines cutting the size of state
government,” Brynien said. “Meanwhile, no one was paying attention to the
dramatic increase in the use and cost of professional consultant services.”
According to the OSC, more than 23,000 private consultants are employed by
state agencies at an estimated cost of $704 million in 2006-07.
“Compounded over three years, our plan, which calls for eliminating about
half of all consultants, would save state taxpayers $765 million,” Brynien
said. “Half or more of the savings could come just by replacing information
technology (IT) and engineering and architectural consultants with state
employees. It’s a plan that can be easily implemented and would provide
recurring and realistic savings,” Brynien added.
“Our audits of 1990 and 1998 on the use of consultants in the state
Department of Transportation (DOT) found that the state could have saved
money by having state employees do that work,” State Comptroller Thomas P.
DiNapoli said. “Going forward, we should continue to look closely at the use
of outside consultants to maximize those savings."
Albany - In a landslide vote of 34,758 to 1,214 –a 96.63 percent approval
rating –members of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF)
today approved a four-year contract with the state. It was the highest
number of votes ever cast for a new contract.
State employees rally to save Pyramid Reception Center
Bronx – Members of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) joined members of the Civil Service Employees Associatio (CSEA)at a rally to save the Pyramid Reception Center in the Bronx. The center is the state’s only intake center for the state Office of Childrenand Family Services (OCFS).PEF and CSEA members who work at the center were joined by supporters including parents of children who have successfully completed programs at the center.
“The Pyramid Reception Center is vital to the metropolitan area,” said PEF Vice President Pat Baker. “It’s central location, structured layout and experienced staff make it the logical site for the optimal provision of assessment, orientation and transportation services for youths entering OCFS facilities.”
OCFS announced in January plans to close Pyramid, which is the main reception and assessment center for all adjudicated juvenile delinquents entering OCFS care.
“It is shortsighted to close Pyramid at a time when arrests in New York City of youths under 15 increased 8 percent over last year,” said PEF Region 10 (Manhattan, Bronx) Coordinator Vernetta Chesimard.
Members talked about the negative effect the closing would have on troubled youths and their families, most of whom reside in the metropolitan area. Pyramid is an important step for troubled youths.
John Ruiz is Division 352 council leader representing PEF employees at Pyramid.
“Pyramid provides psychological, medical, dental and optical assessments for all youths entering OCFS care,” Ruiz said. “Providing these assessments under one roof at one time allows for accurate assessments essential for proper treatment.”
“The OCFS commissioner talks about the importance of treating the youths in the community in which they live,” said Roxane Rosario, a youth counselor at Pyramid. “Closing Pyramid will have the opposite effect. Seventy percent of all the youths entering OCFS care come from the New York City area.”
PEF is asking state lawmakers to restore funding to keep the center open, pointing out that Pyramid is located in a neighborhood currently experiencing an economic revival. OCFS is sacrificing services to youths for real estate profits.
PEF nurses protest short staffing at Attica Correctional Facility
Sunday, March 2, 2008 -Attica - Dozens of nurses represented by the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) gathered outside the Attica Correctional Facility this afternoon to call attention to the nursing shortage at the facility. The nursing shortage is also at critical levels at other state Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) facilities statewide.
“Recruitment and retention of nurses is a national problem and has reached the crisis stage in New York State,” said PEF President Ken Brynien. “It’s even worse within the state correctional system where certain workplace conditions – including mandatory overtime, inadequate staffing, and the potential for workplace violence – exist.”
Nurses, some of them with their children in tow, carrying signs that read, “My Mommy’s Never Home, ” and “Safe Staffing Now,” shared their stories of being forced to work double shifts on little or no advance notice.
“Nurses end up working to the point of exhaustion, which is no good for the patients, no good for the nurses and no good for their families,” said DOCS RN Donna Baker. “Part of the problem is finding nurses willing to work here. Our nurses are paid significantly less than their counterparts in private-sector health care. That has to change.”
Tom Donahue is the PEF chairman of the DOCS Labor-Management Committee. “This problem could be solved at the state Department of Civil Service and Division of Budget,” Donahue said. “They have the ability to address the poor salary structure, which is the biggest hurdle toward solving short-staffing issues.”
Assemblyman Daniel Burling also attended the event. Nurses will take their message to state lawmakers in Albany June 10 as part of their annual nurses’ rally.
February 28, 2008
MEDIA ADVISORY
Nurses to hold informational picket at Attica Correctional Facility
Attica - On Sunday, March 2, nurses, represented by the New York State
Public Employees Federation (PEF), will be joined by their family members,
PEF leaders, and state lawmakers for an informational picket outside Attica
Correctional Facility.
The informational picket will be held at 1:30 in front of the facility on
Exchange Street in Attica and will include remarks from PEF President Ken
Brynien and state lawmakers who have been invited to attend.
Dozens of PEF nurses, some of them with their children in-tow carrying signs
that read, “my mommy's never home,” will be protesting low-staffing levels
that result in mandatory overtime and ultimately, a lack of nursing care at
Attica.
Nurse staffing levels at Attica Correctional Facility have been consistently
low for several years. The nursing shortage is also at a critical level at
other state Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) facilities statewide.
PEF leader testifies on workforce issues
Criticizes plans to close or consolidate prison camps and youth facilities
Albany - A top leader of The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) testified today before the state Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees on workforce issues citing two critical areas of concern.
“We are deeply concerned over the governor’s proposal to close several state Office of Children and Family Services facilities (OCFS) including Adirondack Wilderness Challenge in Clinton County, Auburn Residential Center in Cayuga County, Brace Residential Center in Delaware County, Great Valley Residential Center in Cattaraugus County and Pyramid Reception Center in the Bronx, as well as plans to downsize the Lansing youth facility in Tompkins County,” said PEF Secretary-Treasurer Arlea Igoe of Albany.
Igoe warned lawmakers of dangers, including the possibility the closings could force the placement of young people in private programs unable to address their needs, leading to greater recidivism and higher costs to the state.
“One-third of youths placed by OCFS in private facilities fail in these placements and end up being transferred to OCFS facilities,” Igoe testified. “If the state wants to cut recidivism, it should improve the teacher-student and counselor-youth ratios in OCFS facilities’, not shut them down.”
“Additionally we have a great deal of concern about plans to close three minimum-security Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) facilities including Camp Gabriels in Franklin County, Camp McGregor in Saratoga County and Camp Pharsalia in Chenango County as well as the medium-security Hudson facility,” Igoe said.
“The closings would affect our members’ job security, careers, families and communities,” Igoe testified. “It could reduce public safety and the states’ ability to prepare inmates to return to our communities. Closing these facilities also may lead to increased ‘double bunking’ of inmates, creating a more dangerous environment.”
PEF Endorses Barclay in Special State Senate Election
February 6, 2008 -The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF), the state’s second-largest state-employee union, today announced its endorsement of Republican Assemblyman Will Barclay for state Senate in the special election being held February 26.
“PEF’s endorsement is based on our review of Will Barclay’s record as an assemblyman,” said PEF President Ken Brynien. “Will Barclay has supported legislation important to our members, including bills to restrict mandatory overtime for nurses, bills to protect the health insurance of retired public employees and a bill to improve safety by preventing workplace violence. Assemblyman Barclay has been accessible to his constituents and we are confident he will be an effective senator.”
The special election is being held to fill the vacancy in the 48th Senate District, which includes Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Oswego Counties.
PEF, state negotiators reach tentative contract agreement
The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) – the state's second-largest public-employee union – today announced it has reached a tentative agreement with the state on a new contract that includes enhancements in nearly all contract areas.
The tentative four-year pact would cover more than 58,000 PEF members in the professional, scientific and technical (PS&T) unit of the state workforce. The agreement, reached in nine months, includes four across-the-board raises during the term of the agreement, cost-of-living adjustments for members who live in high-cost areas of the state, and no significant changes to health insurance coverage.
The agreement would not increase the employees' share of the cost of health insurance premiums, and entails only modest increases in their co-pays.
“This contract is fair and meets the needs of our members,” said PEF President Ken Brynien. “It provides annual raises, maintains strong health benefits and addresses location pay. I applaud the efforts of our negotiators and the governor. The bargaining balances the interests of the state workforce and New York taxpayers.”
The previous collective-bargaining agreement with the state expired April 1, 2007. The new package covers the period beginning April 2, 2007 through April 1, 2011 and includes the following major elements:
3 percent salary increase retroactive to April 2, 2007;
3 percent salary increase effective April 1, 2008;
3 percent salary increase effective April 1, 2009; and,
4 percent salary increase effective April 1, 2010.
The agreement also features improvements to salaries including:
A realignment of the salary schedule in April 2010 which raises the top of grade pay for employees in state grades 19-25 to levels paid other units;
An additional $1,000 increase in April 2010 in the job rate of employees in grades 26 through 37;
Significant improvements to downstate and mid-Hudson salary adjustments to reflect cost-of-living.
The current downstate adjustment of $1,302 will increase to $1,850 on April 1, 2008 and to $3,026 on October 1, 2008. The Mid-Hudson adjustment, currently $651 will increase to $1,000 on April 1, 2008 and to $1,513 on October 1, 2008.
The state has also agreed to enhancements to the current vision plan benefit, as well as $600,000 to study the creation of a state fund as a means to provide improved dental and vision benefits while also resulting in a savings for the state. The agreement also continues language to allow conversion to the fund during the term of the contract.
The tentative pact must still be approved by the union’s Executive Board, which is holding a special meeting on February 20, 2008 and be ratified by the membership. After the Executive Board approves the agreement, ballots will be mailed to PEF members. Union leaders expect the entire ratification process will be completed in about two months.
PEF's state contract negotiating team consists of 22 members from across the state, supported by the union's professional staff negotiators.
MORE DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE PEF WEBSITE ON FRIDAY AT 5PM.
PEF President responds to proposed State Budget
Albany - “The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) is satisfied with most aspects of Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s budget proposal,” said PEF President Ken Brynien.
“We are encouraged to see the continued progress toward reducing the reliance on costly private consultants. We are pleased to see the governor has listened and is responding to our calls to reduce workplace violence and is also increasing the ability of the state Division of Parole to better supervise parolees.
“It’s clear the governor recognizes the value that the state workforce represents to the states’ taxpayers and the savings that can be realized by replacing high-priced private contractors with lower-cost state employees. The best example is the governor’s proposal to add 392 jobs in the state Department of Transportation for bridge maintenance and inspection personnel.
“We are also pleased the governor is responding to our concerns to stop workplace violence by adding 152 positions to the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities to develop programs designed to reduce violence in the workplace.
“We remain concerned over the planned facility closings and consolidations in the state Department of Corrections and Office of Children and Family Services, and their impact on our members and the affected communities.
“We also await the details on the governor’s plan to tap into the state Division of Lottery revenue. PEF represents the professionals who work at that agency and have dedicated their careers to ensuring the integrity of the agency’s operation.
“Finally, while the governor is taking the necessary steps to cut spending by reducing the state’s reliance on costly private contractors, PEF will continue to press ahead with it’s Go Public campaign to make the point that still more savings can be realized by relying less on private consultants and more on state employees,” Brynien said.
PEF is the state’s second-largest state-employee union, representing 58,000 professional, scientific and technical employees.
Statement by PEF President Ken Brynien regarding proposals to close several state prisons and youth facilities
Albany - “The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) is always concerned anytime the state calls for reducing the number of state facilities and services critical to public safety,” said PEF President Ken Brynien.
“We received notice today – directly from Gov. Eliot Spitzer, and had face-to-face meetings with commissioners from the state Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) and the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) – concerning plans to close several state prisons and youth facilities in January 2009.
“The state plans to close Camp Pharsalia in Chenango County, Camp Gabriels in Franklin County, the medium-security Hudson Correctional Facility in Columbia County and Camp McGregor in Saratoga County.
“The state also announced it will close, consolidate or reduce the bed capacity of six residential youth facilities – the Adirondack Wilderness Challenge in Clinton County, Auburn Residential Center in Cayuga County, Brace Residential Center in Delaware County, Gloversville Group Home in Fulton County, Great Valley Residential Center in Cattaraugus County and the Pyramid Reception Center in the Bronx.
“PEF represents approximately 71 employees at the DOCS facilities and 45 employees at the youth centers.
“We are encouraged that the governor and commissioners reached out to us directly, unlike previous administrations. They have committed to maintaining the job security of our members.
“However, we will review the proposals and do everything possible to ensure the job security of our members and public safety is not jeopardized.”
Statement by PEF President Ken Brynien on State of the State address
“The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) applauds and supports the governor’s call for investments in the future of our state’s economy. We understand the need for new revenue streams as the governor pursues his ambitious agenda.
“However, there is reason to be concerned anytime there is a possibility for privatization. In his state of state address, governor Eliot Spitzer announced plans to explore private investment as it relates to the New York State Lottery.
“We are encouraged that the governor recognizes the importance of state oversight of the lottery and we are confident he understands the value of the state workforce.
“We represent the professionals who work at the state lottery. Our members have dedicated their careers to ensuring the integrity of the agency’s operation.
“The governor’s proposal merits a closer look when the state budget is released later this month to see if it protects the public interest.
“We also believe that state government can take further steps to achieve the governor’s goals by reducing the state’s reliance on high-cost consultants in cases where the work can be done at lower cost by state employees. We appreciate the steps the governor has taken to address this issue and we urge him to continue and expand those initiatives,” Brynien said.