02/13/2004

TABLE TALK
PEF’s "It’s Your Move" postcard campaign, launched in response to the State's failure to respond to our full package contract proposal of December 4, 2003, has resulted in the State's making us a full contract proposal. They made the proposal on February 10. Although encouraged that negotiations have moved to this stage, the fact is that the movement was woefully inadequate and the proposal has been rejected by the Union. Some lowlights of the three year offer include

- It does not include a base wage increase in each year
- It continues to call for significant health insurance concessions via gut wrenching premium shifts to employees as well as future retirees and restricts hospital choice for Empire Plan participants.
- In no manner does it respond to PEFs demand for relief for State employees who work in high cost geographic areas.
- It includes a proposal to eliminate the current Article 12.17 bar against using time clocks for our professionals.
Even as the State was offering its own employees a pittance at the table, they continue to take care of the contractors who live off the privatization of state services. Just six days before the State came to offer PEF members no increase at all, they notified various contactors that EnCon was extending their contract for 2004, and as part of that deal, the contractor could increase their rates to adjust for differences in the cost of living from the previous years when the contract was first signed.

The union has prepared a counter offer and will present it to the State negotiators this coming Tuesday, February 17.
KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON THE STATE NEGOTIATORS - "TAKE THE PLEDGE"
Over 4000 folks have signed THE CONTRACT PLEDGE. The more people that sign the PLEDGE the greater the impact on the contract terms for all NYS employees.

From the beginning of bargaining a goal of PEF has been to raise the bar. While others were downplaying expectations, we were meeting across the State with our members and raising expectations. When others were talking about accepting 0's we rejected the talk and insisted on higher expectations. When the State was insisting on significant give backs in Health insurance PEF promised none. We have taken the lead on raising the bar and continue to do this with the PLEDGE.

Your PEF Bargaining Team needs your continued help to make this a success. Last week PLEDGE fliers were delivered to PEF Divisions across NYS. 4000 PLEDGES have already been delivered to the Governor. Although a good start, there are 52,000 PEF members and 100,000 other unionized state employees who work side by side with us. 4000 PLEDGES is a smart beginning to what we could get signed if we all focus on the task.

Help us send the message to the State’s Negotiators. TAKE THE PLEDGE and ask your coworkers to do the same! It’s easy.
- Take the PLEDGE online by visiting www.unionvoice.org/campaign/pledge and ask your co-workers to do the same
-or-
- Sign the PLEDGE and and ask your coworkers to do the same. Give all signed PLEDGES to your PEF leader who will arrange for it to be faxed to the governor.

The PLEDGE can be downloaded from the PEF website at http://www.pef.org/files/contactpledgead3.pdf
Copies can also be obtained by sending an e mail with your name, address and number of copies needed to PEFonline@pef.org
If you do not know who your local PEF rep is return signed pledges to the nearest PEF Regional Office or send them to
PEFc/o Margaret Wexler
PO Box 12414
Albany NY 12212
YOUR NEGOTIATORS APPRECIATE IT!
THE PLEDGE
Gov. George E. Pataki
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
I will not accept a contract -
- That does not have a base wage increase in each year;
- That has significant health concessions including increases in premium percentages;
- That diminishes the health insurance benefits of present or future retirees; and,
- That does not provide cost-of living adjustments for high cost geographic areas.
Signed, _______________________