5/11/2004

memo

TO: Executive Board
Council Leaders

DATE: May 10, 2004

SUBJ: GOER Memo of May 7 to Agency HR Directors

Please find attached a memorandum from John V. Currier, Deputy Director of GOER, regarding status of negotiations with PEF. This memo is already receiving wide release in a number of agencies, clearly being distributed by HR Directors to PEF members. The memo is a clumsy negotiating ploy by a GOER designee to pressure your Contract Team to accept a deal that is more beneficial to the employer than you.

Mr. Currier claims that PEF demands to be treated differently than the other unions with respect to the State’s health insurance demands. Our only demand is that we be treated the same. Mr. Currier and the State negotiators refuse to give PEF that commitment. It is on that basis that PEF will not give the State a blank check on health care.

The actual letters to and from George Madison, GOER Director, are attached, and I encourage particular attention to both, which very carefully detail PEF’s exact position and demonstrates the inaccuracy of Mr. Currier’s position.

Of course, now that GOER’s position has been exposed, we can fully expect that they will attempt to confuse and obscure their position (just like they did on stand-by, on-call/meal reimbursement and timekeeping) in an effort to undercut our negotiations team and mobilization effort.

It is extremely important that the enclosed April 30, 2004 Contract Update be very widely distributed through our mobilization network. Only when the members understand what exactly is happening at the table, can management’s position be countered. Read the most updated contract information on line at the PEF website www.pef.org/pst2003/index.htm.

Thank you for your leadership in these difficult times.


Roger E. Benson

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cc: PEF Staff