6.8.2007

CONTRACT ’07 – NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

PEF's PS&T contract team continues to meet with negotiators from the Governor's Office of Employee Relations (GOER).

During the week ending June 1 both teams explained their proposals on educational programs, family benefits, including Lifeworks and the Dependent Care Advantage Account and the Employee Assistance Program. PEF called upon the state to stop terminating these programs when the contract expires.

"No one on either side disputes the value of these programs both to the individual employee and to the state as the employer," said Lou Matrazzo, PEF Vice President and Contract Chair.

"We listened to the state's explanation of why they end these programs, but we’re not convinced that there is a logical justification for terminating these important benefits and services when the need for them continues."

PEF also detailed how stopping and restarting these benefits limits their availability to PEF members, such as in the case of the Public Service Workshop Program administered by Rockefeller College, which was only offered for 15 months of the four-year term of the 2003-2007 contract.

Negotiations continued on Tuesday, June 5 through Thursday, June 7. The union made a power point presentation on the serious problems associated with unscheduled mandatory overtime. PEF also presented and the parties discussed proposals involving medical and uniformed personnel. On June 7 the parties traded and discussed their proposals involving Roswell Park Cancer Institute.   

Negotiators get back together on Tuesday June 12 when the union will present proposals to expand family and environmental friendly work schedules including Voluntary Reductions in Work Schedules (VRWS), telecommuting, flex time and compressed work weeks.  This presentation was originally scheduled for June 5. 

For up-to-date information on negotiations, visit the PEF Web site and sign-up and read the AIM (Active Informed Member) e-mail bulletins.