9/17/2007

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE #19
PEF's PS&T contract team continues to meet with a team of negotiators from the Executive Branch headed by representatives of the Governor's Office of Employee Relations (GOER).

TABLE TALK
This week the parties mutually agreed to extend both the Leave Donation and Part Time Leave Adjustment Programs through the balance of 2007 with further extensions possible if negotiations for a successor contract are not completed. Union negotiators applaud the governor's negotiators for their support of these programs. What they have done was the right thing to do and on behalf of our members we expressed our appreciation. 
 
While we appreciate the state exercising their discretion to continue the benefits provided by these memorandum of understandings (mous), the governor's representatives  have, as regular readers know, ended their support of the tuition reimbursement programs. For the PEF professionals in the midst of a continuing education program, the termination of these benefits is especially critical.  Worse still, there is little rationale for the sunset given the fact that there would be no additional expense for the State to continue the program as historically they've agreed to fully fund the programs in negotiations anyway. Many of you have written Governor Spitzer about this. If you haven't already, post your letter at  http://161.11.121.121/govemail
 
NEXT MEETING
PEF leaders from around the State will be in NYC next week attending the annual convention. Negotiations will resume on Tuesday, September 25th when United Health Care representatives will join us to discuss the Empire Plan's prescription drug program.