9/27/2007

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE #20
TABLE TALK
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). The State brought representatives from United Health Care. Together they shared their thoughts on what was important to continued support for affordable access to important therapies and preservation of individual choice in the prescription drug plan. A very lively discussion ensued.  No agreements were reached.
 
State negotiators withdrew their proposal for adoption of a "step therapy" approach to medical treatment.
  
RALLY
October 17
Noon
Hauppauge State Office Building
 
There will be a contract rally in support of a multi union bargaining proposal that the state adopt the federal government's "locality pay" model. This program provides adjustments to base salary for those working in high cost areas of the country. The adjustments are periodically evaluated similar to our mileage and housing allowances. The fed locality pay program (and PEF contract proposal) allows for both automatic adjustments to the rate and expansion of the eligible counties as inflation continues its expansive ways without having to wait until the next contract negotiation.  
 
PEF Delegates overwhelmingly reaffirmed their support of our bargaining position at our recent annual convention on September 17, 2007.
 
NEXT MEETING
Negotiations will resume on Tuesday, October 2. Up to bat are "specialty drugs".  In addition, negotiators will revisit Articles 17 (out of title protections), 20 (personal history folder rules), 33 (disciplinary process) and 34 (contract grievance procedures).
 
On Thursday, October 27 negotiators will wrestle with issues involving SED's Schools for the Deaf and Blind.