PEFstayingontopoflayoffs,manyissues
P
By KENNETH BRYNIEN aunion,continuetomoveforward.
Overthelastsixmonths,PEF’s Recently,thestateDivisionofBudget
R
primaryeffortshavesurrounded releasedabulletinontheimplementation
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protectingourpayraisesandcontractual ofExecutiveOrder6whichrequiresa
S
benefits,firstbydefeatingthegovernor’s processtoreviewthecost-effectivenessof
I
D
legislativeproposals,andnowbyworking largeconsultantcontracts,aswellas
todefeathis“either-or”positionthatwe requiringstateagenciestomake
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musteitheracceptcontractconcessions informationaboutcontractsandtheir
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orfaceunnecessarylayoffs. reasonsforenteringintothemmore
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Wewillcontinuetofightthelayoffs, publiclyavailable.
’
whilemeetingwiththegovernorandhis Additionally,astheJuly1effective
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representativestodiscussitandoffer dateforthelawlimitinginvoluntary
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proposalsthateliminatetheneedfor overtimefornursesdrawscloser,the
layoffsandmaintaintheinviolabilityof stateLaborDepartmentwillissue
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ourcontract. guidelinesforstateagenciesonhowto
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Whileourfighttoavertlayoffsremains implementthelaw.Wewillworkto
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asaprimaryissue,itisbynomeansthe ensurethelawiscarriedoutandthat
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onlychallengewearefacing.Wehavenot agenciesimplementitasintended.
lostsightofotherissuesaffectingour Thoughformanyitmaybedifficultto
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members.Amongtheseareviolencein focusonissuesotherthanthethreatof
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youthfacilities,shortstaffing,the layoffsandcontractconcessions,PEF
increaseduseofconsultants,andthe remainsvigilantandreadytomeetthese
SPEAKINGUP—PEFPresidentKen
needtocomplywithlimitsoninvoluntary andanyotherchallengethatthreatens
Brynienaddresseshundredsof
overtimefornurses,aswellasfederal ourmembers’jobs,benefitsortermsand
protestorsatarallyagainstthreatened
proposalsthatthreatentotaxourhealth conditionsofemployment.
statelayoffs.Theeventwasheldinlate
insurancebenefits,tonameafew.
Aprilacrossfromthegovernor’soffices
Despiteallofthesechallenges,we,as
inmidtownManha
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tobyRichardDillard
PEFDivision169honoredforfrontlinesactivism
By SHERRY HALBROOK
HONORED—State
NoonecanaccusemembersofPEF
LaborCommissionerM.
Division169atthestateDepartmentof
PatriciaSmith,state
EnvironmentalConservationofbeing
AssemblymanBobReilly
toocaughtupinthemselvestoget
andPEFReg.8
involvedintheissuesaroundthem, CoordinatorTom
environmentalorotherwise. Comanzoposewith
Infact,thedivisionanditsmembers membersofPEFDivision
haveearnedareputationforactivism, 169attheCapitalDistrict
especiallyintheCapitalDistrict. LaborReligionCoalition
So,itwashardlysurprisingwhenthe dinnerinMarch.Shown
divisionwaspresentedwiththeOnThe areWayneBayer,Reilly,
FrontlinesAwardoftheLabor-Religion
Comanzo,Smith,John
CoalitionoftheCapitalDistrictatits
Donlon,HollyClark,Bill
12thannualawardsdinnerheldMarch
WursterandKarlBerger.
12inAlbany. attheevent. onapeacemissiontoNicaragua.Their
PEFRegion8CoordinatorTom AmongtheDivision169members involvementwiththegroupgoesbackto
Comanzo,whoisalsothecoalition’s whoweretheretoreceivetheaward theearly1980s.
laborchair,wasmasterofceremonies wereExecutiveBoardmembersWayne Afewofthemanyothercoalition
fortheeventandpresentedtheawardto BayerandKarlBerger,aswellas issuesthedivision’sactivistshave
Division169. Division169TreasurerJohnDonlon, supportedincludetheeliminationof
TheOntheFrontlinesAwardwas andstewardsHollyClarkandBill dangerouspesticidesfromschools,farm
establishedtohonorthosewhosework Wurster.ThreeotherdedicatedRegion8 workers’rights,andtheeliminationof
forjusticehasrequiredunusual activistsfromthedivision,Susan sweatshopproductsfromschoolsand
dedicationandrisk.Ithonorsthe DuBois,StanByerandMikeKeenan, collegecampuses.
strengthandcommitmentnecessaryto wereunabletoattendthatnight. “Theydefineactivism,”Comanzo
createpositivechangeintheworkplace, DuBoishastraveledtoMexicoat said,inpresentingDivision169withthe
theneighborhood,orinpublic leasttwicewiththeLabor-Religion OntheFrontlinesAward.“Theyare
institutions. CoalitiontomeetwithworkersforU.S. alwaysreadytoworkforcauses
StateLaborCommissionerM. manufacturingcompaniesthere.Bayer importanttothecoalitionandimportant
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ithwasthekeynotespeaker alsotraveledwiththecoalitionmembers toP
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.”
CommunicatorJune2009—Page7
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