A message from PEF Retirees President Steve Muscarella

Too much of too much blights our future

Many seniors enjoy talking about

“the good old days” when this country was distinguished by the chance it afforded its citizens to improve and advance. Past generations seized the

opportunity and worked and saved so their progeny would have a better life and opportunities. Recently, a state retiree commented

on the 10 cents he was given by his parents to attend the Saturday movie. That was the price of the matinee. His family lived within its budget. They gave him nothing extra for soda or popcorn. Yes, it was a simple time when

families worked to advance and prosper, with a commitment to the security of future generations. One wonders how these values

became so skewed and how this country has become so profligate in spending. The national debt is now $12.4 trillion. The interest, alone, is unsustainable and crippling America. This threatens our global economic

MUSCARELLA

leadership and portends massive future inflation. Our state

indebtedness runs into the billions and seems to grow exponentially from one month to the next. It threatens New Yorkers’ jobs and retirement security. Thomas Jefferson cited “public debt as

the greatest of the dangers to be feared. To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.” Our political leaders are aware of

this crisis, but appear to be incapable of dealing with it. Vice President Joe Biden recently said of the national debt, “The burden on my grandchildren is phenomenal.” PEF President Ken Brynien, in

testifying recently, reminded state legislators New York state pays

thousands of consultants an average of 62 percent more for professional services than it pays state employees to do the work. Meanwhile, state workers and

retirees constantly face threats to our hard-earned benefits, such as the proposal to make us help pay the cost of Medicare Part B. We need fiscal responsibility, not

steps backward. Some in our society are enjoying the

movie, the popcorn and the soda. They are putting the tab on a credit card and leaving the bill for future generations. At risk is American hegemony. We cannot let it happen on our

watch. Let’s work together to get our country on the right path. Alone, we can do little; together, we can do so much.

Outdated e-mail addresses

jtropiano@pef.org

Members nip privatization attempt

By DEBORAH A. MILES

PEF members who work at the state

Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) should take a bow. The effort they made January 13 by wearing stickers to fight privatization paid off.

The Margaretville

Individualized Residential Alternative (IRA), a part of the Broome Developmental Disabilities Services Office (DDSO), was a target for possible privatization. The jobs of the PEF

members who work there appeared safe, but approximately a dozen Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) members were transferred to other facilities. PEF Executive Board member Jim

Moffitt said it’s important to nip in the bud any attempt to privatize a facility. “The effort to stop the privatization of

www.pef.org

Margaretville began at the November Executive Board meeting where the campaign was developed,” Moffitt said. “This win is a culmination of a four-

pronged attack against privatization. Nearly 5,000 members in OMRDD mobilized statewide to send a message. That resulted in a successful sticker campaign. We also filed a Freedom of Information Act request to see OMRDD’s cost study report on Margaretville and we lobbied local lawmakers. “PEF was told the

situation at Margaretville was a done deal. We heard that from many

people. But we went ahead and we won,” Moffit said. “All our members should know not to give up a fight, even when you are told it is a lost cause.” Ed Snow, PEF labor-management

chair for OMRDD, also said he was told Margaretville was a “done deal.” “Our success in whatever endeavor we

take on comes from our union activists and good union leadership on all levels,” Snow said. PEF Division 197 Council Leader Tim

Nannery credited PEF steward Carolyn Cole, a mental health nurse at Broome DDSO, for bringing the issue to him. “It’s important to give credit to our

members who see what is happening on a day-to-day basis. This win is a result of one person getting involved that led to 5,000,” Nannery said. “The mobilization of the people around

the state was very inspiring. As a council leader, it was great to see the support from PEF’s Executive Board and its professional staff. That, in itself, regardless of the outcome, was a win for us as a union.” Nannery also said it was important for

PEF to stop the possible privatization before Margaretville set a precedent around the state. “This is one issue behind us,” he said.

“Privatization is a constant threat. We still need to work cohesively and collectively with other unions and management to keep our members’ jobs safe.”

The Communicator April 2010—Page 9

Retirees in Action

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