After39 years,
wants severance
To the Editor: I, too, have applied for retirement with the
severance pay package, but was denied. Iʼm in pension Tier 1 withmore than 39 years of service. Iʼd like a chance at that kind of perk after all the years Iʼve served the state. Iʼve also been a unionmember, first
CSEAand then PEF, since November 19, 1970. Why canʼt I and those likeme be afforded
the same treatment as those with less service?When and where has anyone heard of someone being denied retirement? They want us out. Then they should be
doingmore to help us get there. After all the years and governors and
legislators Iʼve seen come and go, they still donʼt seemto get it. The budgetʼs still a mess. Since I startedmy career with New York
under Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, Iʼve seen layoffs, the tiers introduced, and reduction by attrition, but those of us who have remained continued to work hard and get the job done. I know lifeʼs not fair, but come on!
Shame on them. Shame on all of them.
LINDAS.MARGISON Albany
Members’ paltry
effort shocking
To the Editor: If ever there was a cognitive disconnect
in The Communicator, it was this statement in theApril 2010 issue in the article headlined “Members doing the ʻWriteʼ Thing.” Without somuch as a raised eyebrow,
the article shamelessly states, “So far,more than a dozenmembers have participated in PEFʼs ʻDo theWrite Thingʼ campaign by writing to editors of their local newspapers.” As if that were a number to be proud of. Think about it for aminute: a dozen PEF
members out of approximately 55,000 (PS&T)members statewide.Amere 0.022 percent cared enough about their jobs and the threats posed to it by the current fiscal crisis to tap out a few paragraphs defending our jobs and the public service we do. Frankly, I have trouble finding the words that conveymy disappointment – nay, anger
– at the vastmajority ofmembers who, collectively, seemto say: “Askme if I care.” If you cannot do something as simple as
participate in a letter-writing campaign to defend the job that keeps your house warm and you and your family fed, then perhaps you do, indeed, deserve whatever the governor and the Legislature dish out to you. If itʼs dog food, you earned it.
JIMCLOSE Mechanicville
Editor’s Note: Hundreds, if not thousands, of PEF members have written to state legislators and the governor in defense of their jobs.Those in danger of losing federal funding for their positions also have written to their federal representatives in the House and Senate.Many members also have met with their legislators.
NEWMonthly Travel Specials
www.buymbp.com/travelspecials
PEF Members Receive a 5%rebate on all Packages, Cruises, and Tours
PEF TRAVEL SERVICES
1168-70 Troy-Schenectady Rd. • Latham NY 12110
(518) 782-9045 • (800) 767-1840 Email:
peftravel@pef.org •
www.buymbp.com
Page 2—The Communicator May 2010 PEF Information Line: 1-800-553-2445
YOU SAID IT
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28