Help New Yorkers see what budget proposals mean for them


By KENNETH BRYNIEN Government budgets have been


referred to as moral documents that represent the values of the citizenry. The governor introduced his Executive


Budget for New York last month. It proposes historic levels of cuts to all areas of state spending, with disproportionate cuts to agency budgets and the state work force. If passed in its current form, it will mean cuts to the services we provide to the most vulnerable in New York. The disabled, those suffering from mental illness, those who are in the corrections system and are now trying to rehabilitate themselves are all targets. The services all New Yorkers rely on


are threatened too, including clean air and water, safe food, safe roads and bridges, help for abused children – the almost endless list of services we all count on but take for granted. These are cuts that will affect everyone. The only thing not threatened is the tax cut for the state’s wealthiest. Despite the polling regarding public


support for the governor’s budget proposals, I believe the vagueness of the


By DEBORAH A. MILES Since October, leaders of PEF’s PS&T


budget, that deliberately obscures the true impact of the cuts, explains the public’s support. We all believe government can be more


efficient and savings can be achieved, but the reality may be much different than we imagine. We’ve seen nearly two years of cut after cut. Services are being compromised and agencies face another 10 percent cut. The governor is asking for $1.8 billion of “labor-management partnership” savings (wage and benefit cuts) over the next four years. What can we do about this? PEF will use all means at our disposal


– political action, legal, public relations, member mobilization and contractual – to stop these proposals. The most effective weapon we have to fight this is you. We need you to write, phone, or visit


your legislators. We must tell the public and our legislators what the governor is not telling them: what is really at risk with these cuts; that it isn’t cutting a bunch of bureaucrats; that it means real cuts to real services. Make them understand the state has better solutions. This has been framed as


contract proposals. “The benchmark is to fight to get the


LET’S BE FAIR—PEF President Ken Brynien tells themedia at a Fiscal Fairness press conference inAlbany tax cuts for wealthy NewYorkers isn’t the right answer.


—Photo by DarcyWells


a spending problem when, in fact, it is just as much a revenue problem and it’s only fair those for who profit most from our economy to reinvest their wealth in it. I do not believe this budget represents


the values of any New Yorker except, perhaps, the wealthiest and those who are the most greedy and anti-public sector and anti-union. It’s our New York, too. Let’s make sure the budget reflects New York’s real values.


Member involvement paramount to a fair contract “Our members have told us they are


contract team have travelled more than 6,000 miles to meet with members across the state in every PEF region. Because of the fiscal climate of the state and the threat of layoffs, hundreds of members showed up to find out how PEF is going to negotiate its successor contract. The current pact expires April 1. PEF Vice President and Contract Chair


Tom Comanzo said the union is prepared and ready to meet with the state’s negotiators. “At this time, PEF is fine-tuning its list


of demands for the coming negotiations. All the members of the contract team have been trained in the subtle nuances that occur at the bargaining table,” Comanzo said. “PEF is a highly democratic and


member-driven union. We listen to what our members feel is important. This time around, members are getting the message from me to ‘Get up, get into it and get involved.’” PEF Director of Labor Relations and


chief negotiator Robert Carrothers said the team is gathering more information from members and refining the


www.pef.org


best possible contract we can achieve for our members,” Carrothers said. State labor unions have had some


tough battles at past bargaining tables. This time around, it may be even tougher. The governor has asked everyone to “share in the sacrifice.” PEF President Ken Brynien said the


union is willing to work with the governor. “PEF understands the governor would


like the unions to accommodate his needs now. Keeping our members best interests a priority, PEF realizes the right time for any modifications or adjustments should be done in the realm of contract negotiations. Since we are about to begin negotiations, it makes sense to discuss any changes as part of the next contract,” Brynien said. “Our position about shared sacrifice


needs to include why the governor has proposed the same tax rate for the wealthiest New Yorkers. “The issue is how to trim $450 million,


in addition to the savings the governor expects from attrition of approximately 1,600 people who leave state service and won’t be replaced.


willing to sacrifice during the state’s dire financial situation. We will not sacrifice when millionaires and corporations, whose greed caused our financial turmoil, get a tax cut and expanded tax credits under the proposed state budget. “PEF is hopeful it can mitigate these


proposals and advance its alternatives in the Legislature. We need every PEF member’s involvement to ensure the success of our campaigns to protect jobs and vital state services,” Brynien said. Comanzo said the course of the


negotiations will depend, not only on the readiness and skills of the team, but on member support in a variety of ways. “When we ask you to write letters to


your legislators and newspapers and to comment on political blogs, it’s to show there is strength and power behind the men and women at the bargaining table. Just as the governor has asked everyone to share the sacrifice, your union is asking you to share in the process, so we can fight for a fair contract,” Comanzo said. To get current contract updates, visit


the PEF website at pef.org. To be involved, sign-up for the Active Informed Member (AIM) bulletins.


The Communicator March 2011—Page 7


PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE


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