Thousands protest


By DEBORAH A. MILES Thousands of PEF members from Long


Island to Buffalo came out in droves June 20 to participate in what may be one of the largest and loudest statewide rallies ever to take place in New York. At all locations under sunny skies,


members came together to send a message to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, asking for fairness in contract negotiations, to save jobs and vital state services, and to show them respect. In mid-June, Cuomo threatened to lay


off up to 9,800 positions, the first round beginning July 15, if $450 million in work force savings could not be met. PEF President Ken Brynien said the


union’s contract proposal submitted to state negotiators included ways for the state to achieve the savings needed. (See related story page 6.) When the governor threatened to proceed with his layoff plan, PEF’s mobilization team went into high gear. Rallies were coordinated in Albany, Buffalo, Binghamton, Elmira, Hauppauge, Hornell, Malone, Manhattan, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica and Watertown.


Critical times PEF member Greg Seeley, a Bronx


parole officer, said he encouraged his co-workers to participate in the Manhattan rally. “The labor movement is facing a


critical point with this governor,” Seeley said. ”It requires a collective force to overcome what he has planned for us. We all need to come together, because there is power in numbers.” The power was evident at the state


Capitol in Albany where Brynien was backed by 1,500 energized members who wanted the governor to hear their message. Brynien told the crowd his anger at the


governor wasn’t based simply on the budget cuts, or the 9,800 potential layoffs, or the unfair contract proposal submitted to PEF by state negotiators. “It’s more personal than that. It’s about


the lack of respect the governor has for state employees,” Brynien said, prompting a roar of approval from the crowd. PEF Secretary-Treasurer Arlea Igoe and


Vice President Tom Comanzo also spoke and got the crowd chanting, “Gov. Cuomo, hear us roar, we won’t take it anymore!” and “Gov. Cuomo, what do you say? How many jobs did you cut today?” PEF Region 8 Coordinator Bill Wurster said, “This event demonstrates how our


members can come together in true solidarity.”


Downstate At the same time, another 1,000


members jammed three full blocks in front of the governor’s Manhattan office on 3rd Avenue. PEF Vice President Pat Baker shouted


to the crowd, “We are 56,000 strong. The governor’s agenda is about busting the union. Our agenda is: We will not allow this to happen.” “The governor needs to understand the


13 statewide simultaneous rallies are also about human rights,” said PEF Region 11 Coordinator Jemma Marie-Hanson. “At the end of the day, it’s all about


serving our communities. PEF members care about the work they do,” Marie- Hanson said. PEF Region 10 Coordinator Vernetta


Chesimard also spoke. “We are not giving up our bargaining


rights. The governor is trying to shut us down. But you cannot keep us quiet,” Chesimard said. On Long Island, 300 members


marched, waved signs and blew whistles in front of the state


IGOE


COMANZO Manhattan


Albany Page 4—The Communicator July/August 2011 PEF Information Line: 1-800-553-2445


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