Trustees’ Report


allotment(s). Repeated failure to submit these reports will result in the division’s account being closed and put into receivership. Each PEF division was paid $7.25 per member up to the


first 200 members and $5.80 per member for each member in excess of 200 in each quarter for fiscal year 2010-11. As of April 1, 2011, the rates per member remained the same. A total of $1,397,125 was budgeted in divisional distributions. This figure is down from 2009-10 as a result of the decrease in membership. Training is held at the convention for division treasurers


and any other interested parties. In addition, the PEF Divisions office periodically sends out a newsletter that is very informative and helpful as relates to best financial practices for divisions.


2010 Convention resolutions: The 2010 PEF Convention delegates adopted nine


resolutions: Resolution numbers 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 12, 24, and 25. Resolution number 23 was referred to the Legislative Office.


• Resolution No. 1 – Any or all PEF members under the


Canal Corporation to Come Under State Control This resolution provides that, if possible, PEF support the


Canal Corporation being moved to the NYS Department of Transportation, which would take over its operations and supervise PS&T Unit members employed there. Action: PEF has advocated for the merger of several public


authorities into state agencies, including the Canal Corporation. Our 2011 state budget materials raised this issue with the Legislature. In the 2011-12 state budgets, the Legislature approved the governor’s proposal to create a commission to propose the consolidation and reorganization of state agencies and authorities. PEF has communicated our position to the director of that commission, urging them to consider the merger of authorities, including the Canal Corporation, into state agencies.


• Resolution No. 2 – Abolishing the necessity of


negotiating health care insurance and medical costs from future contract negotiations by organizing for a long-term strategy to win single-payer national health insurance This resolution provides that PEF call on the AFL-CIO to


initiate a strategic planning process to develop a long-term strategy to win single-payer national health insurance, and that the PEF Officers communicate this resolution to the AFL- CIO national leadership, AFT and SEIU, the NYS AFL-CIO and all labor councils in New York State. Action: PEF President Ken Brynien sent a letter to the AFL- CIO and to SEIU and AFT supporting this proposal.


• Resolution No. 5 – 25-year retirement bill This resolution calls for PEF to draft legislation and to seek


sponsors for a “25-year-and-out” retirement bill with no penalty for parole officers. Action: The PEF Legislative Department drafted a bill that


would allow parole officers with 25 years of service to retire at any age with no penalty. That bill has been introduced as A.5673/S.5111 (2011) and PEF has circulated our memo of support to all legislators.


• Resolution No. 8 – 2010 pension protection act This resolution provides PEF will consider a politician’s


stance on the state comptroller as sole-trustee of the Common Retirement Fund in future endorsements. It also provides PEF will work to keep present and future state employees eligible to be members of a defined-benefit retirement plan. Action: A memo containing this resolution was distributed to


www.pef.org


the PEF Statewide Political Action Committee so the committee can take it into account in the future when making endorsements.


• Resolution No. 9 – Wage and medical benefit equality This resolution calls for PEF, in consultation with PEF


Division 236, to support contract negotiations and legislation in the 2011 legislative session, which provides that parole officers who suffer employment-related injuries shall receive their salaries and medical benefits until their disabilities cease. Action: The PEF Legislative Department drafted a bill for


this purpose. It has been introduced in the Legislature as A. 2391 (2011). A memo of support was distributed to all legislators.


Resolution No. 12 – Need for more PEF field


representatives This resolution recommends to the president and the


Executive Board that there be minimum staffing levels for field representatives beginning sometime after July 2012. Action: The president has asked the director of labor


relations to prepare a study on appropriate minimum staffing levels for field representatives. This report will be concluded in time to comply with the time frame outlined in the resolution and will comply with all requirements of the resolution.


• Resolution No. 24 – Eliminate or raise the ceiling on


sick-leave accruals This resolution calls for including the removal of, or raising


of, the ceiling on sick-leave accruals for PS&T Unit members on PEF’s wish list of contract enhancements in the upcoming contract negotiations for the contract period beginning April 2011. Action: The PEF PS&T Contract Team reviewed this


resolution and presented proposals to the state in this round of negotiations to remove the cap on sick-leave accruals and otherwise improve the members’ ability to accrue and use sick leave for retirement service credit and health insurance in retirement. These demands were not achieved in this round of negotiations. Instead, the team was faced with the need to fend off the state’s concessionary demands in this area: first, to abolish the sick-leave credit entirely, and later to reduce the number of sick-leave days that could be used to fund the sick- leave credit.


• Resolution No. 25 – Protect the needs of members in


travel positions In this resolution, the convention recommends the PS&T


Contract Team make it a priority that PS&T Unit members be reimbursed for all miles traveled to and from alternate work locations while doing state business. Action: The PS&T Contract Team reviewed this resolution


and presented a proposal to the state in this round of negotiations to assure that employees who use personal vehicles for work-related travel be reimbursed for all miles traveled to and from alternate work locations. This demand was not achieved in this round of negotiations.


• Resolution No. 23 – Amend Voluntary Reduction in


Work Schedule (VRWS) Program for full retirement service credit This resolution was not adopted by the delegates but,


rather, was amended and referred to the PEF Legislative Office. Action: The PEF Legislative Department prepared an


analysis of this issue and presented it to the PEF Political Action Committee. After discussion, the committee recommended PEF not take any action on this proposal at this time.


The Communicator October 2011—Page 15


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