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other members prior to the convention. Five resolutions were adopted outright, and four were adopted with amendments. One was referred to the Executive Board, one was declared moot because the same issue had already been taken up in adopting the union’s agenda of state legislative issues, and action on one resolution was postponed indefinitely. Two resolutions were ruled out-of-order and 14 resolutions were defeated. The delegates debated, amended


and adopted the union’s legislative agendas for 2012. Among the changes to the agenda of state legislative


issues, was a call for enactment of a law governing seniority for retired public employees who return to work on a part-time basis. PEF does not want them to receive seniority credit for service prior to their return to work. The delegates also agreed PEF


should support legislation to correct inequities in Pension Tier 5 and should oppose creation of a new sixth pension tier.


ATTHEMIC—PEFVice President Joe Fox, who chairs the PEF convention committee, awaits his turn during floor debate at the union’s 33rdAnnual Convention held September 11-14 inNiagara Falls.


President: No member expendable


By SHERRY HALBROOK PEF is in relatively good shape, but the


union could be fighting for its life at any moment. That was the sobering State of the


Union message PEF President Ken Brynien delivered to delegates to the union’s 33rd annual convention held September 11-14 in Niagara Falls. He described how an escalating history


of attacks on PEF and public employees and retirees in New York is part of an even broader and uglier national picture. “We successfully fought off most of


those attacks in New York, but the same stuff and worse was happening across the country,” Brynien said.


Attacks taking horrific toll Brynien recounted how extreme


politicians in some states have taken away or severely limited employees’ rights to collectively bargain. And by refusing to deduct union dues from employees’ pay, they have struck a nearly fatal blow to their public-employee unions. “Almost every state had a budget


crisis; hundreds of thousands of public employees have been laid off and more than 1 million were furloughed, some as often as three days per month. Many states slashed their employees’ health and pension benefits, as well as salary steps, longevity pay and other benefits,” Brynien said. Things are not better for federal


employees, Brynien said. Airport screeners lost their bargaining rights, up to 200,000 federal workers may be laid off and they are all facing a five-year wage freeze.


Tsunami of attacks building “Every month in 2011, the public


Page 6—The Communicator October 2011


sector in the U.S. lost jobs. Just last month, 17,000 public employees’ jobs were eliminated nationwide,” Brynien said. “Even police officers and firefighters are being laid off.” While, historically, PEF was able to


mitigate or even eliminate some of those layoffs, the momentum nationally is now reaching a crescendo. For PEF members, the new attacks hit


just as their jobs and services were at risk in the 2011-12 state budget process and as they and other state employees were trying to negotiate new contracts. “We fought to continue the


millionaire’s tax; We fought for a fair budget; We fought wasteful spending, and we fought downsizing state agencies and services. But the state Legislature let the governor do what he wanted. “The governor’s bottom line was for


the state employees to give him $450 million in concessions or he would get rid of 9,800 state jobs. On the day we were rallying, another union was signing a deal. So, we held tele-town-hall meetings and an online survey to find out what our members wanted us to do. They told us to save jobs and they did not believe holding out would produce a better deal,” Brynien said. “Then, the layoff notices hit, and our


members begged us to save their jobs, their careers, their families and their homes. “We stayed at the bargaining table and


did what we could. I spoke to the governor. He convinced me people would hit the street in six days,” Brynien said.


Every member matters “PEF tentatively settled its contract,”


the president said, “because the most important thing a union can do is keep


PEF Information Line: 1-800-553-2445


people employed, because no matter how good the contract is, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have a job. “We needed to show our members they


are not expendable. We will not intentionally leave anyone behind. Families don’t do that. And unions should not do that either. We cannot let our enemies divide us. “We’re going to need everybody,


because this fight is not over. The key to our survival is to stay together,” Brynien said. “We are one. Treat each other with respect. Put aside your differences. We are family and we must act like one. Each of us has a responsibility to defend this family of PEF.” Brynien challenged the delegates to


keep a sharp eye out for waste and mismanagement at their worksites. “Each PEF division should appoint an


officer to mobilize members and a waste management officer to gather and feed that information to us at PEF headquarters. Are you willing to do that? “If this work doesn’t get done, we will


be done. “If we do it, we will be here long after


our enemies are gone.”


State of the Union


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