We all must join fight for something better


By KENNETH BRYNIEN The September vote on the tentative


agreement represents perhaps the most important vote in the history of PEF. No matter which way the vote went, there


would be hardship for our members. Nearly 70 percent of the membership voted,


and by a vote of 19,629 to 16,906 our members indicated they believe throughout their careers they have sacrificed enough. This is especially true in light of the expiration of the millionaires’ tax and the cost-saving proposals we have made. Those proposals continue to be ignored by


that balanced job security with the economic realities of the state’s fiscal situation and the political headwinds we were facing.


Our fight now turns to getting the governor


to re-engage in negotiations, and to fighting to prevent the layoffs the governor has stated are needed to provide the savings required in the adopted budget and financial plan. Our success in both preventing layoffs and


improving the negotiated agreement will depend on our ability to unite our membership and move beyond the divisiveness of the contract ratification process. With nearly 35,000 members participating


BRYNIEN


the governor and would all but eliminate the need for draconian concessions called for in the rejected agreement. We worked as hard as we could to negotiate an agreement


in the contract vote, we, as a union, know we have the ability to send a strong message – we


are proud of the services we provide to the public, the services we provide to New York are vital and necessary, and we represent a bargain to the state’s taxpayers. Our success as a union will be measured by how we respond


to the challenges that face us. With the strength of a united membership behind us, I am confident we can prevail.


Treasurer: Be strong, be unified, be frugal


By SHERRY HALBROOK PEF Secretary-Treasurer Arlea Igoe


told delegates to PEF’s 33rd Annual Convention in September her report to them “was the hardest report I’ve ever had to write, even though there are no important changes.” That might be because it will be her


last report. Igoe said she will retire at the end of her three-year term of office next July. Igoe said income in PEF’s current


budget of $35 million was based on the assumption it might lose members this year, so the union is in good shape financially. The union’s expenses, she said, break


down roughly into three major areas: one-third for staff salaries and benefits; one third in dues PEF pays to its international affiliates, the American Federation of Teachers and the Service Employees International Union; and the remaining third is for everything else, including per-capita payments to PEF divisions, dues to local labor councils, and operating expenses. “Our contingency fund is holding


steady at $2.5 million and our contract fight back, as of June 30, was $4 million,” Igoe reported. Igoe emphasized that just because the


union is currently on steady financial ground, it does not mean PEF can spend as much as it wants. “Now, more than ever, we have to be


www.pef.org


more prudent and disciplined in our spending,” she said. “This is nothing new. I say it every year, but every year people think it’s ok to go over their budgets, which it is not. Any committee or group that receives money from PEF must be more frugal with its expenditures. In this downturn economy, I will have no choice but to say, ‘No’, the bank is closed.’ “If we are to survive, we must take


those steps that will ensure our future. Confucius said, ‘He who will not economize will have to agonize.’ That’s agony I don’t want to deal with. And I don’t want to leave behind a legacy of spend and waste.” Igoe urged the delegates to face the


attacks on public employees, the middle class and organized labor and to be unified and swift in responding to them. “Many people have


forgotten what unions did for this country and the middle class. Many of our members are too young to know how unions made this country great and there is a direct correlation between the decline of the unions and the middle class. We must do a better job at educating those young members about the labor movement if we want to


mobilize and engage them in activities that we fund to help save jobs or bring to light workplace violence and other problems our members face on the job today. “All of this takes money, grit and


determination,” Igoe continued. “I know we have the power to do it. I’ve seen us do it. But many have become complacent and/or apathetic. “We only grow stronger if we stay


together and don’t let our differences be the first chink in our armor. We do not have to agree on everything, but on the important issues we must come together so we can stand as one and weather whatever comes our way. Healthy debate is good, but at the end, when we come to a decision, we should all unite behind it and let the rest go. “I’ve seen PEF become stable and


overcome a lot in the last 15 years. I want to know that PEF will do more than just survive; that we will overcome our differences; and live to fight another day together. We’ve seen the best of times and the worst of times, but we have always come out on top because we stayed together and united.” Igoe ended by quoting an unknown


IGOE


source: “Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you.”


The Communicator October 2011—Page 7


PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE


Come Together


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