Garcia: PEF in sound financial condition
By SHERRY HALBROOK PEF Secretary-Treasurer Carlos Garcia told the delegates to PEF’s 34th Annual Convention in October the union is “in good shape” financially.
It costs PEF $36 million annually to
represent the union’s 51,000 members and 3,000 feepayers, Garcia reported. Staff salaries, benefits and payroll taxes make up 47 percent of the expense, he said, with another 34 percent being paid as dues to PEF’s two international affiliates, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), as well as for divisional distributions and affiliation fees. In response to delegate Tom Lozinsky’s question about what PEF gets in return for its dues to AFT and SEIU, Garcia said, “We receive dues rebates that help support our legal and political action departments as well as technical support for training.” However, he added that too few PEF members are donating to the union’s COPE (Committee on Political Education) fund, which makes it difficult for PEF to meet its obligation to SEIU’s COPE program. As a result, PEF was fined $125,000 by SEIU last year. Garcia, who heartily thanked PEF division treasurers and PEF staff for their hard work, also reported on several projects his office has in progress. These include implementing a new PEF-member identification number that does not
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PEF website. We will use social media. We will try to establish a mentoring program for new activists and leaders. We will have community forums to address public policy issues. We will try to do everything we can,” Kent responded.
Although the convention was held less than a month before the national general elections November 6, Kent said she hoped PEF regions and divisions would try to hold informational meetings where members could meet and talk with candidates PEF has endorsed. Delegate Diane Jaulus asked Kent, “Are you ready to see all members keep their jobs in the next contract fight?” “It’s a fair
question,” Kent answered. “I voted against our (PS&T) contract the first time and the second time it was
presented last Page 6 — The Communicator November 2012
VALUE ADDED – PEF Sec.- Treas. Carlos Garcia tells delegates to show their work adds value.
include Social Security information, and preparing the union’s policy manual for inclusion on the PEF website, where it can be a ready and valuable resource for leaders, members and staff, and developing financial training for PEF Executive Board members, he said. When delegate Joe Donahue asked if PEF still intends to post the transcripts and video of PEF Executive Board meetings on the union’s website, Garcia said the transcripts will be put online and the videos of meetings will be discussed at the next Executive Board meeting. Garcia joined PEF President Susan Kent in expressing a strong intent to
year. We wanted our union to stand up and stand strong. I would have focused on the layoff threat first. We would have taken a step back and told the governor we want to see the research, we want to see the amount of money being wasted on privatization and we want to see what you are going to do with the federal dollars that flow into New York state to support the majority of those workers, before you tell us you have an economic need to lay off 3,496 workers.
“I would have focused on the money. I would have focused on the money. I would have focused on the money!” Kent said the state would have lost eligibility for some of its federal aid if it had gone forward with the layoffs, and that should have been publicized. Delegate Joe Donahue said,
“Sometimes people feel their opinions are not welcome. If they did feel welcome, it would lead to more
involvement.” He also complained PEF members often don’t learn of events far enough ahead to be able to participate. “I agree,” Kent said. “We will start
identify and train more members to take leadership roles in the union. He added that PEF needs members to represent it on all local labor councils throughout New York. “We also want to develop a better marketing strategy to communicate to the public what our members do for them,” Garcia said. “Our work is not done in isolation from what is happening in the world.”
Citing attacks on public services and public employees around the entire country, Garcia said, PEF must get New Yorkers to see PEF members’ work “as value added, not as a drain.”
listing all major labor events across the state on our website.”
Kent’s message was this administration is committed to leading by example to get members involved.
She added, “I’m absolutely committed to listening to a variety of opinions before we make decisions.”
Delegate Don Morgenstern, council leader at SUNY Downstate, said, “We were very concerned we would not be heard after the PEF elections. But we met with Susan and (Secretary-Treasurer) Carlos (Garcia) at the AFT convention, and when Susan gave me the plans to participate in the Caribbean-American Parade in Brooklyn, it totally blew my mind. “We spent $15,000 and reached more than a million people. That’s less than it
costs for one TV ad. We have received
everything we have asked for. Thank you.”
PEF Information Line: 1-800-553-2445
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