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candidates make promises to us (they didn’t keep). Will you commit to us that you will have an open door


to PEF leaders?” “Absolutely!” Teachout responded. “It’s


essential because I have so much to learn from all of you.”


Guarding pensions, jobs DiNapoli addressed the board after the


endorsements were completed and thanked the members for their support. DiNapoli told the board the NYS


Common Retirement Fund had grown to $180.7 billion by June 30, up from $176.8 billion when the state fiscal year ended March 31. That’s a growth rate of 3.58 percent for the quarter. The fund, he said, has gone well beyond


recovering its losses from the stock market and economic disaster of 2008. The fund was worth $108.5 billion just before the market tanked. “Our goal is always to grow the fund’s


long-term value to protect and preserve the retirement security of New York’s public workforce,” he said. While many state public pension funds


are still struggling to recover, and many pensions are seriously underfunded, New York’s pension fund is solid, DiNapoli said. As the pension fund’s sole guardian, he said he was pleased to report it is 90 percent funded. A champion of New


DiNAPOLI


York’s defined-benefit pensions that employees can count on receiving


when they retire, DiNapoli vowed to stand strong against pressure to switch to defined-contributions. “There will be no change on my watch!”


he declared. DiNapoli credited the dedication and


professional skills and experience of PEF members at the state Department of Audit and Control (the Office of the NYS Comptroller) for helping him find and expose waste and fraud in state and local governments and school districts. DiNapoli talked about efforts he has


made to reduce privatization at his agency and ensure PEF members there receive the knowledge and training they need to do that work. “We had good advice from PEF. We’ve


reduced privatization, especially in information technology and saved millions of dollars,” he said.


Page 6—The Communicator September 2014 In spite of years


of repeated state budget cuts, he vowed his agency “will not lay anybody off.”


DiNapoli also spoke about growing up in


a union household and said, “Unions were key to my family’s economic security. If America is going to be strong, it must have strong unions.”


Members key to success In addition to the endorsements of


candidates for statewide offices, the board also reviewed, debated and endorsed candidates for Congress and the state Legislature. Kent and Vice President Wayne Bayer,


who chairs the PEF PAC, told board members it is up to them to educate their members and get them involved immediately in working hard for Teachout and all of the endorsed candidates.


Triennial PEF elections In addition to making the candidate


endorsements, the board heard reports from Kent and PEF Secretary-Treasurer Carlos J. Garcia, and they adopted rules for the PEF triennial elections to be held in 2015. The triennial election rules the board


adopted incorporate rules for video recorded candidate debates.


Tentative pact with staff In her report, Kent announced PEF has


reached a tentative agreement with United Steelworkers Local 9265, which represents PEF’s non-managerial/confidential staff. The contract, which is tentative pending ratification by the staff and the PEF Executive Board, is for four years, retroactive to July 1, 2011, when the previous contract expired. The tentative agreement would provide annual raises of .5 percent, .5 percent, 1 percent and 2 percent. Employees in the administrative


COMING AND GOING – New PEF Executive Board members, Radhakrishna Mohan, Patricia Pafundi, Danielle Freeman, and Noelle Kardos are welcomed at the Aug. 14 meeting in Albany, and retiring member Richard Nebb urges the board to always put members first. – Photos by Sherry Halbrook


bargaining unit would also receive a $500 bonus. Kent said she was proud to offer staff a contract with no years of zero raises.


Tuition reimbursement news Kent also announced the PEF


Membership Benefits Program is launching a pilot program of course reimbursement for the fall semester. The program will reimburse PEF members up to $600 of college tuition costs, plus up to $75 for books. It is limited to one course per member and is only for the 2014 fall semester. Meanwhile, the union continues to


pursue its grievance against the state, which is refusing to release money for tuition reimbursement in the PS&T contract.


New Medicaid player Kent warned board members, especially


those representing members at agencies that depend on Medicaid reimbursements for services, such as the state Health Department, the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, the Office of Mental Health and the state University of NY, about a new system called DSHRIP for Delivery System for Health Reform Incentive Program. “DSHRIP committees are being formed


and will have a lot to say about funding and program services,” Kent said. These committees, she said, may be able to force mergers and other very significant changes similar to those forced on hospitals throughout the state by the commissions headed by investment banker Stephen Berger.


Privatization threat looms Kent also talked about new attacks on


the Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Services Office that PEF is fighting. (See related story page 13.) Kent said PEF is sending new “incident


PEF Information Line: 1-800-553-2445


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