“Save Our Services” campaign needs full member support


Story and photo by DEBORAH A. MILES In December 2013, PEF’s “Save Our


Services” campaign was in full swing after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced earlier the closing and downsizing of several state Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Children and Family Services facilities, and SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. 2014 was a remarkable year,


as PEF stood in solidarity with other labor unions and fought to save jobs and community services throughout the state. The SOS rally hosted by PEF attracted a


standing-room-only crowd in the well of the Legislative Office Building last January. The chants and shouts from the audience funnelled through the corridors, alerting lawmakers to the power of a united labor force. One of the most prominent results of the


campaign was the strengthening of the labor, faith and community coalition to save SUNY Downstate. The effort was successful with the winning of a tough battle, but the war continues. As PEF leaders are preparing to review


Cuomo’s 2015 State of the State address January 7, and the release of his Executive Budget at the end of the month, the resurgence of the SOS campaign is occurring. PEF is gearing up to face whatever the state has in store for the labor movement. “Member involvement is crucial in any


effort we make to maintain communication with all our lawmakers, especially those in the state Senate and Assembly,” said PEF President Susan M. Kent. “This union is going forward in its goal to protect jobs, save services and push for a fair contract for our members in the PS&T unit. “Our SOS campaign started with quiet


conversations but quickly grew in momentum with our slogan echoing throughout the state, whether it was at a rally, members wearing the SOS red T- shirts, or lawn signs in neighborhoods. We need members to come together again,” Kent said. PEF Secretary-Treasurer Carlos J.


Garcia said earlier in the year, “It is time to sound the alarm to members who don’t realize what they may lose.” Garcia said the key to saving jobs and


services is getting communities to realize they can’t afford to be without those public services. “We must put a value on what our members provide to the communities.


www.pef.org


We must fight privatization, we must save services and we must save our pensions,” Garcia said. Currently, PEF is addressing issues


such as proper treatment centers for the mentally ill in communities as well as those in a prison environment (See page 4), and the design-build issue. This latter proposal would


authorize all state agencies, authorities and entities, except the state and city universities, to use design-build contracts and design- build finance contracts for capital


projects and would expand it from just highways and bridges to include buildings. That means more privatized engineering services, but less marketplace competition, public accountability and transparency. This also would accelerate the loss of


qualified state engineers, particularly at the state Department of Transportation (DOT), which has lost more than 850 engineers since the year 2000.


RALLY CRY – PEFmembers from SUNY Downstate Medical Center cheer at the SOS rally at the Legislative Office Building last January.


“Allowing private-sector financing of the


rebuilding and repair of public assets would reduce the amount of federal and state funds available for repair, as those funds are siphoned off for private profit,” Kent said. “These concerns affect all of us, not just those who work at OMH or DOT.” To keep up-to-date with the latest SOS


campaign news and activities, visit PEF’s website, Facebook page and Twitter pages.


PEF pushes bills through Legislature The combined determination of PEF


leaders, members and staff pushed several key pieces of legislation to victory in both the state Assembly and Senate in 2014. “Not only did our key


bills receive enough votes to pass, they passed overwhelmingly in both houses,” said PEF President Susan M. Kent. “I am very proud of the determined


effort we made in support of our legislative priorities,” she added. “We met with legislators individually, we wrote letters and we kept these issues prominent in the minds of state lawmakers.” One of these bill was just signed into


law in November. It adds geologists to the list of professionals that must be licensed by the state. “PEF supported this bill because it will


establish and maintain high standards of professionalism to protect the public interest,” Kent said. “It is a well deserved recognition of these professionals, their education and their expertise.” PEF represents geologists at several


state agencies such as the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Transportation. PEF staff and its Veterans Committee


worked closely with other veterans and labor groups to secure the resounding passage of the Veterans’ Buyback Bill, to allow public employees who served in the U.S. military to buy pension service credits regardless of whether they served


during wartime or in a combat zone. While the bill received wholehearted


support from both Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature, it was vetoed by the governor, who called it an “unfunded mandate” that would have created $57 million in near-term obligations for local governments. The Parole Parity Bill was a high priority


bill for PEF and it was passed with near unanimous approval by state lawmakers. “Passage of this legislation was the


culmination of joint efforts by PEF and the hundreds of parole officers represented by PEF,” Kent said. The governor, however, vetoed the bill,


saying it would cost the state nearly $4 million in increased workers’ compensation and overtime payments to give its parole officers, parole revocation specialists and warrant officers the same medical benefits as state corrections officers and other law enforcement officers.


The Communicator December 2014 - January 2015—Page 5


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