No Contract is Better Than This Contract!

The following is the text of another flyer presently being distributed by a member of PEF. Click here for a pdf version.

What are the real costs for these concessions?

Summary of Givebacks for Top of Grade 18 with Family Insurance
For 2% inflation with 10% increase in health premiums
Does not include increased out-of-pocket medical expenses

(1) Current pay keeping up with 2% inflation – Proposed contract pay

For Grade 14: Total Loss for Proposed Contract - $19,223
For Grade 23: Total Loss for Proposed Contract - $27,987

What do we get from these concessions?
 Not a guarantee against layoffs, but merely a layoff “pledge” that’s
Full of holes and exceptions (see Article 21 on other side) and incredibly
Binds PEF to agree to layoffs and not fight against layoffs!

Cuomo lied to the contract negotiating team about no layoffs during negotiations.
Cuomo is lying to us now about layoffs.
Cuomo’s only focus is to hurt state employees via
 SAGE Commission (only goal is to eliminate state employees), Tier 6, Pension Reform, . . .

This PROPOSED CONTRACT does nothing but lower our standard of living while providing meaningless layoff chatter

Is This Fair to Your Family?
Remember all this pain & extortion is because Cuomo doesn’t want to tax Millionaires!

Vote No Against The Proposed Contract

NO LAYOFFS?????? Think again!!!

Proposed Contract for PEF Members - Excerpts
NEW Article 21 – Workforce Reduction Limitation
 For Fiscal Years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013, employees shall be protected from layoffs resulting from the facts and circumstances that gave rise to the present need for $450 million in workforce savings.
 For the term of the agreement, only material or unanticipated changes in the State's fiscal circumstances, financial plan or revenue will result in potential layoffs.
 Workforce reductions due to the closure or restructuring of facilities, as authorized by legislation or Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission determinations are excluded from these limitations.
{No authorization from Legislature needed}

Workforce Reduction Limitation Sideletter (For FY 2011-12 and FY 2012-13:)
 For layoffs resulting from facility closures and/or SAGE Commission actions announced subsequent to ratification of the Agreement, employees shall receive sixty (60) days notification prior to the effective date of the termination.
As a Commission, is the SAGE Commission unbiased/objective and the sole authority on proper or necessary consolidation? What actions are they limited to? Are they allowed to abolish smaller units such as Divisions, Bureaus and Sections?
 For layoffs resulting from other changes in circumstances (separate from facility closures and/or SAGE Commission actions), employees shall receive thirty (30) days notification prior to the effective date of the termination.
 The State will encourage agencies to utilize the Agency Reduction Transfer List (“ARTL”) process where appropriate and feasible?????. (PEF reserved right to challenge that ARTL currently is mandatory under Civil Service Law).

How enforceable are the words “encourage” or “appropriate” and “feasible” when defending your Civil Service job and rights to reappointment?

Could this affect you?
Posted on April 25, 2011 at 5:48 pm by Jimmy Vielkind, Capitol bureau

Which agencies are on the consolidation block?
At the first meeting of the Spending and Government Efficiency Commission, two Cuomo administration staffers presented members with areas of focus, which they hope will scrutinize and make recommendations that “range from either some shared services along certain functions up to and including a potentially full consolidation,” according to Derek Utter, deputy director of agency redesign and efficiency.
Some agencies look ripe for consolidation. Others could share services. Here are the groups that are being looked at, which have some overlap in their missions and people who are served.
1) Department of Transportation, Thruway Authority and Bridge Authority
2) Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Department of Environmental Conservation; coastal management at the Department of State
3) Office of Children and Family Services and Office of Temporary and Disability Services
4) Department of Economic Development and Empire State Development Corporation, which Utter said are already “functional merged.”
5) Department of Health, Office of Mental Health, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and the Office for the Aging. Oversight agencies include the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General and the Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for People with Disabilities
“When we look at whether there are any reorganization opportunities in the various areas, we’re trying to balance. There are some efficiencies that can be applied or some other form of cooperation, against the clear need to make sure that these very distinct core missions are not resolved,” Utter said, referencing OCFS and OTDA.

Click here for a pdf version of this flyer.