DMV PEF Division 211

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December 13, 2011:

SPECIAL NOTICE:

Any Division 211 PEF member who's been adversely impacted by flooding (Federal Emergency - Please notify Maureen K. ASAP!).

November 16, 2011:

Division 211 Members:

Read the latest details on the Deficit Reduction Plan. Or also internally, the Deficit Reduction Plan.

11/10/2011: SFY 2011-12 & 2012-13 PEF Deficit Reduction Plan: PEF Deficit Reduction Plan

Key points:

Effective date is 11/4/2011.
We get all nine furlough days now, to be used before 3/31/13.
We'll see less money in our next 36 paychecks starting 11/23/11.
The repayment of those furlough days will be made over 39 pay periods starting 4/1/15.

November 15, 2011:

Join Us (Thursday November 17, 2011):

National Day of Action.

November 11, 2011:

Division 211 Members:

PEF members ratify revised tenative agreement 27,718 to 11,645. Read all the details at PEF.ORG.

October 26, 2011:

Division 211 Members:

If you haven't received your ballot please contact the AAA hotline at: (800) 529-5218 to request a ballot or replacement ballot. If You Want Your Vote to Count Ballots Must Be Received By The AAA On Or Before 9 A.M. November 3, 2011. Received Means In Hand, Not Just Mailed Or Postmarked By November 3, 2011. Only Ballots Received Will Be Counted.

October 21, 2011:

Expedited Timetable for Contract Vote:

The right to vote on the tentative PS&T Agreement with the State is guaranteed to PEF members in the PEF Constitution. Balloting by PEF members on the tentative agreement, which was approved by a special meeting of the union's Executive Board meeting, held on October 17, 2011, will be conducted according to the following schedule:

Ballots will be mailed to PEF members in the State's PS&T unit by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) October 18, 2011. Only State or Roswell Park employees in the PS&T Unit who are dues-paying PEF members as of October 16, 2011 are eligible to vote.
Ballots must be received by the AAA on or before 9 a.m. November 3, 2011. Received means in hand, not just mailed or postmarked by November 3, 2011.
A double-envelope system will be used for balloting as required by the AAA to ensure secrecy. PEF will follow all procedures required or recommended by AAA for balloting.
Any PEF member in the PS&T unit who has not received a ballot by October 26, 2011 should call the AAA hotline at (800) 529-5218 to request a ballot or replacement ballot.
Ballots will be counted by the AAA on November 3, 2011.

Contract Information including a summary of the changes negotiated in the tentative, a comparison of the failed and the revised agreement and list of gains and trade-offs is currently being mailed to all PEF members. The documents are also available below:

Call 1-855-PEF-VOTE

You can call 1-855-PEF-VOTE (1-855-733-8683) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and someone will be available to answer your question. If you call after hours, leave a message with your name, phone number and question and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

October 20, 2011:

Tentative Contract Agreement GAINS and TRADE OFFS:

Read the PDF.

October 17, 2011:

Division 211 Members:

The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) reached agreement with the state today on a revised contract that better meets the needs of our members.

The revised agreement will be presented to the union's Executive Board on Monday, October 17. If approved by the board, the state will delay the effective date of the layoff notices that have already gone out to November 4. This will allow time for a membership ratification vote. If approved and ratified it will preserve the jobs of 3,496 PEF members.

The new agreement is a four year contract and now includes reimbursement for the 9 furloughs days payable at the end of the agreement." The changes we were able to obtain under this revised agreement address many of the concerns raised by our members," said PEF President Ken Brynien

"If the agreement is approved by our executive board and ratified by the full membership the jobs of 3,496 members will be saved," said Brynien. The revised agreement also includes changes to the productivity enhancement program which will allow our members greater opportunity to use vacation time to offset health insurance costs. These changes are revenue neutral for the state.

The four year deal calls for no salary increases for years 2011, 2012 and 2013. A salary increase of 2 percent is included for 2014. The lump sum payment that was included in the earlier tentative agreement would be exchanged to reimburse furlough days.

"The ratification of this agreement will demonstrate that our members are willing to sacrifice to save the jobs of 3,496 of their coworkers and preserve the level of service to taxpayers," Brynien added.

PEF's Executive Board will meet at the Desmond Hotel in Colonie at 1 pm on Monday, October 17.

October 14, 2011:

Why we defend collective bargaining:

By Richard E. Casagrande, Esq., NY State United Teachers General Counsel - NYSUT United - April 21, 2011

Wisconsin. Ohio. Florida. Indiana. Across the country, there is a coordinated drive to destroy public sector unions and end collective bargaining - the right of working men and women to stand together to negotiate with their employer about wages, hours, safety and other working conditions. The drive has gained strength since the last election, but it is not new. There have always been those who seek to repress the rights and aspirations of working people.

For much of our history, people had few workplace rights. Human labor and, more shamefully, human beings themselves, were of ten treated as commodities to be bought and sold at whatever price the market would bear. Indentured servitude was common in the American colonies. Slavery, based on race, was preserved by the original U.S. Constitution, and was not abolished until the 13th Amendment was enacted eight months after the Civil War ended.

It took 70 more years, enormous struggle, sacrifice and the Great Depression before private sector American workers truly gained the right to organize and bargain collectively, with the 1935 passage of the Wagner Act, named after New York's Senator Robert F. Wagner. By recognizing unions, the Wagner Act gave people a voice at work and the ability to obtain fair wages and decent benefits through collective bargaining.

New York has a particularly proud tradition of supporting collective bargaining. In 1938, our state constitution's Bill of Rights was amended to provide, in Article 1, § 17: "Labor of human beings is not a commodity nor an article of commerce and shall never be so considered or construed . . . Employees shall have the right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing."

New York thus not only force-fully renounced the dark past of treating labor as a commodity, but declared that the right of working people to associate for collective bargaining is as fundamental as the right to free speech, the freedom to worship, and the right to equal protection of laws. In 1967, with the passage of the Taylor Law, this fundamental right was extended to New York's public sector.

Yet, today, the voices against collective bargaining are louder than ever. Governor Walker in Wisconsin, Governor Kasich in Ohio, Governor LePage in Maine, Governor Christie in New Jersey, to name a few, rail against unions and seek to weaken or eliminate them. Other politicians claim to support collective bargaining, but propose measures that would harm the right to organize and bargain collectively.

These politicians are supported by shrill voices on talk radio and in cable news, and by a shadowy network of anti-union groups, endowed by corporate billionaires. All share the same goal: Working people must work harder and longer for whatever wages and under whatever working conditions as are dictated by their employers, and they must have no right to stand together to raise a voice on their own behalf, on behalf of their families, or those they serve.

But, theirs are not the only voices. Abraham Lincoln not only emancipated Americans from human bondage, he spoke eloquently in support of the right of free working people to organize. Franklin Roosevelt, who led us through the Great Depression and World War II, said he would join a union if he could, and his Labor Department issued posters showing a defiant Uncle Sam standing behind the right to organize.

Dwight Eisenhower said he had no use for "reactionaries" or "fools" who stood against the right to organize, and who would see workers returned to a "hapless mass."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. argued there could be no racial equality without equal economic opportunity, and there could be no equal economic opportunity without unions and collective bargaining. Dr. King was murdered in Memphis, while supporting a strike of that city's public sanitation workers. Even Ronald Reagan admitted that freedom cannot truly exist where the right to collective bargaining is denied.

Generations of Americans and New Yorkers fought for the right to bargain collectively. Many labor pioneers were murdered, beaten, jailed or fired in this quest. The current efforts to deny this basic right do not reflect the American way, and they certainly do not reflect the New York way. Whatever success these efforts may have is sure to be ephemeral because, in the long run, Americans just don't take well to being deprived of basic, fought for rights.

Today, as New Yorkers, our right to organize and bargain collectively is under attack. We defend this right because whether you are a teacher, SRP, nurse, professor, police or corrections officer, firefighter, letter carrier, factory worker, plumber, retail clerk, or just about anyone else who earns a paycheck, you should never be told that you cannot associate with your co-workers to sit - as an equal - across from your employer at the bargaining table.

Remember, when we stand up for collective bargaining, we stand up not only for ourselves, but for our co-workers, for our families and for all working people.

We stand up for America, and we stand up for New York.

October 12, 2011:

Division 211 Members:

It's imperative that we keep "big PEF" in the loop on your correct home email and phone numbers as PEF is moving towards using telephonic and computerized messaging to update members on the status of the contract negotiations. PEF wants to keep you informed! Please contact PEF at 785-1900 - Extension 255 (Member Mobilization) or Extension 221 (MIS Unit) to leave your current contact information. This information will be kept confidential and not provided to any other vendor.

For any Division 211 Members who's been affected by flooding, please reach out to PEF so they can provide resources.

Division 211 is trying to provide better outreach to notify all members on PEF updates and activities. We are looking for your help as well to better facilitate information sharing. If you are interested in becoming a mobilizer, please let your steward or union leader know!!

October 11, 2011:

Contract Information Meeting:

Read the PDF.

September 30, 2011:

Disaster Relief:

The recent hurricane and secondary flooding has affected many members and their families. In an effort to obtain as much information as possible regarding the damage that occured as well as to help us in our response, we are asking our Regional offices in each of the regions that were affected by the storm and subsequent flooding to call Council Leaders to identify members who may need assistance.

If you know of affected members please call your regional office and if possible fill out the Disaster Relief Member Information form. This form should be returned to the PEF Mobilization Department.

As rebuilding efforts start to take place, please remember additional services may be available.

Please contact Darcy Wells, PEF Director of Public Relations if you have been targeted in this latest round of layoffs. PEF is trying to put a "face" on the 3500 PEF members targeted so that the public knows who will be adversely impacted by these layoffs.

Before October 19th, do not allow yourselves to "go quietly" into unemployment!! Contact Darcy, your state and local legislators and let them know that you are being laid off! If you want to make an appointment to talk to your state legislator, please make an appointment and your PEF leader will accompany you if you wish.

Anyone victimized by flooding who was also now targeted - speak up!! Members working on clean up or at the disaster relief centers after flooding who are now targeted - speak up!! Members will to speak to the press about what losing their job will mean to them and their families - speak up!!

Now is your time!

September 29, 2011:

Information related to Layoffs and Reduction in Force:

Career Mobility Office Reemployment System Information Packet

Employee Guide for Agency Reduction Transfer List

FAQ's for Layoffs

Guideline for Administration of Reductions in Force

Information for State Employees Affected by Layoffs

September 27, 2011:

PEF Members Reject Tentative Agreement:

Read all the latest information and news on this at PEF.ORG.

Layoff Notices:

Today, forty-five (45) PEF DMV employees from across the state have been given their layoff notices - an increase from the thirty (30) PEF employees who were affected in July - effective close of business Wednesday, October 19th.

For those members affected, please take a look at your packets provided by this agency and most importantly, return the "blue" cards - Agency Reduction Transfer List Eligible Card - back to Personnel as soon as possible. Personnel will be contacting agencies to see if there are available openings in your title(s) for transfer opportunities into another state agency.

Please also look at the Reduction in Force on our DMV website and look at the PEF website for further information on layoffs.

Personnel will be conducting local informational sessions in the very near future for those affected by layoffs.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

September 9, 2011:

Fall Blood Drive:

On Thursday, October 20, 2011, DMV is sponsoring our fall blood drive from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the American Red Cross Empire State Plaza Collection facility in Albany.

Donations of all blood types are immediately needed to make sure that the one hundred hospitals in the New York-Penn Region will have enough blood to meet patient requirements. It takes approximately 48 hours from the time a person donates blood, for that blood to become available for patients. It is the blood on the shelves today that helps save lives tomorrow. The New York-Penn Region reports the continued need for "O Negative" (the universal blood type), as well as "A Negative" and "O Positive" blood.

As a reminder, the Red Cross informs us that the criteria for donors with a history of non-blood cancers (such as breast, lung, brain, colon, and prostate) has changed. The deferral period has changed from 5 years to 12 months.

Please allow approximately one hour to donate blood (the actual blood donation itself only takes approximately seven to ten minutes). Employees will not be required to charge accruals in order to participate in this important community service; however, you must obtain your supervisor's approval prior to scheduling an appointment. Any healthy person, age 17 or older, who weighs at least 110 pounds may be eligible to donate blood. Remember, you may donate every 56 days.

Double Red Cell donation will now be offered at DMV blood drives. For more information please visit: http://dmvweb/intranet/oqd/upload/DRC-GenericFlyer8-5x11.pdf

If you are able to donate, please contact the via email, or call 473-6428 to schedule a time that is convenient for you.

Flood Victim Assistance:

If anyone has extra household items in their basements or garages...bed linens, blankets, comforters, towels, kitchen items, small household appliances, coffeemakers, vacuums, lamps ..also hand tools, electric tools, lead cords, fans, tarps, ropes, bungees, tents, grills..you name it, there's a need... let me know. We have friends and neighbours in the county, some who lost everything, and some with no insurance. Will be looking for furniture..beds, dressers, kitchen tables and chairs, etc in coming weeks. Also looking for spare backpacks, notebooks, pens and pencils and other school supplies for all school ages, right thru college. XL twin sheets and bedding for dorm rooms...

The Carrot Shed in Schoharie is taking donations of these items. Salvation Army is taking donations. Red Cross always needs donors!

Please contact your local Disaster Recovery Center to donate!

Thank you!!

September 6, 2011:

Contract Ratification Ballots:

Ballots for ratification of the tentative agreement were mailed to members last Friday (9/2). If you don't receive your ballot by September 9th please contact the American Arbitration Association @ 800-529-5218 for a ballot, they will verify if you are eligible for a ballot and whether a ballot was sent.

A number of spread sheets have been distributed that provide an inaccurate portrayal of the tentative agreement. In order to allow members to make an informed vote, we have provided spread sheets that accurately identify the impact of the agreement on PEF members from grades 1 to 38 with the methodology used to determine the impact. The spreadsheet includes the option of selling vacation accruals under the Productivity Enhancement Program to offset the cost of the furlough and the wage deferral. Calculations are based on members at top of grade and do not include the value of longevity bonuses, and increments including the parity step (which members at job rate are not eligible), all of which are preserved under the agreement.

For those who have not been able to attend an informational meeting on the tentative agreement, below is a link to an audio presentation by PEF President Kenneth Brynien addressing questions and concerns regarding the agreement.

Ken Brynien Discussion on Tentative PS&T Contract(Audio Link)

Additionally, PEF has developed a comprehensive list of "Frequently Asked Questions" regarding the tentative agreement. This list provides answers to common questions regarding the tentative agreement and how it may impact PEF members - from areas regarding performance advances to deferring enrolment in retiree health insurance.

While this information may provide general answers to questions concerning the tentative agreement, members are strongly encouraged to attend one of the many regional contract meetings being held across the state, click here for more information on regional contract meetings.

September 1, 2011:

Disaster Assistance Centers:

In an effort to address the impacts of Hurricane Irene, New York State has activated the Disaster Assistance Center Group, a multi-agency relief effort that includes DMV. The Disaster Assistance Center Group is establishing Disaster Assistance Centers in each of the following counties: Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Greene, Schenectady, Schoharie, Ulster, Nassau, Rensselaer and Westchester.

The specific locations of the Centers are being selected now. So far, the following Centers will be established, beginning tomorrow:

Schoharie County: The Cobleskill Fairgrounds.
Schenectady County: Rotterdam Square Mall.
Ulster and Delaware Counties: Bellearyre Ski Center.

These centers will be open tomorrow from noon until 7 pm, and each day thereafter from 8 am to 8 pm (including the holiday weekend). Additional locations will be announced, once they are selected.

We are currently seeking DMV associates interested in staffing these Centers, and the Centers to be opened in the other counties listed above, particularly employees who live in the impacted areas. Please express your interest in serving as a site manager (for employees of grade 23 or above), assistant site manager (grade 18 or above) or a DMV information desk staff person. The managers and assistant managers will have responsibility for overall site management. The information desk staff will provide DMV-related information in response to specific customer questions. Please designate the counties where you may be willing to serve.

There will be informational packets to help employees willing to serve in these roles, who will generally work eight-hour days, including weekends and holidays, until the disaster relief effort is no longer required.

Staff interested in helping should respond to Director of Operations Joe Crisafulli as soon as possible, at joseph.crisafulli@dmv.ny.gov.

Thank you for your help during this difficult time.

Barbara J. Fiala, Commissioner

August 23, 2011:

Congratulations DIVISION 211 PEF MEMBERS!

Best IT Collaboration Among Organizations: MyDMV and DMV Registration Authority Services for NY.GOV ID Accounts, NYS Department of Motor Vehicles.

Best Application Serving the Public: WebAddressChange, NYS Department of Motor Vehicles.

Green IT Award: Greening DMV, NYS Department of Motor Vehicles.

Thanks to all those who participated in our "down and dirty" survey on the tentative contract. We received feedback on the survey and on the email distribution and we admit, neither process is/was perfect. Please understand, we cannot send an email to every member of this division - the email system is for DMV business only. We created the division website to provide information to members and to get away from sending email notices to our members.

Please visit this site frequently.

Here are the results to the sample survey: Would you vote to accept the tentative contract: 224 Yes / 234 No.

Thanks to all those who voted (especially to those who voted multiple times).

Please remember to VOTE on the contract when you receive the ballot in the mail around September 2nd.

Please do not make comments, suggestions, stray marks or deface the ballot in any way as this may disqualify your vote!!!

PEF will be holding contract meetings throughout the state and if you need clarification on the contract or want to hear details on the contract, please attend the meetings (which are posted on our site).

If you need anything, please give one of our DMV PEF stewards a yell.

August 19, 2011:

2011 Capital District Labor Parade:

Read the PDF.

Before you vote, read the 2011-2015 tenative agreement.

August 2, 2011:

See your tentative contract!

PEF Announces Contract Ratification Schedule and Contract Summary.

July 26, 2011:

FAREWELL TO OUR EHS NURSE:

Please join us in wishing DAVE BILICKI a well-deserved retirement!!! Stop by the 3B Training Room, Wednesday, August 3, 2011, 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to wish him well and say goodbye. If you wish to contribute towards a gift, see Steve France/Labor Relations, Room 530B by 8/2/2011.

July 19, 2011:

DMV Layoff Notices:

On July 18, 2011, the thirty PEF members affected by the Reduction in Force received a letter from our agency noting that the "change in your personnel status effective July 28. 2011 as a result of the reduction in force is hereby rescinded". Congratulations everyone!

We are awaiting word on the official language in the tentative PEF contract. As soon as we receive this language, we will post it on our site.

Please continue to visit the PEF website for future updates.

July 8, 2011:

Attention PEF Division 211 Members:

For those thirty (30) PEF DMV employees that have been given their layoff notices - please take a look at your packets that were provided by this agency and most importantly, return the "blue" cards - Agency Reduction Transfer List Eligible Card - back to Personnel as soon as possible. Personnel will be contacting agencies to see if there are available openings in your title(s) for transfer opportunities into another state agency.

Please also look at the Reduction in Force on our website and go to the PEF website for further information.

Personnel will be conducting local informational sessions in the very near future for those affected by layoffs.

Please reach out to Maureen K. or your local PEF representatives for assistance. EAP Coordinators are also available to assist.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Please see the announcement of the availability of limited funds for tuition reimbursement programs for 4/1/11 - 12/31/11 and a flyer outlining the benefits. There was no new appropriation for the 9 month extension (grievance has been filed) and the funding that was re-appropriated from the 2010 - 2011 state budget was limited.

For full details, read the Tuition Reimbursement Programs PDF file.

For full details, read the Professional Development Programs PDF file.

July 1, 2011:

Attention PEF Division 211 Members:

In the event DMV participates in Reduction In Force (RIF) or layoffs and you receive a letter, PEF is urging all impacted employees to seek union representation. See our RIF link on the homepage as this information pertains to any layoffs.

Please contact your agency PEF representative if you receive a letter or notice.

Remember: Visit our Reduction in Force site and PEF.org for more information on layoffs.

Also, visit pef.org for the latest news including Contract Negotiation Updates and information on how to call the Governor.

June 20, 2011:

Attention PEF Division 211 Members:

Annual Membership Meeting on June 29th Noon in 3B Training Room. Lunch will be provided. Invited Speakers include PEF Officials. You must pre-register to attend. If you plan to attend, contact: Ralph Mabb - (518) 486-5676 or Maureen Kozakiewicz - (518) 402-2092.

June 15, 2011:

Special Notice Update:

The rally to fight layoffs is scheduled to be held in Capitol Park on Monday, June 20th at noon.

Please join us in this campaign to save our state civil servant positions!

June 13, 2011:

Special Notice:

Save the Date: June 20th - join us the fight against layoffs! A statewide rally is being planned for June 20th and we need all DMV PEF members to come out and voice your opposition to the July layoffs. More details will follow as soon as announced.

Please write your local papers to voice your opinion on these layoffs and contact your legislators!

Look to the PEF website for new announcements.

June 10, 2011:

Updated Contract News:

For all the latest contract news.

June 8, 2011:

DMV's Annual Clambake:

Friday, August 5th, gates open at noon. Tickets will be sold in Core 2 Lobby: July 7, 21, 28th from 11:30 - 1:30pm. Cash and Checks accepted - checks made out to: Maureen Kozakiewicz. Last date for ticket sales, July 29th COB. Prices are: $44 (chicken); $47 (steak); $53 (lobster). PEF Division 211 members & retirees discount: $20. See you all then!

May 31, 2011:

Suggestions for Employees who are Offered Positions at a Higher Salary Grade Before Completing Probation and Becoming a Permanent Employee:

It is not unusual, particularly in institutions, for PEF members to receive offers to take a job, either on a temporary, provisional or permanent basis, at a higher salary grade before they complete probation for and become permanent in the job for which they were initially hired. Civil Service policy requires the agency to inform the employee in writing upon appointment, of whether or not such service will be counted. There is a discrepancy between the rule and policy as to whether the employee must first request an agency decision on this matter before they have to provide it in writing.

It is becoming more common for agency management not to count time served in a higher level title towards satisfying probation at a lower level title and to use such situations to terminate an employee through a probationary termination where management can more easily terminate an employee. Therefore, it is recommended that all employees who have not completed probation in their title and are offered a higher level position, before they accept such a position, to request in writing, that their time served in a higher level title count towards satisfactory completion of the probationary term for their current lower level title. Agency management must then put in writing whether or not they will count the time served in the higher level title towards satisfying the probationary term for the lower level title.

If you have further questions on this issue, please contact your local PEF rep.

April 27, 2011:

2011 Softball Schedule and Roster:

For full details, read the attached PDF file.

April 26, 2011:

Planning Your Retirement:

(May 25, 2011) - For full details, read the attached PDF file.

Annual Lou Matrazzo Golf Tournament: (July 14, 2011) - For full details, read the attached PDF file.

April 14, 2011:

Statement of PEF President Ken Brynien on contract negotiations:

Albany - The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) is very familiar with the tentative contract agreement announced today between Council 82 and the state of New York. The state offered PEF a similar proposal.

PEF has not accepted the state's initial offer because it would impose an unfair burden including long-term hardships on our members and their families. The state's proposal would require an average PEF member to give up as much as $10,000 in salary and benefits every year of the contract. Additionally, the state made it clear that accepting these concessions would not ensure PEF members would not be laid off anyway.

PEF has a counter proposal on the table that would achieve the savings the state needs for this fiscal year. We are willing to accept short-term hardships for what may very well be a short-term fiscal crisis. The Council 82 agreement in no way sets the groundwork for our continuing negotiations. It should be noted that the bargaining unit that agreed with the governor represents less than 1 percent of the state work force and is a very specialized unit that has been working without a contract since 2005.

April 5, 2011:

April 2011 Increments:

Memo on April 2011 Performance Advances (Increments) payment schedule.

March 22, 2011:

3/22/2011 on the West Capitol Park at noon:

Important Notice:

Tomorrow, 3/22/11 on the West Capitol Park at noon - please join our labor rally on behalf of the keeping the Millionaires' Tax in the year's state budget. Rally for public education.

March 17, 2011:

Change of life expectancy tables:

PEF put through a cease and desist letter on the change of life expectancy tables used to calculate the value of sick leave credit used to purchase a retiree's share of health insurance premiums beginning April 1. It was agreed that Division of Civil Service & GOER that the change will not be implemented on April 1st and adequate notice will be given to employees once the change is made.

The good news is, the value of retiree's sick leave credits used to purchase health insurance premiums will not be change on April 1st and adequate notice will be given to employees when this change occurs.

March 7, 2011:

2011 Cystic Fibrosis Stair Climb:

Division 211 would like to congratulate all those members who participated (volunteers and stair climbers) in the 2011 Cystic Fibrosis Stair Climb!! - Great job!

February 23, 2011:

Attached you will find the following:

Flyer announcing a rally on March 1st at 12:15 in Downtown Albany on the West Side of Capitol.
Flyer on the Tele-Town Hall meeting that will be held on March 6th. Members will be called at home and have an opportunity to participate in a live Town Hall Meeting with Ken Brynien and the Statewide Officers. Members should be sure that they have a current phone number on file with us to receive the call. If they have received a robo-call in the past, then we most likely have an accurate phone number. If they need to update a phone number, they should contact PEF Headquarters.
Flyer promoting the new PEF Facebook page.

PEF is trying to reach as many members as possible to urge them to be active during this time to protect jobs and benefits. One way to do this is to hold a Tele-Town meeting where PEF will try to call all its members. These meetings can reach thousands of people at the same time through a web-based control center.

The meeting is planned for Sunday, March 6 at 7 p.m. Here's how it works. PEF President Ken Brynien will make the call and you will be asked to join the event by pressing a button on your phone. You may also have the opportunity to ask a question, which will either be answered during the call or with a follow-up e-mail.

And while you are visiting the PEF website, make sure you sign-up to received the Active Informed member (AIM) bulletins.

In addition, we are asking members to write letters to their legislators. A sample letter will be on the front page of the PEF website along with agency fact sheets. Members can use these fact sheets to obtain information for their letters. Facts sheets are both agency specific and general in nature.

February 17, 2011:

President Brynien asked me to share the following information with you:

We learned late Friday that the Department of Civil Service is planning a change to the calculation used to determine the value of employees' sick leave used to pay for health insurance in retirement. They are replacing the existing actuarial table used to determine life expectancy with a much more recent actuarial table use by the retirement system. The new table assumes longer life expectancy. This will mean that the dollar amount of an employees' total accrued sick leave will be used for more years and therefore will lower the amount of the monthly credit used to offset health insurance contributions. We have been told that this reduction is expected to be on average about 20 percent and will be effective April 1, 2011 for new retirees.

The Department of Civil Service has confirmed that the threat is real. As a result, yesterday afternoon PEF sent a demand letter on the subject to GOER. This letter demands that the State immediately cease and desist from implementation of this plan because we believe it is a violation of Article 9.13(c) of the 2007-2011 Agreement and a mandatory subject of bargaining. We are also preparing a contract grievance along these same lines.

One of our concerns is that our members who are seriously considering retirement will not have enough time to make an informed decision about retiring now, under the current life expectancy table, or wait and be subjected to the new table. We are waiting for official notice which we expect very shortly before we go public with our members.

Martin O'Connor

Executive Deputy to the President

February 11, 2011:

Attention PEF Members: Showcase the services you provide!!

Proud of the work you do for DMV as a public servant? Now is your chance to let everyone know!

The PEF Public Relations Department will be at: Crowne Plaza in Albany, March 4, 2011 9am-4pm.

We want to capture your message on video to be used on the PEF website, pef.org. and in future Advertising campaigns. If you work in an uniform, please wear it!

Take the opportunity to look directly in the camera and let taxpayers and policymakers know why the Work you do is important for New Yorkers.

It will only take a few minutes but may make a world of difference!

Contact PEF Public Relations Dept at 785-1900 ext 277 if you have more questions.

Member survey:

Complete the survey to represent your interests at the PEF statewide meeting.

View Current Results

2011 IT- Management Development Program

For full details, read the attached PDF file.

To apply use the attached PDF file.

PEF Member Benefits Store and Updates Online:

Visit the PEF Member Benefits e-store.

Sign-up for monthly promotions and updates.