April Topics:

PEF Membership Benefits - Long Term and Short Term Disability Insurance - AnnMarie Bikowicz and Cindy Bowman will let us know what is available.

Contract Update

Earth Day/Lobby Day - PEFencon works to get more professional, scientific and technical staff to protect New York’s environment and natural resources.

Questions and Answers - Let us know your concerns.

See you at the May 25th Membership Meeting!

Every spring environmental groups band together to fight for New York State’s environment in Albany. They bring their message to the legislature and governor and bring citizen’s attention to our vital cause. PEFencon supports Earth Day/Lobby Day every year and this year we sent these messages:

To read the PEFencon Earth Day/Lobby Day flyer go to

PEFencon will not be subsidizing Conservation Day Tickets this year. PEFencon asked for changes in the picnic’s organization in September of 2003, but the issues remained unresolved after two meetings with the picnic committee and DEC management during March. To read the full text of the September 2003 letter and PEFencon’s offer to participate in the organization of the 2005 Conservation Day picnic please go to

PEFencon received the arbitrator’s decision regarding our grievance on bulletin boards at 625 Broadway. The decision’s effect is that DEC can dictate that the boards be erected near the pantries, regardless of accessibility. However, in order to gain the boards PEFencon was asked to sign off on an agreement that would limit employees rights to hang materials in and around their cubicles. PEFencon will not do that.

CSEA contract votes are to be counted this Tuesday. Meanwhile, the State will not negotiate with us until PEF agrees to its Hospital Network demand. PEF has refused to accept the network until questions have been answered and concerns have been addressed.

625's new contractor for waste hauling is not composting. PEF/encon believes that DEC should practice what we preach. It is unfortunate that all the hard work and research that our members did to bring composting at 625 to fruition has been tossed aside in the name of a cheaper contract.

AnnMarie Bikowicz and Cindy Bowman from PEF Membership Benefits will inform us about long and short term disability insurance.

For more information and to stay up to date go to , your source for all PEF related news and issues.

See you at the May 25th Membership Meeting!