July Topics:

Health Insurance Appeal Process - Find out how to appeal a medical insurance decision from PEF professional staff.

Bulletin Board Grievance Update - our grievance goes to arbitration soon, hear the latest here.

Labor/ Management Issues - Let us know your concerns.

For more information go to !

See you at the August 28^th Membership Meeting!

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In case you have not heard, the American Arbitration Association, the PEF Election Committee and the PEF Staff assigned to the recent Executive Board election process made a highly unusual mistake in the PEF election held for Encon's 2nd central office Executive Board seat---seat #120. While the vote count of June 24th was indeed 166 to 34, the counts were incorrectly recorded between the candidates.

On July 17^th, this misreporting was reviewed with the result being the announcement that Wayne Bayer won re-election. The other Albany EB representative is Mike Keenan, while George Stadnik & Jim Kersten are the regional reps.

P.S. It was a different Election Committee, which misspelled a candidate's name on the Albany Delegate Election ballot.

Please provide input about your preferences for next year’s DEC Central Office Employee Picnic. What type of event would be best for you?

* Did you know that the State spends over a quarter of a billion dollars more a year on contractors and consultants than it would cost to have civil servants performing the same work?

* Did you know that if the Governor took action to halt this abuse not only would there be enough savings for a fair contract settlement for his employees but the abominable short staffing crisis that currently exists in most agencies would be relieved?

* Did you know you could make a difference? Write or fax a letter to Governor Pataki today. Tell him - "STOP CONTRACTING OUT AND PRIVATIZING OUR JOBS!" Go to the following website:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/waste_not_workers

and follow the directions. In less than a minute a fax will be on its way! Please feel free to write your own or edit suggested text. A mention of our predicament at DEC certainly wouldn’t hurt!

At PEF/encon’s urging the DEC is meeting with Albany, NYSDOT, CSX, and OGS to discuss improvements to the sidewalks and crosswalks servicing the C - lot at the Water Street Parking lot. We will keep you updated as the talks and work progress.

Summer is a great time to take advantage of PEF membership Benefits. They have discounts on amusement parks, golf, sports tickets and other vacation pleasures. Go to www.pef.org to find out about all of the deals that they have.

See you at the August 28^th Membership Meeting!