March Topics:

Robert J. Freeman - the Executive Director of the Committee on Open Government in the Department of State is our featured speaker.

Contract Update - reports from the March PEF Executive Board meeting, discussion of your concerns.

Questions and Answers - Let us know your concerns.

See you at the April 27th Membership Meeting!

Robert J. Freeman is the Executive Director of the Committee on Open Government in the Department of State. He is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and the Open Meetings Law. The latter is concerned with the conduct of meetings of public bodies and the right to attend those meetings. He also is responsible for administering the Personal Privacy Protection Law.

Contract Negotiation Update
Negotiators met on March 16 and 17. Health insurance was the order for both days. Items discussed included adding a third level co-pay for non-preferred brand name prescription drugs, the creation of the Empire Plan hospital network, laser surgery discount, hearing aide benefits, co-pays, dental improvements, mastectomy prostheses, making over - the - counter drugs eligible for Health Care Spending Account reimbursements, a discount medical provider network and the problem our Members experience with non participating providers who perform services in hospitals that are in the network. Staff from Express Scripts gave a presentation on the ins and outs of the proposed changes to the Rx program.

PEFencon has filed grievances to address health and safety issues regarding the Water Street walkway and to stop the Department’s two strikes and you’re out policy regarding DEC parking lists. The Union will meet with management representatives on March 30^th to discuss potential resolutions to these issues. If you know of issues that you believe violate our contract, please discuss them with a steward. It is our right to use the grievance process to obtain appropriate resolution.

Petitions were mailed to all of the PEF members at Encon during February. 19 PEFmembers at 625 Broadway filed valid petitions and will comprise the Steward Council from April 1, 2004 until March 31, 2005. Your stewards are: Karen Baker, Wayne Bayer, Karl Berger, Stan Byer, Holly Clark, Lawrence D’Arco, John Donlon, Debbie Gardell, Kuldeep Gupta, Mike Keenan, Diane Kulzer, Timothy LeBarron, Robert McDonough, Vimal Minocha, Antoinette Norfleet, Pamela Swanigan, Jim Trossbach, Chuck Vandrei, and Bill Wurster. Mike Kanuk is the steward at SUNY East. Please contact a steward with any union related concerns.

PEFencon Spring Scholarship winners were drawn at the Division meeting on March 10^th. $500 scholarships were won by Region 4 member Douglas Haller's son Matt and Region 8 member Linda Vera's son Simon.