Click Here for Latest Info from PEF Central
Sept. 28, 2004 Presentation by PEF's Lorraine Simpkins
concerning Health Benefit Changes
(in Adobe PDF Format)
Last Updated on September 29, 2004
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Click Here for Latest Info from PEF Central Sept. 28, 2004 Presentation by PEF's Lorraine Simpkins concerning Health Benefit Changes (in Adobe PDF Format)
Last Updated on September 29, 2004 |
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On Sept. 14, the contract was ratified 24,300 to 4,306 by the membership. PEF members will not have to wait for the NYS Legislature
to come back into session to pass a PEF paybill as they passed the paybill
in anticipation that the contract would be ratified. Now that it has been
ratified the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) will need to issue a
payroll bulletin. Assuming this issuance occurs in the traditional time
frame we would expect payments to begin to flow somewhere between mid
October and mid November. When the payroll bulletins are issued PEF Central
will post the
On
July 30, the PEF Executive Board approved a tentative four-year contract
with the state in a vote of 76 to 28.
For more complete contract information please use the following web addresses: www.pef.org/pst2003/contractinfo/final_significant_improvements.htm www.pef.org/pst2003/contractinfo/gains_and_tradeoffs.htm
PEF & State reach tentative contract agreement PEF/encon’s PEF Executive Board members are: Wayne Bayer, Mike Keenan, Jim Kersten & George Stadnik Feel free to let them know your view of proposed tentative contract. The following text is the PEF Information Line for Monday July 19, 2004: PEF has reached a tentative PS&T contract agreement with the state, after
19 months of bargaining. The Executive Board will meet on Friday, July 30
to review the pact and vote on sending the pact to the general membership
for ratification. Pending the outcome of the Executive Board vote,
ballots could be mailed to members by mid-August.
PS&T CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE No. 57+ [compiled from various AIM Updates up to April 23, 2004] TABLE TALK The State will not negotiate on any issue until the Union agrees to its Hospital Network demand. The Union has refused to accept the network until such time that our legitimate questions have been answered and our concerns have been assuaged.. We have reached an important crossroad in bargaining. Our goal has been and continues to be to achieve a fair and just contract for PEF members, but recent actions by the State's negotiators suggest an unwillingess to move in this direction. Read a special update from PEF President Roger Benson and Secretary Treasurer Jane Hallum on this situation at: http://www.pef.org/pst2003/as_long_as_it_takes.pdf
Proposed Empire Plan Hospital Network: Frequently Asked Questions Visit PEF’s FAQ at: http://www.pef.org/pst2003/empireplanfaq.htm
NYC SETTLES WITH ITS LARGEST UNION BLOOMBERG BRINGS DC37 IN - NYC has negotiated a contract with its largest union. This agreement applies only to NYC employees and not to the Rent Regulation Unit of state employees represented by DC37. Read a report on the deal at http://www.pef.org/pst2003/updates/04222004.htm
Other NEGOTIATIONS RELATED WEB ADDRESSES:
http://www.pef.org/pst2003/index.htm To read in depth information on the Rx - 3 Tier Plan on our bargaining table check out the PEF created Q&A at: http://www.pef.org/pst2003/rxfaqs.htm
PS&T CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE No. 54 [excerpted from AIM (Active Informed Member) Update 4.2.04] TABLE TALK Negotiators met on March 31. Discussion continued on health insurance. Significant time was again spent discussing the Empire Plan Hospital Network. The State has informed us that they intend to implement a network for M/Cs, retirees, participating employers, participating agencies and any unrepresented enrollees on January 1, 2005. We have another meeting on April 6 and expect to report significant details on this matter in the next AIM. Negotiators signed a Memorandum of Agreement extending the annual vision
benefit for adults with certain medical conditions through April 1, 2005,
pending the outcome of the current collective bargaining negotiations.
Article 9.25(b) of the 1999-2003 PEF/NYS contract includes an annual vision
benefit for adults with certain documented medical conditions that may
affect their vision. These medical conditions include diabetes, developing
cataracts, taking a prescription drug that causes a change in vision, or any
other medical condition that causes a change in vision. If you have any questions regarding the extension of this benefit, please contact Lorraine Simpkins at PEF headquarters, 1-800-342-4306, ext. 283. ISSUE SPOTLIGHT - 2004 Performance Advance Payments and Performance Awards:
NEGOTIATIONS RELATED WEB ADDRESSES: PEF Contract '03 Updates, FAQs, Meet the Team,etc.: http://www.pef.org/pst2003/index.htm To read in depth information on the Rx - 3 Tier Plan on our bargaining table check out the PEF created Q&A at: http://www.pef.org/pst2003/rxfaqs.htm Read a Summary of CSEA's Recently Negotiated Contract at: http://www.pef.org/pst2003/updates/03062004.htm UUP's Contract Summary can be found at: http://www.uupinfo.org/contract.pdf
PS&T CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE No. 53 [excerpted from AIM (Active Informed Member) Update 3.26.04] TABLE TALK
We had very focused / detailed dialogue on the three tier Rx plan, benefit enhancements in several areas and spent significant time discussing the State's vision of an Empire Plan Hospital Network. In broadest terms, the ""network"" once established would create a different level of benefits if enrollees use a non-network hospital. That’’s the bad news. The relative ""good"" news is that 100% of acute care hospitals in New York State, and 92% of all acute care hospitals nationwide, are part of the network. The discussions of the network intensified after the State told us that CSEA and UUP have agreed to implement a Hospital Network. We are working to confirm these agreements and to determine the details of the programs they agreed to. Much more information on this issue will follow in future AIMs. Your team has been prepared for this for over a year. We are up to the fight and excited about the challenge. Our next session is scheduled for Wednesday March 31. ISSUE SPOTLIGHT –– Rx Changes
http://www.pef.org/pst2003/rxfaqs.htm
With only 2 no votes (neither from PEF/encon), the PEF Executive Board passed a motion to take no position on tentative agreements between State and other unions & seek best possible deal for PS&T using all PEF's available resources. At this meeting, Wayne Bayer & Mike Keenan pointed out the need for a contract provision limiting contracting out / shadows, while George Stadnik spoke on the need for a true COLA for various regions throughout the whole state & transit check. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PS&T CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE No. 52 [excerpted from AIM (Active Informed Member) Update 3.19.04] TABLE TALK The tone of the meetings was positive. The time was spent productively. The parties next meet on Tuesday, March 23. PEF EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETS "PEF will take no position on any announced state union contract and will use all the resources of the union to achieve the best possible contract for PEF members." UUP SETTLES Contract summary by United University Professionals is available at: http://www.uupinfo.org/contract.pdf
PEF’s Contract team asked for 3 ˝ % (4/03), 4 ˝ % (4/04) & 4 ˝ % (4/05). A PEF Executive Board meeting to discuss how to proceed with contract negotiations will occur on March 16th. Therefore, please let your PEF/encon steward know your thoughts on what PEF should do. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PS&T CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE No. 50 [excerpted from AIM (Active Informed Member) Update 3.7.04] CSEA AGREES TO CONTRACTS FOR ITS 70,000 PLUS STATE WORKERS CSEA and New York State announced Friday, March 6 that they have reached a tentative agreement on new four year contracts for more than 70,000 state employees. Of the dozens of changes here are some key ones Wages Health Insurance Downstate Adjustment The agreement is subject to ratification by the CSEA membership which will be scheduled during the month of April and must then be approved by the state legislature. The CSEA/New York State Contract Ratification Schedule for
the ASU, ISU, OSU and DMNA units is:
http://www.pef.org/pst2003/index.htm PEF TEAM STUDIES CSEA PACT
PS&T CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE # 48 (Feb 19, 2004) TABLE TALK
TAKE THE CONTRACT PLEDGE
THE PLEDGE I will not accept a contract Signed, _______________________ - Take the PLEDGE online by visiting http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/pledge and ask your co-workers to do the same (advantages of taking the PLEDGE on line are it is free, quick, and a copy is automatically e mailed to your elected NYS legislators!) -or- - Sign the PLEDGE postcard and ask your coworkers to do the same. Give all signed PLEDGES to your PEF steward.
PS&T CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE # 47 (Feb 13, 2004) TABLE TALK
- It does not include a base wage increase in each year Even as the State was offering its own employees a pittance at the table, they continue to take care of the contractors who live off the privatization of state services. Just six days before the State came to offer PEF members no increase at all, they notified various contactors that EnCon was extending their contract for 2004, and as part of that deal, the contractor could increase their rates to adjust for differences in the cost of living from the previous years when the contract was first signed. The union has prepared a counter offer and will present it to the State negotiators this coming Tuesday, February 17. KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON THE STATE NEGOTIATORS - "TAKE THE
PLEDGE" From the beginning of bargaining a goal of PEF has been to raise the bar. While others were downplaying expectations, we were meeting across the State with our members and raising expectations. When others were talking about accepting 0's we rejected the talk and insisted on higher expectations. When the State was insisting on significant give backs in Health insurance PEF promised none. We have taken the lead on raising the bar and continue to do this with the PLEDGE. Your PEF Bargaining Team needs your continued help to make this a success. 4000 PLEDGES have already been delivered to the Governor. Although a good start, there are 52,000 PEF members and 100,000 other unionized state employees who work side by side with us. 4000 PLEDGES is a smart beginning to what we could get signed if we all focus on the task. Help us send the message to the State’’s Negotiators. TAKE THE PLEDGE and ask your coworkers to do the same! http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/pledge
PS&T CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE # 46 (Feb 2, 2004) CALL TO ACTION! ACT TODAY! NYS and CSEA appear on the verge of settling their contract(s) (see the following article for more details). The wage and benefit pattern they agree to will have an impact on the PEF negotiations. All State employees need to communicate with the Governor now by taking the CONTRACT PLEDGE! Tell the Governor that you will not accept a contract - - That does not have a base wage increase in each year; - That has significant health concessions including increases in premium percentages; - That diminishes the health insurance benefits of present or future retirees; and - That does not provide cost-of-living adjustments for high cost geographic areas. TAKE THE PLEDGE by going on line and faxing (free) your pledge to the Governor (e mail copies are automatically sent to your NYS senate and assembly representatives). Simply click on the following (or paste into your browser) and follow the instructions: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/pledge TABLE TALK PS&T contract negotiators from the Governor's Office of Employee Relations (GOER) gave PEF signals last November that an agreement could possibly be reached before the Governor's Executive Budget of early January, 2004. The state and union reduced their proposals on the negotiating table with the union making a full package offer to the State on December 4, 2003. The State has yet to respond in any meaningful way to the offer and now has apparently put PEF negotiations on the back burner. At this writing the State appears to be very close to making an agreement with the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA). Reasons for the State's changing horses in mid stream are unknown. PEF has been very active in communicating with the state and our members about our top priorities in this negotiation. It could be that CSEA has indicated a willingness to accept a contract with terms they know our team would refuse or it could be as simple as comfort level. The GOER and CSEA negotiators have historically negotiated the first deals. When an agreement is reached, PEF's team will subject the CSEA agreement to a meticulous analysis and decide what strategic steps we need to take to procure a fair contract that meets our members' needs. CSEA and PEF are the only unions which represent employees in virtually every Executive branch agency. The terms of a tentative contract settlement by either of them are critically important to the NYS employees represented by the other. If the deal is ratified by the negotiating union's membership, particularly as it regards wages and health benefits, it can become a pattern which has historically been nearly impossible for the other to escape. Even if CSEA negotiators reach a tentative agreement, negotiations are not over for PEF. There are several important hurdles that must be cleared. First, CSEA members must ratify the new agreement. In 1999 the first agreement between CSEA and GOER was overwhelmingly rejected by all four of the CSEA units. The agreements that were ultimately ratified in that round of bargaining looked very different than the ones that were defeated. Second, the state must offer PEF the package, and if the last round is any indication, we may have to force the state to take this action. Finally, and most important, if the CSEA agreement is ratified and offered to PEF, our negotiators will have to make a decision if this agreement is the best we can achieve. If it isn't we will continue our contract fight until we obtain a fair and just settlement for the PEF members and their families. In many ways, the real fight over our contract has just begun. Your contract team needs your support at this critical time. Tell the Governor that you expect a fair contract with a base wage increase in every year of it! Click the following and TAKE THE CONTRACT PLEDGE TODAY! - http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/pledge
PS&T Contract Negotiations Update No.45 (From PEF AIM, Jan 24, 2004) - TABLE TALK Keep those postcards coming in! Quickly on the heels of PEF beginning the "It's Your Move" Campaign the State's Lead negotiator from the Governor's Office of Employee Relations (GOER) called asking for a meeting of the bargaining Teams. This will be the first meeting of the full teams since December 4, 2003 when the Union provided the State a package contract offer. The State and the Union reconvened at the Main bargaining table Wednesday, January 28, 2004. THE TIDE RAISES ALL BOATS Bargaining is moving to a more serious level. As those of you have been reading the PEF Contract '03 updates know, the earlier phase of bargaining saw serious discussions being dominated by the State and PEF. Negotiations with the other eight unions who represent NYS employees whose contracts expired in '03 were by most accounts quiet while PEF and the State discussed issues like wages, health insurance, geographic wage differences and dozens of other important issues to PEF members. Shortly after PEF made a serious offer to the state on December 4, 2003, GOER,we believe, began to bring the other unions up to speed. This development is a strong indication that negotiations are moving forward - how far and how quickly remains to be seen. It signals that the Governor's negotiators have some clarity about where they want negotiations to go. With their priorities more clearly defined GOER will now identify which of the Unions they can partner with in setting a wage and health insurance pattern. Said differently, the State is now on a shopping expedition. Where the negotiations with the State will end up and when is anyone's guess. Will PEF be the first to settle? We've said all along that we would like to be the one to set the pattern, and that perspective hasn't changed. That doesn't mean that we will rush into an agreement just for the sake of being first. Throughout negotiations, our position has been the same: we will remain at the table in active negotiations until we have obtained the most favorable settlement we can achieve. If the opportunity for setting the pattern comes, and we can meet our members' needs, we will not hesitate to move ahead. We will not, however, let the desire to set the pattern lead us to accept an inferior contract for our members. If the state chooses to partner with another union and we believe it represents less than we think can be achieved, we will take whatever action is necessary to prevent a bad pattern from being established. "IT'S YOUR MOVE" CAMPAIGN Join thousands of your co-workers and tell the Governor and his Director of the Office of Employee Relations "It's Your Move!" To motivate the state into moving forward with negotiations, PEF has prepared more than 15,000 postcards that have been distributed through our member mobilizer network. The postcards are a way for PEF members and supporters to tell the State negotiators that they support their bargaining team. Join us in letting the State know "It's Your Move!" Postcards have been sent to all PEF stewards. Ask yours for one today!
PS&T Contract Negotiations Update No.44 (From PEF AIM, Jan 17, 2004) - TABLE TALK Negotiators met during the week of Jan. 12 to 16, 2004 and the State presented PEF with a comprehensive proposal in Health Benefits. As we suspected, the State proposal called for substantial cost shifts as well as diminishment of existing benefits for current employees as well as for future retirees. It also, however, included a few proposals intended to move closer to our needs in the health insurance area. Although PEF was pleased that the State was moving this discussion forward, we told the State that several of their health insurance proposals were "deal-breakers" to which PEF would not agree. Whatever else might be in the State's proposals (PEF is still waiting for a full response to our package proposal of December 4), there was NOTHING the State could offer that would make us accept the State's demands to: - Increase the employee/dependent share of the bi-weekly health insurance premium by 5% each; - Decrease the State's contribution for retiree health insurance based on years of service (state would continue the current level of contribution only for those employees with 30 or more years of service - everyone else would receive less) - Establish a network of participating hospitals in the Empire Plan and force members to use these facilities or face a $1,000 deductible for using a non-network hospital. Other proposals remain on the table, and PEF will continue to work with the State toward an agreement that meets both of our needs. PEF cannot and will not restrict these negotiations to how we can help meet the State's needs in Health Insurance. The State must present us with a comprehensive proposal that addresses all aspects of the contract. In December we made a full proposal to the State and have repeatedly told them, "It's your move!" - "It's Your Move" Campaign Contracts for PEF and most other NYS employees expired in April, 2003; but NYS has found time and money for some of its employees. Despite the state's fiscal crisis, NYS was able to find the time and money to settle a contract with 37,000 public employees at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that includes health insurance with no employee premium. They also found money to hire more high priced deputy commissioners and spokespeople, as well as provide generous raises to their contractors in 2003! Even President Bush provided raises to federal employees last year and has another raise planned for 2004. Dozens of the state's most cash strapped cities and counties also negotiated fair contracts for their employees. To motivate the state into moving forward with negotiations, PEF has prepared more than 15,000 postcards that will be distributed through our member mobilizers in the coming week. The postcards are a way for PEF members and supporters to tell the State negotiators that they support their bargaining team. Join us in letting the State know "It's Your Move!" Postcards will be in the workplaces across the state next week. Contact your Steward or Regional Coordinator for one. And if you can't wait until then visit PEF's website for a sneak preview http://www.pef.org/pst2003/its_your_move.pdf For further information see PEF website www.pef.org
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Last Updated on September 29, 2004
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