PEF: ‘Cut waste not workers’
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ByKENNETHBRYNIEN be,notonlyintermsofthe •$200millionthroughbulk
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Formostofus,summerisatimefor emotionalcoststothose purchasingofprescriptiondrugs;and
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relaxation,picnics,barbecues,and threatenedbylayoff,butin •$25millionthisyear,andatleast
vacations. termsofthecoststostate $100millionineachsubsequentyear,by
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However,intheweeksfollowingthe servicesandtothestate’s passingthe“bigger,betterbottlebill.”
n
IndependenceDayholiday,thegovernor economicrecoveryby Enhancedopportunitiesfor
setoffhisownfireworks.Hisdire takingmoneyoutofthe telecommutingandflexiblework
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predictionsofthestate’sfiscalcondition, economyjustwhenitis scheduleswouldsaveevenmore.
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increasinglyurgentwarningsonthe neededthemost.
state’srevenueshortfall,andhiscallsfor Ihavemetwiththe
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additionalcutsinthebudgetforstate governorandhisstaffand
BRYNIEN
Thesearejustsomeofthemanysteps
thatcanandshouldbetakenbefore
budgetcutsthataffectourmembers’job
operationssentshockwavesthroughthe haveidentifiedmorethan$1billionin securityandtheservicesourmembers
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stateworkforce. potentialsavingsandrevenuethatis provideareevenconsidered.
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Newsreportshaveevenraisedthe achievableifleadershavethepoliticalwill Nodoubt,weallwillbeaskedto
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prospectoflayoffsofstateworkers–a tomakethenecessarychanges. sacrifice,butwewillnotbevictims. a
predictableknee-jerkreactiontothe Theseoptionsincludesavingsof: Astheleaderofourunion,Ipromise
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state’sfiscalcrisisbyanti-public-sector •$500-$750millionannuallyby youPEFwilldowhateverittakesto
interests. targetingmorethan$3billioninwasteful preserveyourjobsecurity.
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Thejobsecurityofourmembersis contracting; Wewilltakeourmessagetothe
PEF’stoppriority.Wehaveworkedto •$150million(theequivalentof2,500 streets,ifnecessary,tomakesureit’s
educatethestate’sleadersonhow stateemployees)byreducingovertime heardloudandclear:
damagingcutstothestateworkforcecan andactuallyhiringmoreemployees; “Cutthewaste,nottheworkers!”
Governor signs laws protecting
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nurses, military, WTC responders
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BySHERRYHALBROOK roomnursing,shallbepresentintheOR •S.6652/A.9892whichwouldhave s
Recently,Gov.David asthe“circulatingnurse”(responsiblefor requiredthestatetoassigntheleast
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Patersonsignedsixmore thepatient’ssafety)forthedurationofthe senioremployeeinthejobtitlewhenan
a
PATERSON
PEF-supportedbillsinto procedure.ThislawtakeseffectOctober employeeistobeinvoluntarilymovedtoa
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law.Hevetoedthree 6; worklocationinanon-contiguous i
others. •S7792/A10381–Thisprovides county;
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Toppingthelistofsignedbillsareone membersoftheU.S.armedforcesand •S.6533A/A.9511Awhichwouldhave e
restrictingmandatoryovertimefornurses reserveswiththeopportunitytotakea requiredschoolcommitteesonspecial
(Seerelatedarticlethispage),abill special“make-up”civilserviceexamif educationtoprovideinformationtothe
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makingpermanentagency-feeprovisions theymisstakingorapplyingtotakethe parentsofblindanddeafchildrenabout
ofthestateTaylorLaw,andabillthat regularexambecauseofmilitaryservice. theservicesofferedbythestateschools
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enhanceseligibilityofpublicemployees Thislawtakeseffectimmediately;and fortheblindandforthedeaf;and
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forbenefitsundertheWorldTradeCenter •S.7791/A.10486–Thisincreases •S.6778/A.10553whichwouldhave
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DisabilityLaw. employmentopportunitiesforveterans extendedthemaximumleavefrom12to
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Otherbillshesignedinclude: withdisabilities.Thisbilltakeseffect 18monthsforstateemployeesinjuredon n
•S.1608/A.1206A–Thisrequiresa immediately. thejob.
registerednurse,qualifiedinoperating Vetoedbythegovernorwere:
Finally, a Mandatory Overtime Law
Atlast. statesthatrealizethecaliberofcarefora gratefulwehaveagovernorwho
Afteradecadeoflobbyinglawmakers, patientriseswhenanurseorotherhealth understandstheneedforthislegislation.”
gatheringstatisticstoproveapoint,and careproviderisn’tforcedtoworkdouble Hospitalsandotherhealthcare
prayingthatsomethingwouldchangeto ortripleshifts. facilitieswillhaveuntilJuly1,2009,to
improvepatientsafety,ithas. “Thisactionalsowillbringbackmore putaplantogethertostopmandatory
Gov.DavidPatersonsignedthe nursestotheworkforce.Itisa overtime.Thelawdoescontainsome
mandatoryovertimebillintolawAugust triumphantdayforallofNewYork,” exceptionsforcertainemergency
13.AndPEFleaderswererelievedthe Bryniensaid. situations.
battletogetthislawonthebooksis “Iwasconfidentthegovernorwould Bryniensaidcreditshouldgotothe
history. signthebillonceitgottohisdesk sponsorsofthebill,Sen.Thomas
“Thegovernorcamethroughwithhis because ofhiscommitment,”saidPEF MorahanandAssemblyMemberAileen
promisetosignthebill,”saidPEF Region12CoordinatorDeeDodson,chair Gunther,whotooktheleadinworkingout
PresidentKenBrynien.“NewYorkhas ofthePEFNurses’Committee. Ilook thedetailsofthebill.
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