PEF President Kenneth Brynien sets record straight on SUNY "power plan"

ALBANY, NY (06/25/2010)(readMedia)-- "State University of New York Chancellor Nancy Zimpher is misguided in her characterization of union support for the Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act.

The New York State Public Employees Federation has aggressively opposed the plan, as it attempts to alter the relationship between SUNY and state government. It would give SUNY greater authority to enter into contracts and leases, without prior review by the state comptroller, attorney general or Legislature.

The proposed language is so broad it could lead to parts of SUNY campuses being leased out to private operators, or SUNY professional employees could be replaced by contractors. All this without legislative oversight or public discussion.

As the state continues to wrestle with a $9.2 billion budget deficit, this is not the time to let SUNY gamble with taxpayers' money.

Chancellor Zimpher's claim of broad union support for the plan is inaccurate. PEF will continue to encourage legislative leaders to reject the plan and push for more oversight and accountability in state government, not less."

PEF is the state's second-largest state-employee union, representing 58,000 professional, scientific and technical employees including nearly 4,000 nurses, research scientists, maintenence supervisors, EMT's and chaplains at SUNY.

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