PEF honors governor for anti-privatization efforts

• by New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF)

MANHATTAN, NY (09/18/2007)(readMedia)-- The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) presented Gov. Eliot Spitzer with an anti-privatization award during its annual convention today in Manhattan.

PEF President Ken Brynien recognized the governor’s bold efforts to reduce the state’s reliance on costly private consultants by replacing them with state workers who can do the job better and for less.

“The governor has taken a great first step by replacing hundreds of costly private engineering contractors in DOT with state workers. The move has saved millions in taxpayer dollars. We anticipate even greater savings as we work with the governor to implement a cost benefit analysis process before contracting out state work,” said Brynien.

Spitzer told delegates, “When we go public, we’re doing it for the public good to create a safer, smarter and better New York.”

“We don’t believe in sub-contracting and contracting out,” said Spitzer. “To those who said it would save money, it didn't work. We’ve added employees where it’s smart to do so, like in the Department of Environmental Conservation. We’re also taking a very hard look at contracting out within the Department of Transportation.”

“We look forward to working in partnership with the governor to cut further wasteful contracting out and save the taxpayers even more,” added Brynien.

PEF is holding its 29th annual convention at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers from Monday, September 17 – Wednesday, September 19.

PEF is the state’s second-largest state-employee union, representing 57,000 professional, scientific and technical employees. For more information, contact Darcy Wells, PEF Director of Public Relations at (518) 785-1900 ext. 277.