PEF president to testify on NY plans for mental health and developmental disabilities

ALBANY, NY (09/06/2013)(readMedia)-- Farmingdale, NY Susan Kent, president of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF), will testify before a joint state Assembly and Senate Standing Committee on the union's concerns and solutions about the governor's plans for the state Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).

The hearing will take place Monday, September 9 at 2 p.m. at the Farmingdale State College, 2350 Broadhollow Road, in the Little Theatre located in Roosevelt Hall.

PEF's Priorities:

• Opposing reductions in vital state services to vulnerable New Yorkers in our communities

• Opposing privatization of state provided services as it lowers the quality of those services

• Opposing the reduction of qualified state staff who are professionally trained to provide services

• Ensuring the continuity of employment of PEF members with no geographic hardship

• Opposing loss of state-operated services, shifting the economic responsibility to already economically distressed communities throughout New York State

PEF represents approximately 56,000 professional, scientific and technical employees of New York state and other public and private employees. The union has 6,969 members working at OMH, and 4.022 at OPWDD. For more information, call Jane Briggs at 1-800-342-4306 ext. 225.