Statement from PEF President Susan M. Kent on the Court's Decision on Unit Placement

ALBANY, NY (12/05/2014)(readMedia)-- The president of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF), Susan M. Kent, said she applauds the decision ruled by the Albany Supreme Court to place 250 management-confidential (M/C) employees into the PS&T bargaining unit.

The white-collar labor union initially received a favorable decision from the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) saying the Governor's Office of Employee Relations (GOER) failed to show good cause as to why the former M/C employees should be placed in the PS&T Unit.

"PEF argued this case in court in October before Albany Supreme Court Justice Francis Collins," Kent said. "We had specifically agreed with GOER in March 2013 that these employees be placed in the bargaining unit. GOER tried to void that agreement.

"With so many attempts being made to demonize state employees and reduce the state workforce, this ruling is very welcomed and very just," Kent said. "My administration said it will fight for members' rights and go to court when necessary to protect them. PEF will continue to do so, as long as the governor continues to ignore the rulings of PERB."

PEF is the state's largest white-collar state-employee union representing members in professional, scientific and technical titles.

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