News from New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF)

For more information contact: Darcy Wells, (518) 785-1900 Ext. 277

State employees rally for economic relief in high-cost areas

MANHATTAN, NY (10/30/2007; 1200)(readMedia)-- Members of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) gathered in City Hall Park in Manhattan today for a noontime rally calling for locality-pay increases in this and other high-cost areas of the state.

Hundreds of PEF members carried signs, marched and chanted, urging contract negotiators for the Governor's Office of Employee Relations (GOER) to address the cost-of-living (COLA) crisis faced by those who live downstate.

“The quality of life for many of our members is eroding," said PEF President Ken Brynien. “Our members are dedicated public servants who are no longer able to afford to live and raise their families in the communities in which they work.”

PEF Vice President and Contract Chair Lou Matrazzo said the location pay issue continues to be a top priority in contract negotiations with the state.

“Cost-of-living pay increases simply have not kept pace with high housing and other costs, forcing many of the state's engineers, accountants, health care providers and others to consider abandoning their communities in search of more favorable economic climates elsewhere,” Matrazzo said. “It's imperative that economic relief is included in our next contract.”

“State employees are being crushed by economic conditions and costs beyond their control,” said Jemma Marie-Hanson, PEF Region 11 (Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island) coordinator. “The increases in the cost of living downstate over the past several years have significantly outpaced other parts of our state.”

PEF Region 10 (Manhattan, Bronx) Coordinator Vernetta Chesimard added, “It’s a proven fact, living downstate is more expensive and our members are struggling, now more than ever, trying to make ends meet. The current locality pay system doesn’t work. We feel strongly, the federal model is a better solution.”

The federal government has an objective pay system that accounts for regional cost-of-living differences in New York State. Federal employees in NYS from Ulster County south receive an additional 10.59 percent of salary as location pay.

PEF is the state’s second-largest state-employee union, representing 58,000 professional, scientific and technical employees. For more information, please call Darcy Wells, PEF director of public relations, at 518-785-1900 ext. 277 or 518-859-1274.

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