July 9, 1999

Governor George E. Pataki
Executive Chamber
State Capitol
Albany, New York   12224-0341

Dear Governor Pataki:

It is unfortunate that contract negotiations with the State have been as bitter and prolonged as they have.  PEF approached these negotiations in a professional way and retained an outside negotiator with 28 years of contract negotiating experience.  It has always been our goal to conclude these negotiations in a way that met the needs of the State and our members and, at the same time, strengthen our relationship.

One of the issues that keeps coming up is your pronouncements that you never offered PEF a zero salary increase.  I have personally heard you say this, and we have videotapes of those statements from several of your appearances.  Unfortunately, Senator Bruno also adopted this position in his interview with Brad Heath published today in The Record.

I have included for your information the New York State salary proposal transmitted to PEF on April 22, 1999 by Robin Bramwell of GOER.  I draw your attention to Article 7.6 which indicates that the salary schedule of the current year will remain in place through the life of the next contract.  Any reasonable person would conclude that this represents a zero salary increase.  Our negotiator pointed out to your negotiator that this represented zero salary increase.  Ms. Bramwell did not dispute that point and responded "It is what it is."  At our early protests of the zeros, GOER represented that the zeros were an opening position, confirming their offer.

We find it inexplicable that you would disclaim what GOER has proposed and confirmed in the press.   I hope that the attachment will put this matter to rest but, more importantly, that we can move beyond the current hostility and settle a contract that meets your needs and recognizes the contributions that our members make to the lives of all State citizens and the sacrifices they have made over the last eight years to produce a surplus the State is now enjoying.

Perhaps a reason that the State was able to successfully conclude their negotiations with the United University Professions yesterday is because UUP was never insulted with a financial offer that had zero salary increases.  We stand ready to bring these negotiations to a prompt and mutually beneficial conclusion.

Sincerely,

Roger E. Benson
President

Attachment

cc: Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno
Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver
PEF Executive Board
Irwin Bluestein, PEF Chief Negotiator
James Natoli, Director of State Operations
Linda Angello, Director of GOER
Robin Bramwell, Assistant Director of GOER

Excerpt from latest NYS Contract Proposal:

Effective on October [April 1, 1998], for employees on the administrative payroll, and September 24 for employees on the institutional payroll, a new salary schedule shall be established which shall consist of a hiring rate and a job rate for grades 1 through 37 and a hiring rate for grade 38.   The hiring rates shall be the hiring rates of the salary schedule in effect on September 30, 1998, [March 31, 1999] for employees on the administrative payroll, and September 23, 1998 for employees on the institutional payroll, increased by three and on-half (3.5) percent.   The job rates for grades 1 through 37 shall be the rates of the salary schedule in effect on September 30, 1998 [March 31, 1999] for employees on the administrative payroll, and September 23, 1998 for employees on the institutional payroll, increased by three and one half (3.5) percent.