PEF leadership challengers make the ballot

The slate of insurgent union members competing for the leadership of the Public Employees Federation has gathered the requisite petition signatures needed to make the ballot.

“Thanks to all who carried and signed petitions for NY Union Proud (NYUP),” says a letter on the group’s Facebook page.

The letter says their effort is now focusing on a Get Out the Vote effort for the June elections. They are also seeking financial help, noting that mailings to reach the 53,000 voting members run about $30,000 each.

The new group, led by Susan Kent, who works at the state Department of Education, is challenging PEF’s leadership on a variety of issues but they seem to be focusing on the recent contract, which brings three years without contractual raises.

PEF members approved the deal on a second vote at the urging of President Ken Brynien, who warned that the Cuomo Administration would have carried out some 3,500 layoffs in order to save money if concessions weren’t made.

Mailed ballots for PEF leadership are set to go out June 4 and they must be returned on June 25th.

  1. Government Gangsters says:

    So Darth, you’re saying you personally received a layoff notice?

  2. Mentality says:

    “Bulldog? You paid dues for like what 2 years? I’ve been paying them for 20 years. Who deserves more representation….?”

    -CapCon Blog


    -Animal Farm

    Not worth saying much about it really, it’s the same no vote/yes vote stuff from before. PEF Proud supported layoffs (as an acceptable outcome,) Union Proud is the same thing (with the same people defending/promoting them.)

    In the end, I agree with InsideOut on this point:

    “You either believe/agree with one or the other…Go vote and be done with it.”

  3. “So Darth, you’re saying you personally received a layoff notice?”


  4. Jim says:

    For all of you who feel that 3,500 jobs were saved because of the DRP and a bad contract, you are wrong…wait till Sage and the dozens of new contracts that are forthcoming. Do the so called 3,500 jobs saved contigent support giving taxpayer funded tax breaks to the rich and famous, high Welfare and Medicaid payments to New Yorkers, corporate tax breaks so large corporations can pay their executives from this so-called taxpayer funded welfare, and do you believe in outsourcing American jobs..which is exactly what was done in NYS by our elected officials. Doubt it.

    Why did current PEF fail to bring the aforementioned issues public? Public employees are people too.

    It is time for a change in PEF leadership….and that change is Union Proud. Existing PEF leadership did not hear its membership and fight for fairness.

  5. Jim says:

    If the vast majority of PEF memebers were asked to identify who the PEF incumbents were from a random group of 100 people, doubt many PEF members would know more than 3, since over the last few years they have been silent on the issues that mean the most to PEF members.

    I know I want fairness, equality, and representation … and I firmly believe Union Proud members will deliver.

    I look forward to the TU setting up a debate and/or a newpaper article between these two groups, so that issues can be addressed and positions detailed, so that PEF members can make an informed decsion as the election comes closer….in the next 2 weeks.

  6. Jim says:

    @Mentality. Many firms use a LIFO plan…Last In First Out.

    The Governor used the threat of layoffs and fear to strongly encourage union members to vote for a terrible contract….It looks like these decision makers were trying to time this bad deal contract to the economy getting make it appear that it was pay and benefit reductions to the public sector that was the root cause of this recovery. Problem is the economy in NY is still bad and NYS will forever be in debt due to pork spending and Welfare/Medicaid, Corporate Welfare, Tax Breaks to the rich and famous.

    As a long term PEF members, I want to be heard. Vote Union Proud.

  7. Happy Gilmor says:

    no way was NYUP going to layoff anyone it was Gov. 1% and we should never negotiate from a position of weakness, and that was what KB did. He is not getting my vote.

  8. Rasputin says:

    I voted against the first contract because I could not acquiesce to the CSEA sellout and the “take it or lose it” approach Cuomo had in the contract proclamation. I received serious approbation from PEF officers and my own members who were going to be laid off. THAT contract was defeated and we forced Cuomo to actually negotiate, albeit in his own 1% manner. We got a better contract that no longer tied us to CSEA sellouts and, yes, better protection from layoffs for the life of OUR contract. The NYUP wannabees should realize from Andy’s past performance that there was so much more he could do to the membership by executive decree and forcing us to take him to court (at considerable expense) for every disagreement. Remember this was the same Andrew who during his father’s reign had the favorite phrase, “So sue me.” NYUP has not put forward ANY positive platform as to what they will actually do to further the unions progress and influence. Their sole cry is “They aren’t good!”. And this is the administration that had the President, Ken Brynien, step in and show Gov. Spitzer and his staff exactly how we were getting less than CSEA. Ken’s reputation for honesty and use of facts, not rhetoric, got PEF the unheard of parity clause that got so many members a considerable raise. Look at the entire record of both parties and you will see that the current administration is the ONLY one that has shown the ability to face reality and get all that we can possibly get from a Governor who has a Super Pac that spends millions of dollars on media just dumping on the public employees. Where were these insurgents last election if this administration has failed so miserably? Perhaps it isn’t the PEF leadership people are upset about but the way no one can seriously take on Spawn of Satan. Anybody can complain, but look for people who have actually done the work, made the hard decisions, and done what was best for all the members, not just those with the most seniority.

  9. balboa says:

    To all of those who were on the chopping block and voted yes thinking your job is safe. Please read very closely the so called layoff protection you voted for. There was a small clause or contradictory statement at the end of the paragraph that went something like this. This doesn’t supercede the need for reduction in costs or something like that so all the bull that he fed you in the first line blinded you and he succeeded again to get the stupid stateworker that doesn’t read the fine print to vote for a contract that has him paying the state to work for them . Just do the math all you college educated PEF members.And you think this contract was bad wait till the next when you’re already behind inflation by 4years and you get more zeros and think what he did to your kids and grandkids. You got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  10. webb says:

    @ Andrew Coates, MD. WELL SAID!

  11. NYS Techie says:

    NYUP has my vote! I hope they win by a gigantic margin.

    Brynien is too weak to carry out his role, he needs to return to his old state job. We need Winston Churchill, not Neville Chamberlain.

    I wonder if the governor and Brynien will beg for a “re-vote” if Brynien loses by a landslide??? Maybe they’ll claim we “didn’t understand” what we were voting on… Maybe Cuomo will say Brynien didn’t “sell” himself enough. Maybe Brynien will put out another video where he tells us how disappointed he is in us!

    Bwah, ha ha ha!

  12. Older and Wiser says:

    As Chutzpah said, “Be careful what you wish for!” Ask the Education Department PEF members what they think of Sue Kent and her representation of them. Educate yourselves first. You will probably hear words like: rogue, disservice, agenda, disrespect, etc. Here is another saying: “The devil you know may be better than the one you don’t!”

  13. egs says:

    the state employees are getting screwed by the devil and now it was reported this morning by fred dicker that The governor, his staff, all the legislators will put them selves in for a huge raise after all the cuts, and the porch sitters got a 10 percent raise why are you not screaming about this…………………since they really put the screws to the average nys worker……..

  14. wait? what? says:

    The insurgents’ fight is really with the 27,000 PEF who voted YES and like almost 24000 of my brothers and sisters who also voted yes, I did not receive a layoff notice.

    Speaking for all 24,000 of us who apparently voted against our own interests, we are not stupid, we understood both sides, we understood the DRLs and layoff protection that is expiring in March 2013, and rejected those who’s main interest was preserving their own situation. By a 2-1 majority we stood tall as a union.

    The insurgents’ problem is that like Gordon Gecko, he did not understand how other people could operate from an alternate viewpoint to “greed is good.”

  15. NYS Techie says:

    By the way, can we stop using terms like “Insurgent” to refer to legitimate challengers in a democratic election? That term in particular has an association with terrorism in the public mind and is shockingly inappropriate.

    How about using the more accurate term “Candidate”? Or “Challenger”?

    Before anyone tells me their definition of “Insurgent”, Merriam Webster defines it as: “a person who revolts against civil authority or an established government; especially : a rebel not recognized as a belligerent”. A set of legitimate candidates engaging in lawful election activity within an existing legal framework does NOT meet the definition.

    Would you call Romney an “insurgent”? No? Why? The answer to this question will inform you.

  16. PEF Inside Voice says:

    PEF Mgmt just posted a new job. A Level 8 position for someone with a I.T. media background(Facebook/Web Site Communications.) Starting pay is $42K. Tell anyone with that kind of experience to apply fast before the current PEF Mgmt gives it to another relative or crony!


    I will be voting for the Members 1st group – even if the current contract is not what we all wanted, we were not going to get a better contract. When negotiations start on the next contract, I want a team with a lot of experience. Prior to the current contract, they have managed to get the membership some decent raises and protected other benefits that were important to members. We were polled on what was important to us and they fought for those issues. If you are looking to replace everyone based on the outcome of the current contract, you are ignoring the past successes of the current leadership.

  18. Rogue Worker says:

    @ older and wiser

    I am one of those PEF education members and Carlos and Susan have done stellar work. Here are the words that you would hear from virtually all the members here at SED – Dedicated, Compassionate, Committed, Activist, Problem Solvers, Passionate, Leaders, UNION PROUD.

    I know who the devils are and they are the incumbents. The do nothing, fear everything, roll over and play dead in the face of adversity wanna be’s of union activism.

    Proud to be a Mature and Educated Insurgent

  19. NYC PEF says:

    My question is , why is no one talking about those PEF and CSEA members who will lose their jobs at the end of the month. As mentioned bumping and layoffs are happening. May 31st. If PEF and CSEA would put up a fight these members would still have jobs and not layoff notices. What has the current administration of PEF DONE. This is the time vote NY UNION PROUD.

  20. NYC PEF:

    It’s not talked about because it just affirms what the “no” voters said last year – that the contract won’t prevent layoffs, so voting for it on that basis is foolish.

    None of those “yes” people that like to do nothing but inaccurately disparage NYUP and “no” voters as “greedy” can acknowledge that, because it would amount to admitting we were right all along.

    Don’t worry. I’m sure Members First will hold another candlelight vigil. That will help for sure!

  21. SeemItBefore says:

    How quickly people are to point fingers when they don’t get exactly what they want. How quickly NYUP were to jump right in DURING negotiations to condemn the work work the current union staff were trying to do during contract negotiations. After the fact, everyone thinks the NYUP could have done a better job…as a PEF member, I haven’t heard a word of what NYUP stands for if they were elected. I think they should be talking to the membership. Membership shouldn’t have to search for info on this group.

    I think members need to research very well what they might be getting if they hastily vote for the new group. What you have may very well be much better than what you will get.

    How soon membership forgets the GREAT contract we got four years ago when Spitzer was Gov. Do you remember the economy wasn’t too hot then but we were rewarded very dearly!!! How much was your raise to bring your pay in line with CSEA??? It was a very sweet reward/bonus!!!

    Come on people, think before reacting in haste.

  22. Justice says:

    I would just like to say NYUP has my vote. I was planning to retire within the next 5 years, however thanks to the Yes voters I can’t. I have never in my life seen so much bullying and weakness played out with this current contract. PEF executive team needs to go.

    Vote Yes, and stand Proud to be an NYS worker.

  23. mike java says:

    rouge retiree–
    –goes back to 1999-2000 contract—when collective bargaining process between GOV and PEF took 18 months for a new contract, which usually contains retroactive provisions,,, and therefore many people retired during those 18 months—however,,,the contract was only agreed upon AFTER the legislature got involved acting OUTSIDE the collective bargaining process by passing the 4% additional retirement benefit (which was NOT retroactive)—-thereby costing those people who did retire $2000 per year for each year of future retirement (or total $50,000 lifetime)—–
    (still working on this),,,but, way to go PEF,,,,,,

  24. Rogue Worker says:

    and they wonder why we are insurgents

    Yesterday there was a debate scheduled between Susan and ken @ HESC, that had been rescheduled at the incumbent’s request. Except yesterday he never showed up for the debate. Why? Well NYUP has learned that he was not even in the state but in Myrtle Beach with one of PEF’s parent organizations, AFT.

    Members First ? I think not

    VOTE NYUP !!!!!

  25. Albanydan says:

    I am not sure how 3,000+ workers who had RIF notices in their hand can be considered ‘bullying members’ into a YES vote.

    Change.. just for changes sake, is never positive. I was at DOL when menbers of the PS&T unit were first approached to break away from CSEA 30+ years ago.

    We listened to the line ‘you have different interests than administrators and secretaries and forgot that the strength of a union is in their numbers’… and we’ve been playing catchup with CSEA ever since.

    Everybody says that they would do something different in order to get the power. We really don’t know what NYUP would have done differently since none of them has held a union office before (Have they?)

    I want to see more of what NYUP’s agenda is before endorsing.

    It has to be more than ‘We’re not Ken’..

  26. A Voice For PEF Sanity says:

    Rouge Worker’s post tells you all you need to know about NYUP and their supporters, they truly are PEF’s own Tea Party caucus. They look for any wedge they can find and if they can’t find one they make up malicious and false information. I was at the debate where NYUP candidate Susan Kent was told that Ken Brynien was Washington, DC meeting with AFT on Federal budget issues. Additionally, the debate was not rescheduled to accomodate President Brynien’s schedule although there were repeated requests to do so.

  27. Jim says:

    How can anyone support a pay and benefit reducing for union members when the Legislature, Governor, Judges and Contractors will all be getting (or got) substantial raises? Those who felt that a DRP will save their newby jobs on the backs of senior employees will think otherwise when Sage prompts even further reductions/layoffs. This bad contract should never have been a pattern contract. As I said before anyone can readily negotiate a pay and benefit reduction during inflationary times, but it will take true leadership…(ie the Union Proud label)…to stand up and deliver faireness and equality. Remember folks that this last bad contract occurred at the same time that Welfare/Medicaid benefits expanded, and corporations gladly accepted tax breaks right from the pockets of New Yorkers.

  28. Jim says:

    Maybe the TU can ensure that the current PEF leadership will actually be available to debate the Union Proud slate by setting up an impartial meeting place with media coverage?

  29. BiBi Upstate Ukie says:

    The mailbox “stuffing” with pro-Ken propaganda has begun. It was useful in getting the updraft going in the fireplace tonight;)

  30. Ex-State Worker says:

    If PEF re-elects Fat Boy Brynien, that will be the absolute end for the Unions.

    Actually, it was the end when Fat Boy rolled over. Furloughs, whether characterized as “deficit reduction days” or not, wll now be a part of every future contract. Layoffs will only need to be threatened (bad faith negotiations) for any 1% Governor to get his way.

    As far as taking matters into their own hands, employees re-tooling on their own time does nothing. There are no jobs to go to on the outside. There is no reward on the inside either. Promotions are all Kiss the Hand in the State. Consultant shops are basically now H1-B centers. The smell of curry in the hallways is rife and will only get worse..

    The State will never get rid of them. In fact, their numbers will only increase. It’s all part of the Plan. Funnel money to useless “payoff” projects. King Cuomo and his ilk have completely won the day.

    And here’s a final bit of Good News: A little bird told me that Global Flubberies will be gone in 2 years. They bilked the State out of millions upon millions. Who benefitted there? It was somebody’s payoff.. Bet on it.

    All that’s left, as has been said, is for the Legislature to give themselves a pay raise for doing their job. Suddenly, the money can be found for that, but not for the State workforce. 0-0-0-2% is what you get!!

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