PEF REGION 5
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REGION 5 MEETINGSMAY MEETINGS RESOLUTIONS FOR 2005 CONVENTION TO: Division Leaders, Contact People & Executive Board Members FROM: Mary L. Twitchell, Region 5 Coordinator DATE: April 22,2005 RE: RESOLUTIONS FOR 2005 CONVENTION I have had several inquiries from members regarding the possibility of submitting Resolutions for the 2005 PEF convention. I will be meeting with them on Thursday, May 5, 2005 at 5:30 P.M. at the Binghamton Regency. The deadline for submitting resolutions is June 6th. If you or any of your members are interested in submitting resolutions or signing on to resolutions submitted by Region 5 members, I urge you to attend this meeting. Please call PEF at 607-785-1699 before May 3, 2005, if you are able to attend.
GO PUBLIC - STOP PRIVATIZATION April 19, 2005 Dear Division Leader, Contact Person, PAC Member: I would like to invite you to an important forum on the issue of privatization being held on May 6, 2005 at 5:30 P.M. at the Binghamton Regency. As you know, taxpayers and their elected representatives are growing increasingly concerned about the trend of turning traditional work of the public sector over to for-profit companies and shadow agencies. Not only is this costing the taxpayer money, it is costing us accountability and the democratic process is suffering. Right now, no one in state government knows the exact number of private contractors employed by New York, and no one knows the true total cost of privatization to taxpayers. Even more disturbing is that efforts to determine how state tax dollars are spent are thwarted. For example, the Health Research Inc., a state public authority, refuses to acknowledge the freedom of information laws of New York, and refuses to respond to inquiry about its expenditures. Because of these alarming trends, Region 5 of the New York State Public Employees Federation, AFL-CIO, is sponsoring a "Go Public" forum to discuss our concerns and how we intend to fight back. Included on the agenda will be a discussion of four pieces of legislation. This package includes a bill (S3923\Spano/A1259/John) requiring that a cost/benefit analysis be prepared by a State agency before contracting for personal services. This bill is important to ensure that the public knows the true cost of contracting out governmental services. A second bill, (S1920\Robach and A6542\Lupardo), requires the State to keep track of the numbers of employees employed through contracts for personal services and the value of the contract. This bill is vitally important for ensuring that the public knows the true size of State government. The package also includes a bill (A5626\Brodsky) that would substantially increase accountability and disclosure related to public authorities. This bill would help reduce waste and inefficiency at the more than 730 State and local authorities by creating a process under which they can be abolished or merged with State agencies. As the stories about multiple scandals related to waste, fraud, and abuse in the press will attest, these authorities must be reined in and subject to greater oversight and civil service laws. Finally, the Go Public package includes a bill (A9\Silver) that would increase the information that lobbyists must disclose related to their efforts to influence State contract awards. Since billons of tax dollars are expended annually on contracts for goods and services, it is vitally important that efforts to influence these awards are made public. We strongly encourage you to attend. Please call PEF at 607-785-1699 by May 2, 2005, if you plan on attending. Sincerely, MaryTwitchell Region 5 Coordinator
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