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Brothers and Sisters,
It seems that after several very long days of negotiations we have a deal on HB 1828. Collective bargaining issues are off the table. State takeover of pensions is put off or off the table for 99.9 percent of our affiliates. Even the one local affected by the take over has two years to bring their pension funding level up to 40 percent and then they will not be absorbed into PMRS. Philadelphia gets its relief without hurting workers. The rest of the state can also receive actuarial relief. DROP programs have been standardized and endorsed; there has been no expansion of any Act 205 provisions relating to tiered pensions.
Myself, staffers and members of the PPFFA, FOP, AFL-CIO, AFSCME and several lawyers met for many long hours and negotiated for the last few days to keep all of the dire issues affecting our members off the table and out of the law. The rally that was put on this past Tuesday shook the political world in Harrisburg and brought the legislators into the fray. As the PPFFA political/legislative team worked the capitol it was obvious that the concerted effort put forth by labor was present. None of the stakeholder labor groups veered off message even though there were several attempts at dividing us by both parties and both houses. Labor didn’t flinch!
A new printer’s number will be issued for the amended bill on Friday. When that number becomes available a message will be sent out to all legislators and locals asking them to support the bill. The power of labor is being felt again in Harrisburg and that is all because of your efforts.
If the amended bill is accepted by the House then it will go back to the Senate for ratification. The various groups represented by labor have already started to reach out to Senate members for support.
If you are contacted by your representative prior to getting the new printer’s number you can simply ask them to support HB 1828 as amended in the Rules Committee on 9-10-09.
It is fitting that we get this corrected on 9/11. The PPFFA will keep all affiliates updated as to the status of the bill.
Thanks goes out to all PPFFA members and staff, IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger, the FOP, especially President Les Neri, AFL-CIO President Bill George, AFL-CIO Recording Secretary Rick Bloomingdale, Staff of the State AFL-CIO, AFSCME Council’s 33 and 47 and attorneys Irwin Aronson, Jim Beall, Tony Busillo, Tom Jennings, Rick Poulson and Stephen Richman.
Art Martynuska
President, PPFFA
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