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MEA Web Message – September 15, 2008
 

Message from President Ferrer

I have received a number of inquiries from members regarding the status of managerial raises.  I do not have a current update, but we continue to advocate that the City immediately grant across the board increases for the deserving managerial workforce.  Below is the text of a Press Release that was sent to the Chief/Leader.  It should be published in this week’s issue.  We will keep you abreast of new developments in the coming weeks. 

                                   

City Managers Wait for News Regarding Raises

“New York City career managers are due across the board wage increases this year,” states NYC Managerial Employees Association President Stephen M. Ferrer.  “Career managers should receive salary and benefit increases timely and expeditiously.  They are often referred to as the engine that runs the city and it is good government to ensure that the engine is well maintained.”  MEA believes that giving raises in a timely fashion helps in recruitment and retention of the best-qualified persons for municipal management positions.

President Ferrer also states that, “Managers consider themselves to be an integral part of Mayor Bloomberg’s team.  There has been a marked increase in the salaries of our managers during Mayor Bloomberg’s tenure.  He also listened when MEA asked for across the board increases for all managers.   We ask him, using the mayor’s words, to ‘give well deserved increases for managerial and original jurisdiction personnel’.

In New York State, Management/Confidential (M/C) employees are not permitted by the Taylor Law to be represented by an employee organization in collective bargaining negotiations. However, the MEA is empowered to advocate for managerial and confidential employees employed by the City of New York.  MEA advocates for salary and fringe benefit increases for all members of the City’s managerial service.

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*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***

Dear MEA Member: 

The NYC Managerial Employees Association (MEA) proudly announces the celebration of Managers and the City of New York – Partners in Excellence - 40 Years of Advocacy for Managers in City Government. 

In commemoration of MEA service to managers, a very special gala is being held at Grand Prospect Hall, Brooklyn, New York, on Thursday, October 23, 2008.  Look for your invitation in the mail and set aside this date, as we promise you a memorable evening.    Our invitation list includes elected city officials, commissioners, and dignitaries from federal and state government and employee organizations.   

MEA’s Board of Directors is pleased to have selected Mayor Michael Bloomberg to receive the Distinguished Service Award for 2008.  This honor is reserved for the public official who has been most instrumental in recognizing the achievements of the New York City career managers.      

We will also present MEA’s Manager of the Year Award during the anniversary celebration. You will shortly receive in the mail a nomination form.  Please take the opportunity to place in nomination an MEA member you feel deserves serious consideration.  Manager of the Year epitomizes service and dedication to his/her agency on behalf of the citizens of New York City.   

We look forward to seeing you on October 23^rd.                           

                                                                                    Sincerely yours,  

                                                                                    Stephen M. Ferrer, President

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NYCMEA Presents Grad/Undergrad Courses Through CUNY's Murphy Institute

The New York City Managerial Employees Association in cooperation with DCAS’ Citywide Training Center is presenting an exciting educational opportunity for selected MEA members.  We are offering undergraduate and graduate courses through the City University of New York’s Murphy Institute. 

The Undergraduate Certificate in Public Administration and Public Policy provides students with a solid background in government, the policy-making process, and public administration. To earn the Certificate, eligible members must hold a high school diploma or GED and complete four courses, for a total of sixteen credits.   

The initial course in this series is Public Administration (4 Credits).  This course will examine the growth, structure, role, and methods of local and federal bureaucracies and their impact on American government and society. It will introduce students to the subject of bureaucracy in American government and will survey the major areas of study in Public Administration, including the context of public administration, the meaning of federalism, and intergovernmental relations. In addition, the course will address organizational theory and behavior, decision-making, leadership, policy implementation, budgeting, personnel management, performance management, legal and regulatory constraints, ethics and accountability. Students will become knowledgeable about the roles and functions of public agencies and will acquire a grasp of current issues and controversies concerning public bureaucracies and public policy. 

There are limited slots available for this course which is held on Tuesdays beginning September 2, 2008 from 6:15 – 9:35 PM at the Murphy Institute 25 West 23^rd Street, 19^th floor.  The tuition for this course is $680.  Upon successful completion of the course, MEA will reimburse selected members in the amount of $340 or half the cost. 

The Advanced Certificate in Public Administration and Public Policy, Level 1 will provide students with a deeper understanding of such topics as public management, the administrative decision-making process, diversity, training and staff development, and union-management relations. To earn the Certificate, eligible members must hold a bachelor’s degree and complete four out of five courses, for a total of twelve credits. 

The initial course in this series is Public Administration  (3 Credits).  This course will examine critical issues confronting government and public administration. Readings and discussions will cover a broad range of topics and will include comparisons of public and private bureaucracies as well as proposals for “reinventing” government. Students will analyze theoretical questions of public administration and will address the real-world experience of public sector employees, both managers and staff. Students will evaluate academic literature on current and future trends in public-sector labor relations, including material on performance management and the Government Performance Results Act as well as “post-bureaucratic” models of the public-sector workplace. In this process, students will examine such key managerial issues as evaluation of employee performance, motivation of employees, organizational justice, diversity management, training and staff-development, union-management relations, and collective bargaining. The course will conclude with a participatory workshop on managing in the public sector, in which students will draw on both their practical experience and the scholarly literature discussed in the course 

There are limited slots available for this course which is held on Wednesdays beginning August 27, 2008 from 6:15 – 8:45 PM at the Murphy Institute 25 West 23^rd Street, 19^th floor.  The tuition for this course is $810.  Upon successful completion of the course, MEA will reimburse the member in the amount of $405 or half the cost. 

Interested members should contact Sadie Culler at the MEA Office, 212-964-0035 for further information and application forms.   Ms. Culler must receive applications by the close of business Wednesday August 13, 2008.

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*** FLASH *** FLASH *** FLASH ***

In April 2008, MEA members were asked to submit demographic information so that supplemental insurance benefits could be explored on their behalf. We are appreciative of the more than 500 members who complied with our written request. For those members who have yet to respond, we ask that you complete the tear-off sheet with your name, address, including zip code and county of residence; date of birth and status whether actively employed or retired. This information is urgently needed in order to allow us to move forward with this newly proposed benefit.

For your convenience, we have included the original form in Adobe Acrobat format so you can print and return to us.
Insurance Benefits Form

Also for your convenience, we have included an email link in which to submit this information electronically. Please include the above demographic information in the email and send it off to sspruell@nycmea.org

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Pension Benefit Expanded!

In response to many requests from MEA members for increasing the number of pension counseling sessions offered as an MEA benefit, you may now request and additional session. Retirement planning should begin as early as possible. We anticipate that this benefit expansion will allow our members to schedule their initial appointments approximately five years prior to their estimated date of retirement. Just call the MEA office and mention you need an additional meeting with our Pension Consultant.

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Early-Retirement Bill Shelved by Assembly

Unfortunately, the bill that would have allowed civilian city employees to retroactively participate in the 55/25 early-retirement program was shelved last week.  Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver sated that new cost estimates would be required before the bill could be re-submitted.  The MEA will continue to monitor this bill and is wholeheartedly supporting a re-submission.

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GHI/HIP Merger 

The MEA Retirees Chapter and our Executive Board has passed the following resolution opposing the proposed HIP/GHI conversion to for profit status.  

“Whereas the New York City Managerial Employees Association desires to protect the health benefits of New York City managers and their families from benefit erosion and loss of affordability and; 

            Whereas the Health Insurance Plan (HIP) and Group Health Insurance (GHI) have proposed to be converted from Non-profit to for Profit status and; 

            Whereas in excess of 90% of our active and retired members receive their health insurance benefits through HIP and GHI and; 

            Whereas all of the available information reported to date strongly suggests that the approval of such status change could significantly increase the costs to our members, municipality, and its taxpayers without any major improvements to coverage and reimbursement schedules: