April 14, 2025 — Hundreds of PEF members and retirees pitched names for the 20-foot-tall inflatable bull PEF plans to deploy at worksites across New York state in its campaign to stop bullying and workplace violence.
The winning name, voted on by the PEF Executive Council, is S.T.O.M.P., which stands for Stop Treating Our Members Poorly, submitted by retiree Barb Rock.
Rock retired from Buffalo Psychiatric Center in 2015 after serving as a council leader, Executive Board representative, and labor/management chair for the Office of Mental Health (OMH).
“We had one of the most horrendous cases of violence,” she said, recalling the murder of Judith “Judi” Scanlon, a PEF member and healthcare professional from Buffalo, who was killed by a patient while conducting a home visit two days before Thanksgiving in 1998.
Rock helped organize the golf tournament in Scanlon’s memory.
“I have always been very aware of workplace violence. This has always been an issue for OMH. Recently things have gotten even worse in correctional facilities and with the stabbing at Buffalo Psychiatric Center,” she said.
While brainstorming the name, Rock said she felt inspired to incorporate “members” into it.
“Stop treating our members poorly; stop bullying our people,” she said. “Management likes to turn a blind eye.”
That will be much harder to do now.
“Just like Scabby the Rat makes an impact wherever he appears, state agencies won’t be able to sweep things under the rug when S.T.O.M.P. stands tall outside their doors,” said President Wayne Spence. “We know bullying and workplace violence is running rampant in this state and now the public will know, too. When communities join us in solidarity, we can’t be ignored.”
Creativity was the name of the game, with suggestions ranging from plays on the word bull, like Bullseye, Noble “No Bull” the Bull, and Respect A. Bull to Crimson Defender, BULL-E The Respect Regulator, and Zero, as in ZERO tolerance.
For her winning name, Rock won a $250 PEF Membership Benefits Program gift card.
You still have a chance to win a prize – following on the heels of the name game, the union is soliciting stories from members explaining why S.T.O.M.P. should come to your worksite first. Find the details on Facebook, X, Bluesky, or Instagram, and email us your story at Comms@pef.org.