June 5, 2025 — PEF leaders from across Region 8 gathered in Cooperstown May 2 to 4 for a series of important workshops, ranging from the roles of stewards, organizing, contract articles, health and safety, and more. 

RELATED: R8 leaders talk parking lot safety at conference 

At the welcome dinner, PEF President Wayne Spence welcomed a guest speaker from the New York State AFL-CIO. Joe Canovas works as an assistant to NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento and holds the title of special counsel. He talked to the 90 attendees at the conference about federal funding cuts, the importance of organizing to fight for our rights, and the power of solidarity. 

“We have 2.5 million members and 3,000 unions and they’re bound together by solidarity, common interest, and because we can speak with one voice on so many issues,” Canovas said. “Thanks to our leadership and you all, we’re able to amplify our power. A lot of our members don’t understand that there are some state agencies that receive a significant portion of their funding from the federal government.  

“We’ve already seen rollbacks of civil rights, collective bargaining rights,” he said. “We’ve seen cuts to infrastructure, transportation, health care, mental health, education, food stamps, and that’s only to name a few. So, what we’ve been doing is organizing and educating members. Raising the profile of these issues with the public and the press here in New York.” 

Canovas also dipped into discussions about Workers’ Compensation, capital investments, clean energy, and other legislative initiatives. 

“The word unprecedented is used, I think, too much, but I’m going to use it now,” he concluded. “The challenges that we face now are truly, genuinely unprecedented, at least in any of our lifetimes. But by sticking together, supporting each other, fighting for each other, we’re going to make progress here together.”’ 

After the conference concluded, Region 8 Coordinator Danielle Bridger summed it up based on feedback she received from attendees. 

“Everyone was grateful for the knowledge that various PEF leaders and staff shared with members,” she said. “The focus of the conference this time around was giving member leaders the tools they need to best advocate for their members.” 

Download the new PEF App for the latest union news and resources on the go!