July 18, 2025 — In 1996, under Governor George Pataki, PEF members were faced with the threat of layoffs in the wake of federal budget cuts. It happened at the same time the legislature was focused on $150 million in tax cuts for corporations. The plan by Pataki, first proposed in December 1995, would have cut 7,400 jobs.
Former PEF President James Sheedy urged members to call state legislators, especially former New York State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who were then working on a budget deal with the governor.
“At the same time that the legislative leaders are turning their backs on PEF members, they have agreed to $150 million more in tax cuts for giant, profitable corporations and real estate interests,” wrote PEF in a 1996 call to action to members.
The Communicator, June 1996: Members rally, reclaim jobs and services
PEF activists were not deterred by the government’s attempt at “downsizing” and continued to fight back, putting pressure on legislators to stop job and service cuts. The union was able to persuade a state Supreme Court judge to block layoffs at Buffalo Psychiatric Center. PEF also ran ads on the radio and in newspapers opposing cuts at the Department of Environmental Conservation, and then later for all state agencies facing job losses.
Ultimately, though some layoffs were still pushed through by the governor, PEF was able to mobilize members of the union to put an end to most agency cuts and halt a proposal by Governor Pataki to move 600 jobs from New York City to Binghamton.