• Remembering PEF President Roger Benson

    Remembering PEF President Roger Benson

    I worked with Roger Benson at PEF from 1986 through his nine years as president. It has been more than 20 years since his leadership, but we remained friends and...

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  • Somos Albany: Building coalitions with union leaders, elected officials, and community advocates

    Somos Albany: Building coalitions with union leaders, elected officials, and community advocates

    May 7, 2026 — Union activists descended on Albany from April 17 to 19 for the Somos New York 2026 Conference, attending legislative workshops, touring expo booths, and taking part...

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  • Scholarship, incentive program for STEM

    Scholarship, incentive program for STEM

    Applications for the 2026–27 NYS Masters in Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship and the NYS Math and Science Teaching Incentive Program are now open, aimed at supporting aspiring educators—especially math and science teachers—who are...

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  • Warnings Ignored: The Crisis Inside New York’s Correctional Facilities

    Warnings Ignored: The Crisis Inside New York’s Correctional Facilities

    April 16, 2026 — Read her letter. Slowly. The way her husband must have read it — the man who ran toward the ambulance with tears in his eyes...

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  • Key PEF-supported bill for body scanners at OCFS now heads to the Governor

    Key PEF-supported bill for body scanners at OCFS now heads to the Governor

    April 16, 2026 — While the deadline for the New York State budget has passed, PEF still has a reason to celebrate. Legislation supported by the union to authorize the...

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  • PEF Telephone Town Hall delivers Contract, Budget updates

    PEF Telephone Town Hall delivers Contract, Budget updates

    April 14, 2026 — The following is a rough timecoded summary of the PEF Telephone Town Hall that was held on April 9, 2026. Members may listen to the entire...

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  • Four seats filled on Executive Board; two go to balloting 

    Four seats filled on Executive Board; two go to balloting 

    May 7, 2026 — Four Executive Board seats were filled during the April 2026 special election.  Tanya Oliver was elected to Seat 50 (DOCCS); Cortney Edwards to Seat 200 (Health...

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  • Article 15 grant program awards up to $50,000 for workforce, labor-management training

    Article 15 grant program awards up to $50,000 for workforce, labor-management training

    April 16, 2026 — Under Article 15 of the PEF/State Agreement, grant money up to $50,000 is available to fund unique Workforce Initiatives (WFI) and Labor-Management Nursing (LMN) training projects...

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  • Telethon raises $1M for children’s hospital, charities 

    Telethon raises $1M for children’s hospital, charities 

    April 16, 2026 — The 64th Annual Variety Kids Telethon on March 21 and 22 raised $1,014,326 to support Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, and other children’s charities.  PEF...

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