Your union is hard at work sifting through the 162-page budget book the governor unveiled the first day of this month. The good news? It’s a second consecutive budget with no proposed cuts or closures. And on page 126 it contains a stark admission that PEF has sounded the alarm about for years: “The state workforce is...
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Gov. Kathy Hochul released her FY 2024 Executive Budget on February 1, following on the heels of her State of the State address that outlined an ambitious course for the year. PEF’s Legislative Department completed a preliminary analysis of the budget, drilling down into the governor’s proposals for civil service, health and mental health programs,...
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The PEF Contract Team, led by Contract Chair Darlene Williams with Chief Negotiator Mark Richard and Contract Administration staff, met again with representatives from the state’s Office of Employee Relations on Jan. 10, 2023. PEF made detailed presentations on five proposals related to new and existing articles in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Many of...
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The name Frederick Douglass is well known. But what about Isaac Myers? Douglass and Myers have several things in common. Both were caulkers in the Baltimore shipyards. Both were leaders in their respective movements – Douglass as an abolitionist and Myers as an early leader in the African American labor movement. Organizing on the docks ...
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A PEF research scientist at the Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center received a prestigious honor for her work and research on tuberculosis (TB). Tanya Halse was the 2022 recipient of the Ed Desmond Award from the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association (NTCA), which honors the exemplary service, dedication, or leadership of a tuberculosis laboratory professional. ...
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President Wayne Spence made City & State’s 50 Over 50 list, which honors leaders over the age of 50 who have achieved numerous and lasting accomplishments over decades of service to the community. “It is an honor to be recognized,” Spence said. “I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure fair wages, improved staffing,...
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In 1912, textile workers worked long hours for dismal wages. At the American Woolen Company mill in Lawrence, Mass., more than half the workers were women and girls between the ages of 14 and 18. A Massachusetts law made the situation worse by reducing the number of hours women and children could work from 56...
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PEF Division 332 at the New York State Gaming Commission will award scholarships to eligible full-time students pursuing academic degrees at accredited colleges or universities. Applications for spring 2023 scholarships should be dropped off or postmarked on or before February 28 to: Mike Skelly, P.O. Box 7500, NYS Gaming Commission, 6th floor, One Broadway Center,...
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Welcome to 2023, a new year which brings new challenges and new opportunities. Every year between September and December our retirees receive multiple mailings regarding changes and updates to our NYSHIP. This year we saw a significant increase in our health insurance premiums. Insurance premiums for any retiree member who retired from January 1983 to...
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President Wayne Spence, joined by fellow union leaders and staff, updated members on the status of negotiations for a successor agreement to the PS&T 2019-2023 contract, recent legislative wins, upcoming legislative and advocacy initiatives, and an opt-out campaign targeting PEF members. Just over 8,000 members tuned in for the Telephone Town Hall on January 12. ...
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