• PEF partners with Cornell ILR School to discuss report about the impact of privatization on New York’s mental health workforce

    PEF partners with Cornell ILR School to discuss report about the impact of privatization on New York’s mental health workforce

    February 14, 2025 — President Wayne Spence and Vice President Randi DiAntonio made the case against austerity and privatization of wages and employment of New York’s public mental health workforce...

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  • PEF firing on all cylinders as 2025 gets off to a fast start

    PEF firing on all cylinders as 2025 gets off to a fast start

    This is my 11th year as PEF president, and I can truly say that we’ve never started out a year quite this fast before! Your union is hard at work...

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  • Next round of Higher Education Differential payments in April

    Next round of Higher Education Differential payments in April

    February 14, 2025 — Eligible members will receive their next Higher Education Differential (HED) lump sum payment of $600 in their April 23 (Administration) or May 1 (Institution) paychecks, though...

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  • PEF Division 196 (Roswell Park) awards scholarships to students

    PEF Division 196 (Roswell Park) awards scholarships to students

    February 14, 2025 — Division 196 at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center awarded $500 scholarships to 20 students pursuing higher education. Applicants had to be dependents of active PEF members. ...

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  • Community rallies for positive change and investment at first SUNY Downstate advisory board public hearing

    Community rallies for positive change and investment at first SUNY Downstate advisory board public hearing

    January 29, 2025 — Over the past year, unions, community members and staff at SUNY Downstate have worked to deliver on a promise to keep Downstate open for the people...

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  • Blast from the Past: PEF’s generational impact

    Blast from the Past: PEF’s generational impact

    February 14, 2025 — When I applied to work at PEF in 2023, I admittedly knew very little about the union. While preparing for my job interview, I learned about...

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  • PEF begins setting priorities for 2025 following executive budget release 

    PEF begins setting priorities for 2025 following executive budget release 

    January 30, 2025 — Affordability and safety were the key talking points for New York Governor Kathy Hochul during her January 14 State of the State address.  The governor spoke...

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  • PEF stands with NYS AFL-CIO, NYSUT, CWA and other unions to urge leaders to Share Our Wealth

    PEF stands with NYS AFL-CIO, NYSUT, CWA and other unions to urge leaders to Share Our Wealth

    January 30, 2025 — PEF Vice President Bruce Giddings journeyed to the State Capitol on January 27 to stand in solidarity with other union leaders, faith leaders and community activists...

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  • New Region 5 coordinator, 1 Executive Board seat elected

    New Region 5 coordinator, 1 Executive Board seat elected

    February 14, 2025 — PEF Special Elections held in January 2025 filled the Region 5 coordinator position and one Executive Board seat. Scott Staub, a Disability Analyst 3 at OTDA...

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  • Thousands of members took advantage of trainings provided by the PEF contract in 2024

    Thousands of members took advantage of trainings provided by the PEF contract in 2024

    February 14, 2025 — In 2024, more than 4,900 PEF members took advantage of 283 workshops through the Public Service Workshops Program (PSWP), a statewide professional development program that...

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