• Contract Tour swing through Western New York focuses on affordability  

    Contract Tour swing through Western New York focuses on affordability  

    May 7, 2026 — From Buffalo to Allegany, April 20-24, members of the PEF Contract Team – led by PEF Vice President and Contract Chair Darlene Williams and Region 1...

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  • Public safety requires rigorous training. So why is ICE cutting back?

    Public safety requires rigorous training. So why is ICE cutting back?

    May 7, 2026 — Editor’s note: PEF is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and this article originally appeared in the AFT Voices blog. I am...

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  • PEF ramps up pressure on statewide pay study 

    PEF ramps up pressure on statewide pay study 

    May 7, 2026 — PEF President Wayne Spence sent an email blast to all members on May 1 with a simple message: Tell New York State to release the comprehensive...

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  • Affordability is an everyday struggle

    Affordability is an everyday struggle

    May 7, 2026 — For people across the country and across New York State, affordability is not a buzzword. It is a constant reminder that wages have not kept up...

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  • PEF members play key role at Division of Human Rights 

    PEF members play key role at Division of Human Rights 

    May 7, 2026 — The New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR) is dedicated to protecting and enforcing the civil and human rights of New Yorkers through New York’s...

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  • SUNY Downstate fight the subject of AFT Health Care Q&A with union leaders

    SUNY Downstate fight the subject of AFT Health Care Q&A with union leaders

    May 7, 2026 — PEF President Wayne Spence and interim Downstate Regional Field Services Director Deb Egel participated in a question-and-answer feature in the AFT Health Care publication’s Spring 2026...

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  • North Country leaders gather for annual conference 

    North Country leaders gather for annual conference 

    May 7, 2026 — Region 6 Coordinator Christopher Dunham and Region 7 Coordinator Barbara Stransky brought leaders from their Regions together the first weekend in May for the annual Leadership...

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  • PEF urges DOCCS to address spike in chemical exposures

    PEF urges DOCCS to address spike in chemical exposures

    May 7, 2026 — Over the years, state employees working inside DOCCS facilities have faced an increase in violent incidents as well as incidents of chemical exposures. Last year, incidents...

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  • Celebrating the dedicated nurses within our union

    Celebrating the dedicated nurses within our union

    May 7, 2026 — For National Nurses Month in May, we spoke to several of the nurses on the PEF Statewide Nurses Committee (SWNC) about why they entered the profession...

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  • New Civil Service testing facility in Capital Region opens in Cohoes 

    New Civil Service testing facility in Capital Region opens in Cohoes 

    PEF Region 8 Coordinator Danielle Bridger, left, joins elected officials and others to cut the ribbon opening the new testing facility on May 6, 2026. May 7, 2026 — The...

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