July 13, 2021 — New York State Police sought the assistance of PEF Parole Officer Karen Hoth during a tense hostage standoff June 8, 2021, after one of her parolees led them on a high-speed chase, caused a fiery crash, and took off into the nearby woods with a hostage. “It was very, very intense,” said Hoth,...
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July 7, 2021 — To assist PEF leaders developing telecommuting agreements with their agencies by July 31, the Field Services department released a Telecommuting Toolkit and a Template Agreement outlining the improvements to telecommuting provisions in the tentative PS&T agreement, and highlighting the timeline and requirements for developing these agreements. Field staff are assisting...
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July 2, 2021 — PEF’s statewide labor-management and health and safety committees must move very quickly to influence return-to-work and future telecommuting policies before a July 31 deadline. That was the urgent message they received at an all-day Zoom meeting on June 25 with PEF leaders and staff. “We have a lot of labor-management work...
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July 13, 2021 — With the state of emergency lifted, the governor hopes to reach pre-pandemic capacity in state workplaces by Labor Day. With return to work looming or already happening, what do you need to know to keep yourself safe, or to navigate mixed signals on telecommuting at your agency? Health and Safety Keeping everyone...
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July 13, 2021 — The PEF Executive Board had a full agenda June 30 and July 1, selecting a 2021 Convention location, voting on policy proposals and member items and hearing from New York City mayoral candidate Eric Adams. Convention location As COVID restrictions are lifted, PEF is looking to hold this year’s annual Convention in person,...
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July 13, 2021 — Have you received your orange contract ballot in the mail? When it arrives, please open it, vote and return it to the American Arbitration Association (AAA) quickly to be sure your voice is heard. Remember, nothing in the contract can take effect unless it is ratified when votes are counted July 27 by...
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July 13, 2021 — This summer double issue of The Communicator arrives in the middle of your contract ratification vote. Ballots are out and must be received by our election administrator, the American Arbitration Association (AAA), by July 26 at 5 p.m. If you have not received your orange ballot, please contact AAA...
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The Triennial Election Committee has certified a list of candidates. You can view the list here of candidates seated automatically as the only certified nominees, along with vacant Executive Board seats for which no nominees were certified. Nominees to fill vacancies will be sought when special elections resume in the third quarter. There are...
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July 13, 2021 — If you were exposed to COVID-19 at work, file a workers’ compensation claim, even if you think the deadline for filing such a claim has passed. Get busy, collect your documentation and file your claim now. That was the advice two top workers’ comp attorneys gave members at a special health...
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On June 18, the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) released two documents. The first, “Revised Guidance for State Agencies/Authorities on Return to Work,” provides instructions on what state employees must do as they return to their worksites. The second, “Memorandum to State Agencies/Authorities on In-Person Presence and Telecommuting,” summarizes the...
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