January 19, 2024 — PEF President Wayne Spence and department directors updated members on recent news that would impact SUNY Downstate members, the proposed congestion pricing in the New York City area, when to expect payment of contract benefits, PEF’s campaign to end workplace bullying, and the union’s legislative priorities during a telephone town hall...
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February 2, 2024 — Governor Hochul proposed in her executive budget that the legislature give her approval to close up to five New York State correctional facilities with just 90-days’ notice. That would be a drastic change from the current statute, which requires 12-months’ notice. At a rally held at the State Capitol on...
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February 1, 2024 — When Executive Board member Mickey Dobbin from the State Education Department (SED) reached out to PEF with the news that hourly employees at SED had received improperly prorated contract signing bonuses, the union investigated and then filed a class-action grievance with the State Office of Employee Relations (OER). “The grievance has...
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The Legislative Session is in full swing here in Albany, following Governor Hochul’s presentation of her Executive Budget proposal last month. Between now and April 1, lawmakers will hold hearings and gather input from stakeholders like PEF as they shape the governor’s proposal into something that can pass both the State Senate and Assembly. PEF’s...
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January 30, 2024 — Throughout the history of the labor movement in the United States, there are moments when Black workers, fed up with working conditions, lack of benefits and low pay, took steps to not only create new unions, but lead labor in the fight to secure better quality of life for workers. ...
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January 11, 2024 — During her State of the State address on January 9, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul told a joint session of assemblymembers, state senators and other government officials and guests that New York is on the rise. “The state of New York is strong,” Hochul said. “Stronger today than when I...
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Jan. 23, 2024 — Positions in nearly every state agency are in dire need of filling – more than 12,000 in all, according to the governor’s most recent Executive Budget proposal. To help agencies fill positions with a diverse pool of applicants, the Department of Civil Service (DCS) launched the Hiring for Emergency Limited...
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January 11, 2024 — In 2023, PEF contributions to COPE – the Committee on Political Education, a political action fund administered by PEF’s parent unions, SEIU and AFT — increased by 21% over 2022, and the number of contributors rose almost 11% from 2,401 to 2,658. “This is a significant accomplishment,” said PEF President Wayne...
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Brooklyn Eagle links to PEF article on SUNY Downstate The Brooklyn Eagle included a brief on the SUNY Downstate “transformation” plan, including a comment by President Spence and linking to PEF’s full statement on our website. New York Amsterdam News quotes President Spence on Downstate President Spence spoke with the newspaper about the...
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February 1, 2024 — January 23 was Primary Day in New Hampshire, and believe it or not, a PEF member was on the ballet. Raymond Moroz, a chief computer operator at the Office of the State Comptroller and a PEF Executive Board member, is on the Democratic ballot in the state of New Hampshire. “I...
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