December 5, 2023 — During the Executive Board’s final meeting of 2023, the board heard from NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento and conducted other regular business of the union, including review of the independent audit, ratification of the staff contract, and issues PEF will champion in 2024.
Union solidarity
President Cilento praised PEF for its ability to get the word out on issues important to its members – and to union members across the state.
“PEF has always made its voice heard,” he said. “There has never been a time in my 31 years, almost 12 as president, when someone – the governor, the houses of the legislature, the general public – doesn’t know where PEF stands on an issue. You’ve made the most of who you are.”
Cilento said in the coming year, collaboration will be the key to continued successes for union members across New York.
“It’s great to have 2.5 million members, 3,000 unions, 24 percent of the workforce unionized [in New York],” he said. “But those numbers don’t mean anything if you aren’t all working off the same playbook. It doesn’t mean anything unless we work together.”
In conversations with PEF President Wayne Spence, Cilento said NYSUT, CSEA, and PEF, three of the largest unions in the state, are brainstorming ways to usher in fixes for the Tier 6 pension plan and fight back against the misinformation of the Freedom Foundation’s anti-union attacks.
“We are going to get all of our communications departments together,” he said. “We have to have a coordinated message, not only to the governor and the legislators, but also to the public. Myself and the leaders will have conversations with the governor and both houses and we will be able to say the entire labor movement in this state is united and asking for this.”
Cilento also acknowledged the toxic work environments in many state agencies that PEF is actively campaigning against and pledged the NYS AFL-CIO’s support.
“Everything that we do as a labor movement begins and ends right there,” he said. “If we can’t get dignity and respect for our members, we might as well not bother to do anything else. We are setting up a meeting to go in and speak to the governor and explain that the disrespect isn’t just a problem for PEF, it’s a problem for the entire labor movement and the state of New York. The entire labor movement now is in this; you’re not by yourselves anymore.”
Independent auditor’s report
Thomas Gianatasio, of the Bonadio Group, reported a positive audit of PEF’s finances as of March 31, 2022, and March 31, 2023.
“The process went very well,” he said. “We are pleased to report no significant deficiencies or reportable issues. We issued the highest-level assurance. The financial condition of the organization remains strong.”
The full audit report was published in the October issue of the Communicator.
Gianatasio touched on assets, liabilities, and noted the increase in expenses, due to a return to normal practices after the pandemic, and the struggling investment market over the past two years. PEF is weathering those issues well.
“PEF cash has been constant year after year,” said Secretary-Treasurer Joe Donahue. “Our investments are balanced based on risk in the market. I have confidence in our investment team.”
In his quarterly Secretary-Treasurer’s report, Donahue also presented a car rental policy that was developed working with a committee and incorporated members’ concerns. The policy, which was passed by the board, protects the union, while continuing to assist members with their transportation needs.
Secretary-Treasurer Donahue also addressed concerns about PEF expenditures, and welcomed any member who has questions or concerns to reach out to his office.
He praised the Organizing and Field Services departments, as well as member volunteers, for driving up membership, and as a result, dues income.
“Thank you for getting out there and engaging members,” Donahue said.
AI and predictive algorithms
PEF’s parole officers and the communities they serve have seen firsthand the dangers of predictive algorithms, with the Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS) system, introduced in 2012 in New York State.
As President Spence attends conferences and multi-union events, he often discusses the pitfalls of COMPAS.
“We talk about what PEF is doing when it comes to AI and predictive algorithms so that other unions are aware they need to start having conversations and asking their membership about AI,” he said.
Using a grant from the National AFL-CIO, PEF studied the impact of COMPAS on the workplace.
“We saw that in several counties the predictive algorithm was having disastrous outcomes for Black and brown individuals. There was racial bias.”
The union submitted a Freedom of Information Law request to DOCCS, but it was denied. President Spence said the battle for that information would continue as PEF leads the way on pushing for transparency and common-sense regulation surrounding the use of AI in the State workforce.
New members, campaigns
Director of Organizing Dan Carpenter reported the union gained 1,431 new members since the Executive Board meeting in September, bringing the year’s total to 6,820 new members as of November 30, 2023.
“We are on a trajectory to reach 7,000 new members this year,” he said. “That is almost double what we did last year.”
On the organizing campaign front, Carpenter said PEF is making a strong push on toxic workplaces and bullying. He said the union is the leading voice on the issue right now and President Spence said he is now hearing other union leaders talking about workplace toxicity, too. Members interested in sharing a “toxic tale” from their agency can visit www.PEF.org/ToxicTales for more information.
The Organizing Department also has a table set up at Empire State Plaza in Albany to fight back against the anti-union group operating in New York State as Opt Out Today. PEF anticipates the group will ramp up its misinformation campaign with additional mailings during the holiday season. Anyone who has a question about anything they receive that appears questionable or is pretending to represent PEF is urged to contact Organizing Dan Carpenter at Daniel.Carpenter@pef.org.
Staff contract
The Executive Board voted to ratify the 2022-2026 collective bargaining agreement between PEF and its unionized staff, represented by USW Local 9265.
Contract highlights and changes include across-the-board raises of 2% in 2022, and 3% each year from 2023 to 2026; a $3,000 signing bonus; lump sum payments of $600 in 2024 and 2025; and a switch from a fully insured health plan to a PPO plan.
PEF Convention
Following the 2023 PEF Convention in Syracuse, delegates expressed frustration with shuttle service, unclean rooms, and other unsatisfactory conditions at the OnCenter and hotels.
“I was flabbergasted and flustered by how we were treated,” President Spence said. “Dirty bathrooms from Sunday to Wednesday; food that had mold on it; people waiting four hours to get into their rooms.”
Convention Chair and PEF Vice President Darlene Williams reported results to the board following a post-Convention survey of delegates.
“You want a good Convention, good food, you want to be safe, and you need a clean room,” she said. “We did the work of the union, but there were some very real problems.”
The board considered the option of walking away and choosing a new Convention location for 2024, but it would have been costly.
“If we walk, we leave $170,000 on the table and would have to sue the center to recover that money” President Spence said.
After PEF shared survey results with the OnCenter in Syracuse, they offered a credit of $30,000 to $50,000 next year, possibly more. Williams said she will be pushing for the maximum amount possible.
The board voted to return to Syracuse, Sept. 15-18, 2024, for the union’s 46th annual Convention.
The next Executive Board meeting will be held March 14-15, 2024, in Albany.