September 25, 2024 —
President’s Reception kicks off the week
The President’s Reception is a chance for delegates to take a pause, mingle, and share ideas before assembling on the main Convention floor the next day. It is also a chance to hear words of encouragement and unity from PEF President Wayne Spence and a special guest. In recent years, that special guest has been New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
DiNapoli praised President Spence for being elected to an historic fourth term.
“I have no doubt, and I don’t think any of the delegates in here have any doubt, that you are going to continue to deliver for our public employees in New York State,” he said.
DiNapoli pointed to PEF’s role in continuing to reform the retirement system, specifically Tier 6. This year, Tier 6 saw two major improvements including a change to the Final Average Earnings and the exclusion of Overtime Pay to contribution rates.
“Wayne Spence worked with his colleagues across the board and across New York State and said: We have to be united and we have to be reasonable, that’s how we’re going to get victory,” DiNapoli said. “
The comptroller also praised the delegates and PEF members across the state, for their work during the COVID crisis. He recalled that, even during the worst of times, PEF and President Spence focused on keeping the state working and keeping members safe.
“Wayne, I remember you followed up with me the first couple of days to get personal protective equipment, and you all got the job done,” he said.
The comptroller ended his remarks by answering a question on the minds of a lot of delegates: Is the pension fund doing well?
DiNapoli assured that not only is the fund doing well, but at 93% publicly funded, New York State’s pension system is the best-funded system in the United States.
“We ended our fiscal year with an 11.5 percent positive return, so we had a good year, a strong year,” said DiNapoli.
A Special Invocation
Before the convention formally gaveled in, President Spence invited Bishop Orlando Findlayter to the stage for the Invocation. The bishop was a leading voice in helping PEF, other unions, clergy, and the local community combat efforts by the state to close the SUNY Downstate hospital.
The bishop recalled when he first met PEF, during the first fight for the future of SUNY Downstate 12 years ago.
“We came together then as clergy, unions and community, and we said no to the state 12 years ago and we beat the state and kept SUNY Downstate Medical Center open,” said Findlayter.
When the SUNY Chancellor threatened to close Downstate again this year, PEF and other unions rallied with him and other clergy to say no for a second time, demanding that SUNY Downstate remain a public hospital for the people and not—according to the Chancellor’s plans—an outpatient or Urgent Care center.
“I am here today to let you know, as state workers, that you matter. That we appreciate you. That what you do counts and that your community supports you,” said Findlayter.
“And I am pledging on behalf of the Flatbush Community, the Central Brooklyn Community and the clergy, that we’re going to fight with PEF, we’re going to stand with PEF, we’re going to support PEF.”
Commissioner Hogues conducts Q&A session
The New York State Civil Service Commissioner Timothy Hogues also made an appearance at this year’s convention. He has had a regular dialogue with President Spence since coming on the job two years ago.
“Ever since that day we’ve been meeting on a regular basis,” Hogues said. “And President Spence, he does not mince words. He is not shy about what he stands for, and he stands for the people. So, every time we talk his North Star is: I have to bring this back to my people.”
Hogues said New York State is “moving together” with the people in order to best serve them.
“People are our greatest resource, and so we have to appreciate you, we have to make sure we are listening to you, we have to make sure you we are compensating you properly and thinking about your health and safety,” said Hogues. “We have to make sure we are training you and thinking about your families. You deserve work-life balance.”
Instead of prolonging his speech, the commissioner opted instead to take questions from delegates for the remainder of his time on stage.
Members asked questions about the dental plan, which goes into effect in October, as well as changes to exams that still ask for sensitive information like Social Security numbers, and how the HELPS program is going to be refined.
In response to questions he couldn’t answer on the spot, Commissioner Hogues promised to get back to members with answers.
Final Remarks from Randi Weingarten
On the final day of convention, AFT President Randi Weingarten appeared via Zoom to address the delegates. She took a moment to address that while the world, the country, and the state are facing hard times, PEF members have always had the best interests of the people at their core.
“Your membership is very acutely aware of what is right and what’s wrong in the country and in the state,” said Weingarten. “I watched the PEF membership take great care of my father, and I’ve always been in awe of what you do.”
Weingarten said that while divisions across the nation deepen, especially during this election year, it is important to remember why unions fight.
“I am hopeful that we can actually get the candidates that we support elected, because they believe in the work you do,” said Weingarten. “This election has to be about us and our needs. Whether it’s Social Security and Medicare, whether it’s the servicing and funding of public services, right now what we need to do is make it about us.”
Weingarten pointed to the fight to keep SUNY Downstate open, the fight for retirement reforms, and even contract negotiations, as focuses for keeping the union together and working together. Elections, she said, are just a piece of the puzzle. Regardless of who is in office, keeping the energy together and having hope is the most important thing.
“We in the public service have to fight to make sure that we have communities, that regardless of their ideological differences, they actually can have a conversation with each other,” she said. “They can actually understand that our common unity and common bind is much more important than what divides us. That is our challenge. And if we can do that in PEF, and we have, it means that we can do that across the nation.”