September 25, 2024 — By embodying this year’s theme, “Moving Together,” the union is growing, unified, and stronger than ever, said President Wayne Spence in his historic tenth State of the Union address at the 46th annual PEF Convention in Syracuse on Sept. 16, 2024.
“I thank each and every one of you for granting me another opportunity to serve as your president,” he said. “It’s an honor I don’t take lightly. While my most important job in life is being a husband and father, serving as president of this incredible union is the next thing that is most important. This marks the tenth time I’ve had the privilege to address you, and I am honored and humbled to be the first president to do so.”
President Spence looked back at the union’s successes since his first term in 2015, highlighting contractual gains, membership growth, legislative wins, and the importance of continued solidarity, and renewed his commitment to pursuing workplace safety initiatives, anti-bullying campaigns, criminal justice reform, and more.
Growing the ranks
“Our union is stronger now than ever before, not only because of the leadership at the top but because of the collective efforts of every single one of you,” President Spence said. “Today, we proudly count almost 56,000 dues-paying members, up from 51,000 in 2022. After the challenges of COVID in 2021, when we saw our numbers dip, we have rebounded and grown stronger. This growth speaks to the resilience, unity, and commitment of each of you.”
Since January 2024, PEF has welcomed more than 5,000 new members and is on track to surpass its annual goal. The membership growth comes at a time when anti-union forces, such as Opt Out New York, are slamming members with mailing and email campaigns urging them to drop their union.
“Membership growth is not just about numbers,” he said. “It’s about building strength in every corner of the state. This growth is crucial as we continue to push for more significant legislative and contractual victories. Together, we are a force to be reckoned with.”
Contractual gains
President Spence highlighted gains in the last PS&T contract, including the $600, first-of-its-kind Higher Educational Differential for qualified members, the $3,000 signing bonus, and the $400 dental stipend, and shared the significant gains in salary over the last 10 years. A chart showing the salary and compensation growth for a Grade 18 PEF member from 2015 until today noted a 60% increase from just over $52,000 to just under $84,000 in that timeframe.
“These victories are a testament to what we can achieve when we move together in unity,” he said. “Our contract negotiation team worked tirelessly, and it’s thanks to their dedication that we saw many of these benefits realized this past April. That contract was not easy. We were getting ready to have a rally in Albany and we made it known to the Governor.
“The Governor herself called me to get to the finish line because she knew,” he said. “I want you to know, it wasn’t just me, it was the fact that you hear the call when it’s time to turn out. When we fight, we win!”
Legislative victories
Not only did PEF’s fight at the contract table bring results, so did the fight in the halls of the Legislature. The Fund Our Future campaign has been highly successful advocating for PEF members and the New Yorkers they serve.
“We gathered more than 10,000 signatures to advocate for salary upgrades, civil service reforms, and better staffing at mental health facilities,” President Spence said. “This level of activism is proof that our collective voice carries weight, and when we move together, we have created real change.”
Moving together also helped PEF weather the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the union ensuring members had access to critical personal protective equipment, emergency lodging, and telecommuting agreements.
“We didn’t stand idly by,” he said. “We advocated tirelessly for safety. We remained united. That unity has only made us stronger. We went to work when there was no test for a virus that was killing people. I lost family. We lost coworkers who went to work and didn’t come home.
“I want you to understand that we are here; we are not going to let them forget who we are, what we did back then,” he said. “We are strong when we move together. In case nobody has told you lately, I want to say, ‘Thank you.’”
Renewing the call
President Spence urged the more than 500 delegates at Convention to pledge to renew their commitment to the work of the union.
“Our union is not just built on the accomplishments of the past, but on the actions we take every single day moving forward,” he said. “We must not only advocate for our rights, but also for each other. Now, more than ever, we need every delegate, every member, to take an active role in the work ahead. We need to ensure that our union remains a powerful voice for our members in every workplace and every community across the state.”
