December 12, 2025 — From historic investments in Brooklyn healthcare, to protecting the safety of members across the state, to lobbying and rallies for PEF budget and legislative priorities, PEF had a busy year in 2025! We’ve rounded up a few of the top stories from each issue of the Communicator to celebrate our successes, big and small.
January 2025
- Community rallies for positive change and investment at first SUNY Downstate advisory board public hearing: Hundreds show up at a rally to support quality healthcare in Brooklyn and surrounding communities.
- PEF releases report on privatization and austerity inthe mental health sector: As part of the ongoing “Fund Our Future” campaign, the union collaborated with researchers from the Worker Institute and Cornell’s ILR School to release a white paper, “Diminishing New York State’s Public Mental Healthcare Sector,” which found that anemic budgets and privatization are costing the State good union jobs, especially among women and African-Americans.
February 2025
- Coalition of unions, clergy and legislators seek transparency and investment for SUNY Downstate: The coalition formed to Save SUNY Downstate comes together in Albany to attend public hearings and lobby at the State Capitol.
- PEF testifies at Civil Service commission meeting: While PEF supports recruitment and retention efforts, the State’s extension of the NY HELPS program prompts the union to go on record with its concerns.
March 2025
- PEF protecting members during correctional facility work stoppages across the state: When news broke of wildcat strikes by corrections officers across the state, PEF rallied to protect members working at correctional facilities impacted by the strikes.
- PEF to legislators: Act now to bolster the state workforce: Vice President Randi DiAntonio participates in a joint legislative hearing to urge lawmakers to Fix Tier 6, build capacity in the Civil Service Department, and strengthen protections against workplace bullying, to name a few union priorities.
- PEF members visit State Capitol for annual Lobby Day: PEF nurses and additional titles flock to Albany to make their voices heard during Lobby Day, giving first-hand testimony on working conditions.
April 2025
- PEF monitoring DOCCS’s decision to grant early parole: In reaction to the wildcat strike, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision granted early parole to some incarcerated individuals and PEF is keeping a close eye on how that impacts parole officers.
- PEF joins thousands of union members for Stop the Cuts march in NYC: Thousands take to the streets of New York City to protest drastic cuts to federal funding for State services, including more than 50 PEF members.
- PEF unveils S.T.O.M.P. inflatable bull as part of Stop Workplace Bullying initiative: The 20-foot-tall bull debuted at the quarterly Executive Board meeting, a striking symbol in the union’s fight against toxic workplaces.
May 2025
- PEF stands strong after assault at Pilgrim Psychiatric Center: When a PEF nurse was brutally attacked at Pilgrim Psychiatric Center in Brentwood, N.Y., it’s all-hands-on-deck to support her and her family.
- PEF asked to share successful tactics for increasing membership with SEIU Public Division Labor Boards: As part of SEIU’s Together We Rise initiative, PEF stands out for its success at signing up new members and shared some of the ways we do it with fellow unions.
- VP Bruce Giddings joins unions, community on May Day to protest federal cuts, support health care workers: On May Day, PEF Vice President Bruce Giddings takes up the microphone at a multi-union rally at Albany Medical Center in support of health care workers.
June 2025
- From field to lab: PEF members play an integral part in studying unique mastodon fossil: Members at the New York State Museum share details of their work on a mastodon find in Orange County, taking PEF inside the lab for a first-hand look.
- Long fight for salary upgrades at Division of Labor Standards ends with a victory: It took time, but PEF members prevailed at the Department of Labor, achieving salary upgrades for several titles.
- PEF testifies on safety, transparency and accountability at DOCCS facilities: President Wayne Spence speaks out for members on the ground at correctional facilities, testifying before a joint legislative hearing panel on assaults on staff and how lack of safety impacts recruitment and retention issues.
July/August 2025
- PEF members at DOCCS and OMH CBOs strategize about path forward at correctional facilities: The union brought together stakeholders from correctional facilities and corrections-based Office of Mental Health staff to talk about what goes on “Behind the Walls” and strategize solutions.
- Compensation study underway by Civil Service; PEF closely monitoring the process: PEF is keeping a close eye on the state’s compensation study and supporting members who wish to initiate salary upgrade proposals (PEF does not directly negotiate salary grades, but created a toolkit for members to learn how to advocate for pay increases).
- President Spence joins Governor to celebrate $1.1 billion investment in SUNY Downstate: PEF is on stage in Brooklyn when Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the historic investment in SUNY Downstate, reflecting the tireless work of a coalition of unions, clergy, and the community.
- PEF scientist secures $9M grant to study human immune response to Lyme disease bacteria with an eye toward treatment: Our members do amazing work on far-reaching issues like Lyme disease and took us into the lab for a look.
September 2025
- PEF members turn out for Labor Day celebrations statewide: A strong showing on Labor Day is a crucial tool in the union toolkit to garner public support and shine a light on important issues.
- Negotiated end to sunsets keeps benefits active even after contract expiration: In the last round of contract negotiations, the Contract Team managed to secure continuation of several benefits beyond contract expiration, eliminating those sunsets.
- Nurse attacked while working at South Beach Psychiatric Center shares his story: Peter Shiffman’s life changed on September 17, 2024, and we spoke to him and shared his story as a reminder of the challenges members face in mental health facilities.
October 2025
- HALT Committee releases recommendations for reform: Our DOCCS leaders play a pivotal role in coming up with proposed amendments to the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act.
- Legacy of former PEF member lives on in history: Long-time PEF member Dorothy E. Reid lived a life that helped shape the future of the United States as part of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case that forced public schools to desegregate.
- PEF brings together labor, management for training on workers’ comp: Protecting members is the cornerstone of unions, which is why PEF created an interactive two-day workers’ compensation training conference for both labor and management personnel.
November 2025
- Civil Service roundtables spotlight recruitment and retention and concerns about NY HELPS: Staff and leaders participated in Civil Service roundtables across the State to spotlight recruitment and retention issues and concerns about the NY HELPS program.
- State of the Union reflects PEF’s Stronger Roots, Bolder Future: PEF shattered recent Convention attendance numbers, as nearly 700 delegates set the union’s course for a busy year ahead. We published a special issue of the Communicator about all things Convention.