May 6, 2025 — From Buffalo to Long Island, PEF Regional Coordinators are active members of the New York State labor movement. One of the primary ways they stay connected with their union siblings is via participation in Area Labor Federations (ALF) or Central Labor Councils (CLC). These umbrella organizations bring together workers from all sectors to benefit the communities they represent.
For PEF’s 12 Regional Coordinators, joining an ALF or CLC means they can continue to fight for PEF members while bringing the union’s priorities to the wider community.
Outgoing Region 1 Coordinator Michele Iorfida is a member of the Western New York ALF and Buffalo CLC. While she does not hold any extra roles with those bodies, other Region 1 members, like PEF Executive Board Member Vincent Cicatello and retiree David Chudy, hold seats on the ALF and CLC. Iorfida said that right now the local focus is not too different than the focus around the nation.
“We’re keeping an eye on the federal cuts coming down from the government and how it affects the state workforce,” said Iorfida. “Especially in Chataqua County, where OPWDD has been closing many homes.”
Shelby Wisneski is Region 2’s Coordinator. She is one of two Vice Presidents of the Southern Tier Labor Council, a chapter of the Rochester ALF. The council covers Stueben, Schuyler and Livingston counties. Wisneski said that the council is rebuilding after other labor councils joined the organization and is focused on building a stronger coalition.
“Right now, we are trying to increase communication across the region and increase solidarity across unions,” said Wisneski. “PEF members have been great about getting involved in the labor council’s events, so we’re hoping other unions follow suit.”
Region 3 Coordinator Leisa Abraham holds seats on several councils. She is a delegate for the Rochester CLC, holds a seat on the Executive Board of the Rochester-Genesee Valley Labor Federation and is the President of the Finger Lakes CLC. In those capacities, she brings PEF’s priorities. This month, Abraham is helping organize a Fix Tier 6 rally on May 6 in the Finger Lakes region. The councils are also focused on federal cuts as they continue to happen.
“Our public sector unions rely heavily on federal, state and local government budgets,” said Abraham. “With the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), we are gearing up for various public campaigns and actions to bring in the community to understand what losses they will have in the services they rely on, if these cuts go through.”
Monical Moore is the Region 4 Coordinator. She is an executive board member for the Central New York ALF and the Greater Syracuse Labor Council, where she also serves as the recording secretary. Moore works hard to engage the membership of both the ALF and the CLC.
“Our members are really concerned about the state’s ability to recruit and retain at all of our agencies,” said Moore. “I know that there is also a lot of concern around pay disparities. Many of our members have families to support and it is sometimes hard to do on the amount of money they are paid to provide important services to their communities.”
In Region 5, Scott Staub is the newest Regional Coordinator but has been working in the union movement for a long time. Currently, Staub is a part of the Binghamton Labor Council as a delegate representing PEF. The BLC is focused on increasing wages, job security and securing retirement benefits.
“We have helped build collaborations on issues that are important to PEF members and the labor movement in general,” said Staub. “Uniting diverse communities on common issues has helped us move the needle on several items.”
Chris Dunham is the Regional Coordinator for Region 6. He is excited by the work done across the large Region 6 area, which has several labor federations that overlap with Albany.
“I am currently seeking a seat on the Central New York Labor Council,” said Dunham.
Coordinator Barbara Stransky is well known for being heavily involved in PEF Region 7. As a union advocate, she is a part of the Northeast CLC as a delegate and the Jefferson Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties Central Trades Labor Council as delegate and executive board member. As part of the Northeast CLC, Stransky has organized the legislative breakfast and as part of the JLSL CLC she sits on the newly formed scholarship and engagement committees.
“It is really important for us to focus on Tier 6 reform, and that is what we’re doing at the councils I am a part of,” said Stransky. “We’re also concerned about the federal cuts. Our councils are doing what they can there as well.”
Danielle Bridger is the Region 8 Coordinator and a proud unionist of many years. She is a secretary with the Albany County Central Federation of Labor and a vice president with the Capital District ALF. In addition to working on special events like Albany’s popular Tulip Festival, the Labor Parade and more, she said that much like her fellow Regional Coordinators, her organizations are working on the incoming federal cuts.
“We’re really focused on engaging and educating members on the federal cuts,” said Bridger. “We’re also doing as much as we can to strengthen food bank distribution.”
Gabriela Franklyn is the PEF Region 9 Coordinator. She is a delegate with the Hudson Valley ALF and was recently appointed to the Executive Council of the Westchester-Putnam CLC. She is also a member of the Dutchess, Catskill, Hudson-Catskill and Rockland counties CLC. She has been engaging members since the last presidential election and working hard on what she called Hudson Valley’s common denominator issues.
“We’re working on a ‘Know Your Rights’ campaign and Tier 6 especially,” said Franklyn. “We’re also doing our best to rally and campaign around Social Security, as there have been many closures as of late.”
Tamara Martin and Bernadette O’Connor work together closely as the coordinators for Regions 10 and 11, respectively. That partnership extends to their participation in the NYC CLC. They are both delegates with the council and meet monthly to communicate PEF’s priorities and urge unions to join them in campaigns like the one to save SUNY Downstate.
“While many issues matter to our members, we’ve been focusing on workplace bullying, member safety across facilities, and increasing penalties for assaults on public employees,” said Martin.
In Region 12, Corrine Testa serves as the Regional Coordinator for PEF. She is a part of the Long Island Federation of Labor as a delegate for PEF. Testa said that the federation has been kept up to date on the DOCCS crisis that began in February and its aftermath. She has also rallied support for other PEF priorities. Like her fellow coordinators, Long Island is focused on Tier 6 reform, but most of all, she and other fellow unionists are focused on the lack of pay for workers on the island.
“As an individual who has lived on Long Island my entire life, I am well aware of the high-cost, too-low-pay dilemma that many Long Islanders face. The median home price in Nassau County alone, per the U.S. Census Bureau, was $658,700 from 2019-2023,” said Testa. “In 2025, that number has grown to be more than $820,000! We cannot afford to live in the very communities we serve as public employees.”
All this advocacy by PEF Regional Coordinators helps to strengthen the union movement and create better opportunities and working conditions for New York workers, but as with all things union, they can’t do it alone. If you’re interested in playing a greater role in your PEF region, contact your regional office and get to know your coordinator.