July 18, 2025 — Following the retirement of longtime Region 1 Coordinator Michele Iorfida, PEF members in Western New York Region have elected a successor.
Vincent Cicatello is a Registered Nurse at Buffalo Psychiatric Center. He is also a PEF member of nearly 20 years, the Division 180 council leader, an executive board member, a convention delegate, co-chair of the Statewide Nurses Committee, a member of the Statewide Contract team, the PEF OMH Labor Management Committee’s Assistant Chair, and now: Region 1 Coordinator.
Cicatello said he had a few opportunities to run for the top Region 1 post in the past, but was never quite ready to make the jump. Now, with the support of co-workers, friends, and family, he is ready to serve.
“I have a lot more experience now after being involved with PEF since 2006,” said Cicatello. “I’m ready and I am excited.”
Cicatello comes from a union family. Members of his family have worked in factories and on infrastructure construction across New York State.
“My grandma and her brother were both workers for General Motors,” said Cicatello. “My great grandfather worked on bridges across the state and was an operating engineer for Local 17. My mother worked for the Communications Workers of America at St. Joe’s Hospital and my brother is a member of ASCFME.”
He also has the unique honor of working with his daughter at Buffalo Psychiatric Center. She is a a member of CSEA.
Ciciatello said he believes in the good unions can do not only for himself, but for everyone in the country who calls themselves working class.
“Unions uplift the working class. Unions fight for better working conditions, better wages and better protections,” said Cicatello. “Private sector employers often use union initiatives to set their standards for jobs.”
Cicatello also said that he understands that there are big issues facing unions now more than ever. For PEF, Cicatello believes that fixing Tier 6 will attract more professionals to public service.
“Until Tier 6 is fixed we will always have challenges. We have to make Tiers 5 and 6 comparable to Tier 4,” he said. “I know of newer employees coming into state service who do not have it as well as some folks in Tier 4. We need to encourage those new employees and young members to get involved. Right now, Tier 4 people are fighting for Tier 6. It’s good that they trust us to keep up the fight, but we need young leaders to get out there.”
Cicatello mentioned some of his other goals as a regional coordinator.
“I want to reinvigorate the Political Action Committee (PAC) in this region, as well as restart the Political Action Liaison (PAL) program,” he said. “Both programs really give members a chance to speak with legislators about issues. I also want to restart the women’s committee and make sure that women leaders in the area have a chance to talk about their concerns and what they need in the workplace.”
Cicatello also hopes to grow PEF’s presence at the Labor Day Parade in Buffalo. He said that once upon a time, the region boasted about 100 PEF members walking in the parade every year. Now, that number is down to about 15 members.
“This is the ultimate way to celebrate labor,” said Cicatello.
Members in Region 1 are concerned with health and safety, according to Cicatello. They feel that they cannot go to supervisors when issues arise due to fear of bullying or retaliation. However, he feels that PEF, especially in the Western New York region, has been good about showing up and making sure members know they have the union’s support.
“President Spence and (PEF Director) Geraldine Stella in Health and Safety have been really instrumental in making sure the members in Buffalo are well supported by the union,” said Cicatello. “In Buffalo, we had the horrendous stabbing incident at Buffalo Psychiatric in April 2024. With PEF’s help, the Erie County District Attorney has been working with us to make sure things are better at the facility.”
Cicatello is ready for the challenges to come and aims to build a Region 1 that members in the area will be proud of and that reflects the momentum he knows is already there.
“I am ready to go, I am not going to let anyone down,” Cicatello said. “I want people to contact me, I want them to know I am, and that I am ready to serve in this position.”
Members wishing to speak to Cicatello should call the Region 1 office at (716) 853-3100 or email him directly at Vincent.Cicatello@pef.org.