October 29, 2025 — During his keynote address at PEF Convention on Oct. 20, 2025, Transit Workers Union (TWU) International President John Samuelson delivered a strong reminder that unions must stick to their values and take the fight to management.
“We have demonstrated that growth is possible,” he said. “Workers have a favorable opinion of unions when they fight. TWU’s philosophy is sticking to our core values, taking the fight to the bosses and winning solid contracts. There is great synergy there. We win solid contracts every time we win a fight, workers on the outside see the victories, and they want to join the TWU.
“Our footprint gets bigger, we grow our political strength, and we are able to win more victories,” he said. “The more we win, the more (workers) want to join. It all starts with having the audacity to take on the employers in contract fights.”
In 2026, several large union contracts will expire, including PEF collective bargaining agreements with New York State. Samuelson said unions shouldn’t trust any particular political party and need to remain a unified labor movement.
“At the end of the day, I would say there is no governor, no mayor, that can compel us to sign a contract we don’t want to sign,” he said. “We’re here because we want to take care of our families. Let’s be in lockstep and as long as we’re together, we’re not going to be beaten by Gov. Hochul, Democrats, or Republicans.”
Mario Cilento
On day two, delegates were joined by New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento, a long-time unionist who began his career with the Communication Workers of America (CWA) in 1990.
He thanked PEF members for continuing to give their time and hard work to the union, but also to the labor movement. He also thanked President Wayne Spence for continuing his work as a Vice President of the NYS AFL-CIO.
“Wayne serves on the executive board as a vice president. In that capacity, he has two responsibilities,” Cilento said. “First is to represent the interests of this union and every single one of your members. From the day that he came onto our executive board, he would speak to the issues important to PEF. To this day, he has the full, unmitigated support and respect of every single union leader around that table. And considering we have some of the most powerful labor unions sitting around that table, that means something— when Wayne speaks, everyone listens.”
In his VP role in the federation, President Spence helps chart the legislative and political priorities for 2.5 million NYS AFL-CIO members.
“You have some incredible accomplishments this year, including $1 billion in funding for SUNY Downstate, and your union was able to push legislation twice in four years to Fix Tier 6, and those are great accomplishments,” said Cilento. “But every year I have to go and see the governor to talk about the legislative agenda. And while fixing Tier 6 are priorities for PEF and our public-sector unions, I can also tell the governor that those are the priorities of our building trades and private-sector unions as well.”
Cilento also addressed politics, reminding delegates that union members vote for both Democrats and Republicans, but it is up to union leaders to educate members on the best candidates at every level for working class people. He also reminded delegates that there are attacks on the rights of working people to organize and engage in collective bargaining across the country.
“Imagine if you went back into the office on Monday morning and found that your manager or supervisor was going to rip up your CBA? Forget about wages, benefits and conditions of employment. And they’re going to cut 50% of the workforce right now,” said Cilento. “What would your reaction be?”
Cilento said it is up to leadership to be factual with their memberships. Leaders will need to educate members and hope they make the right choice at the voting booth in order to keep jobs from being lost and unions from being dissolved, regardless of what party is in power.
“No matter who you are or where you’re from, we all share the same needs, the same concerns and the same wants. We share the same values and the same principles and the same ideas,” Cilento said. “We all want to be able to go to work and support ourselves and support our families, we all want to be a part of the economic engine that runs this country and we all want to be productive members of this society.”
Randi Weingarten
AFT President Randi Weingarten also appeared before the delegates via Zoom on day two of Convention. Weingarten was in Washington visiting legislators as the government shutdown continued and was joined briefly by Congressman Timothy Kennedy, who represents New York’s 26th District, encompassing the city of Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
“I wanted to jump on and say thank you so much for your leadership in the workforce,” said Representative Kennedy. “PEF, you are second to none. We are fighting to protect healthcare and to lower costs for working families, and I cannot thank you enough for all that you do for the great people of New York and this nation.”
Weingarten opened her remarks by recognizing the ongoing fight to fix Tier 6 in New York State.
“Your issues are similar to many pension funds across the nation,” said Weingarten. “We need to make sure that the kitchen table issues — decent healthcare, good wages — basically, having the things you need to make sure you can do your job, we need to make sure that there is more fairness on these issues.”
Weingarten said that these issues should be bipartisan. As rising costs for everything from food to health insurance threaten working families, due in part to the government shutdown and federal cuts earlier this year, Weingarten believes that unions will need to fight at every level to make sure government works for them.
“You have to remember that the $1 billion you got to save SUNY Downstate did not come magically,” said Weingarten. “It was the strength and determination of PEF. All of the members of PEF. We have the power and strength to keep going together to deliver those outcomes.”
Delegates were asked to keep an open mind about becoming politically involved wherever they can. Weingarten thanked members who showed up to No Kings rallies across the state in June and again on Oct. 18 and said that when PEF members show up to represent working people, they give working people a voice in government.
“Just as you, as a union, deliver the voice you need at work; you also need a voice in government,” she said. “We use that voice to get better wages, healthcare, housing and so much more. Politicians on both sides are running campaigns on affordability. Our voice is so important right now.”
April Verrett
SEIU President April Verrett, who counts many PEF members among her two million members, built upon the Convention theme “Stronger Roots, Bolder Future” in her address to the delegates.
“We are gathered at a time when your work and courage has never been more needed,” said Verrett. “It is no coincidence that this year’s convention theme is ‘Stronger Roots, Bolder Future,’ because that is what President Wayne Spence has built. That is what all of you are building together, and that is what our movement is being called to live up to right now.”
Verrett’s positive message of solidarity came with a dose of reality: that unions are under assault, that the news can be exhausting, but in the end, she believes that unions will stand strong.
“We are in a time of crisis,” she said. “Every day we wake up to another assault on our rights. But in moments like these, we must remember that chaos is the point. They want to wear us down and thin us out, but we do not come from weakness. This movement for building worker power was built on strength. Our roots are deep and held steady through every storm.”
Verrett reminded delegates that the labor movement has fought to organize in fields and factories for eight-hour workdays, and more recently, showed up for the people of the nation as well as for their union members at the height of a global pandemic. That work, said Verrett, is continuing.
“When systems collapse, it is working people who show up to build something better,” said Verrett. “I see the fire in the room. Healthcare workers are pushing back against being erased by algorithms, you are standing firm against dangerous work assignments that jeopardize your safety, and you’re organizing for equity, fairness and a voice. Not just at the table, you are redesigning the system itself.”
Verrett called on delegates to keep their roots and history in mind when considering where to go next. The future, she said, may look uncertain, but as long as the labor movement remains united, she believes unions will win.
“The enemies of the labor movement are coordinated and moving as one. They are well-funded and playing for keeps,” Verrett said. “We cannot afford division. We cannot waste time tearing each other down. We are building a movement choir, so we have to sing with one voice and sing the same song.”