More than 700 dedicated PEF members – the largest gathering since before the Covid pandemic – convened in Niagara Falls Oct. 18-21, 2026, to conduct the business of the union.
This issue of the Communicator covers all the significant speeches and events that took place – from my 12th State of the Union address, to debate over PEF’s Federal and State Legislative Agendas, to workshops about workplace assaults and lesser-known Articles of the Contract, to Resolutions that impact PEF’s advocacy and policies, and so much more.
As always, the work was relentless and I thank every Delegate for taking time out of their busy lives to help shape the future of this union. I always leave Convention fired up to advance PEF’s mission, which I have directed every PEF department to keep top of mind in everything they do: “PEF exists to promote and protect the welfare of its members regarding all terms and conditions of employment.”
As I said in my address to delegates, now that our largest professional, scientific, and technical bargaining unit has a five-year contract, the most important thing we will do in the years ahead is enforce that contract. And that’s where every member can play a role. If you see something that is unfair or unsafe at work, tell your steward, or tell your field representative. If you don’t know who to contact, call your regional office. This union exists to represent you and improve your life at work.
Two final notes: First, please make a plan to vote. Early voting is underway now and Election Day is Nov. 3. Vote for candidates who share your union values and will support policies that benefit working families. Second, if you’re like me and don’t always have time to read long articles, you’ll notice a new “Listen” button at the top of every Communicator story. Click it and the story will be read to you. We’ll be exploring other new ways for you to stay informed about union news as 2026 wraps up and 2027 begins.
As always, thank you for being a PEF member and for the work you do for your fellow New Yorkers.