{"id":8209,"date":"2025-12-09T15:23:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T20:23:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/?p=8209"},"modified":"2025-12-15T13:24:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T18:24:56","slug":"2025-in-one-word-solidarity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/issue\/volume-43-no-11\/2025-in-one-word-solidarity\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 in one word? Solidarity!\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

What a year\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0been for your union! From the wildcat strike at DOCCS, to speaking out against federal budget cuts, to saving SUNY Downstate, PEF truly did it in 2025. Together with our parent unions AFT and SEIU, we showed New York what it means to stand up and advocate for workers. Thank you for the solidarity and support you showed me and all your union siblings this past year.\u00a0We\u2019ve\u00a0pulled together\u00a0<\/span>highlights from each month of 2025<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>in this issue.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last week, the\u00a0<\/span>PEF Executive Board\u00a0<\/span><\/a>met for its final quarterly meeting<\/a> of the year in Albany, receiving updates from the Secretary-Treasurer about union finances, PEF Organizing about the remarkable growth we enjoyed\u00a0in 2025\u00a0(55,000+ dues-paying members, and climbing!), and the PEF Legislative Department about the State and Federal budget outlook.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The board also discussed the 2025 PEF Convention, after watching\u00a0<\/span>this video that summarized it so beautifully<\/span><\/a>. I heard from many delegates how much they enjoyed their time in Lake Placid. The Convention Committee is already planning\u00a0for\u00a02026, so mark your calendars for Oct. 18-21 in Niagara Falls! Nothing says Union Strong like more (and new!)\u00a0delegates year after year.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Also in this issue, we celebrate a\u00a0<\/span>$545,000 settlement<\/span><\/a> for former PEF member Deidre Manns, who worked with the consultant assigned to PEF\u2019s Joint Affirmative Action Advisory Committee, Eric Josey, to obtain legal representation for her discrimination claims again the Department of Financial Services.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0proof of SEIU\u2019s slogan that \u201cwhen we fight, we win!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, every year ends with some goodbyes and the promise of new beginnings.\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0personally like to thank PEF Executive Director Todd Kerner and Health & Safety Director Geraldine Stella for their decades of service to all PEF members. Both are retiring in early 2026 and their guidance and professionalism will be deeply missed.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The work of the union goes on, however, and I encourage all members to keep an eye on\u00a0our\u00a0<\/span>Careers Page<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to see if jobs at PEF\u00a0are a good fit for you or someone\u00a0you know.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever your traditions, I\u00a0wish you and your families a restful and peaceful\u00a0holiday season,\u00a0and look forward to\u00a0welcoming\u00a0in the New Year, which will mark the start of my 12<\/span>th<\/span>\u00a0year as\u00a0PEF president. Thank you again for trusting me to lead this remarkable union.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Unity,<\/span><\/p>\n

Wayne Spence
\nPEF President<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What a year\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0been for your union! From the wildcat strike at DOCCS, to speaking out against federal budget cuts, to saving SUNY Downstate, PEF truly did it in 2025. Together…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"division":[],"allowed_regions":[],"allowed_divisions":[],"class_list":["post-8209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","issue-volume-43-no-11"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n2025 in one word? 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