![\"Eboard](\"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Eboard-Header.jpg\")
\n![\"Executive](\"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/02\/PEF_EBoard-Simple.jpg\")
April 2, 2026 —<\/em> PEF\u2019s Executive Board held its first meeting of the year on March 26 and 27 in Albany. The 122 members of the board approved a budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, discussed the conclusion of the 2023-2026 collective bargaining agreement, as well as ongoing negotiations, and focused on the strength of the union as New York heads into a potentially decisive election year.<\/p>\nNew board members sworn-in<\/strong><\/p>\n PEF President Wayne Spence led the swearing-in of seven new executive board members who were elected by their co-workers to represent them: \u00a0Scott Avidon (Workers\u2019 Compensation Board), Matthew Balling (DOT), Marie Denis (OMH), Margaret Dobbins (DOH), David Downing (DOCCS), David Mosier (DOCCS) and Reissa Sookraj (ITS). They will all serve three-year terms on the board.<\/p>\n New Fiscal Year, new budget<\/strong><\/p>\n With PEF\u2019s fiscal year commencing on April 1, PEF Secretary-Treasurer Joe Donahue presented a balanced budget to the executive board. The budget funds the union from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. It shows an increase in membership dues income of about $2 million as new members continue to join PEF.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce again, the strength of our union is shown through our budget. As membership grows, with the help of PEF\u2019s Organizing Department, the union continues to be well-funded thanks to dues income,\u201d said Donahue.<\/p>\n There were some necessary increases in spending cited by the Secretary-Treasurer, particularly around computing costs. The security of member data is the top priority for PEF\u2019s Membership Information Systems (MIS) department. Additional costs were approved of about $200,000 for MIS to update the union\u2019s technology and keep all systems secure.<\/p>\n The budget also included funds for new positions to grow PEF\u2019s support staff, including a Health Benefits Specialist in Western New York, a Director of Human Resources, a backup receptionist and office assistant and an executive assistant to the President.<\/p>\n The board voted to amend the budget to increase the amount of funds provided to PEF Regions to train stewards. Steward training is typically completed after work hours or on the weekends, but board members argued that setting aside some funds for training using EOL (Employee on Leave) time would help members maintain a better work-life balance.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve heard a lot from current and past stewards that not having the ability to use time for training and cutting into their free time is tough on them,\u201d said Region 8 Coordinator Danielle Bridger. \u201cI think if we do what we can to ensure that there is some funding so that people can do their training without using their time, we would have more stewards and a stronger union.\u201d<\/p>\n The executive board approved an allocation of $375,000 for all regions to use to help provide EOL for steward training.<\/p>\n New Divisions created<\/strong><\/p>\n PEF Divisions Committee Chair Gwendolyn Culpepper presented the Executive Board with two proposals for new divisions. Thirty-three (33) members at the Finger Lakes Region NYS Parks and Historic Sites signed a petition to join PEF and create Division 416. Meanwhile, in Queens, the NYS Veterans\u2019 Home at St. Albans proposed splitting from the current Division 199, to form Division 417. Both proposed divisions were approved by the board.<\/p>\n PEF\u2019s Statewide and Regional Political Action Committees brought\u00a0endorsement recommendations to the Executive Board ahead of the primary elections in June. The board was given a chance to review\u00a0candidates\u00a0seeking election or re-election following the vetting process conducted by the committees.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWe have legislators that we agree with 80% of the time, but we may have two issues we don\u2019t agree\u00a0with,\u00a0so we try to work through the issues and not throw the baby out with the bathwater,\u201d said PEF Vice President and Statewide Political Action Committee Chair Randi DiAntonio.\u00a0\u201cWe try to make a strategic decision. This is not about anyone\u2019s personal ideologies. This is about\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0good for the union.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The board voted to endorse Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Attorney General Letitia James in their reelection campaigns, as well as a handful of State Senators and Assemblymembers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n RELATED: DiNapoli, James earn PEF endorsement<\/a><\/p>\n Lakeview and DOCCS update<\/strong><\/p>\n On February 23, a PEF member who works as a rehabilitation counselor at Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility in Brocton, N.Y., was violently assaulted by an incarcerated individual. She was doing classroom work with unrestrained students in a locked room. A correction officer stood guard outside but is not allowed\u2014per protocol\u2014to enter in the event of an emergency without backup. The officer assigned that day, Officer Samuel Murdoch, upon noticing the attack, entered the room to de-escalate and prevent further harm. PEF Health and Safety is providing ongoing support to the counselor, who is recovering. She wrote an open letter<\/a> to her assailant and DOCCS management as she navigates the traumatic situation.<\/p>\n President Spence presented NYSCOPBA President Chris Summers with a plaque to share with Officer Murdoch for his bravery and quick action that likely saved the PEF member\u2019s life.<\/p>\n \u201cOfficer Murdoch\u2019s courage and sense of duty while serving New Yorkers serves as a beacon of hope and pride for us all,\u201d reads the plaque.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Since the attack, PEF has filed a complaint with the Department of Labor’s Public Employee Safety & Health (PESH) branch and done a walkthrough of the facility. Following the walkthrough, at PEF’s request, DOCCS provided 50 Personal Alarm Systems for staff, but more are needed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cKudos to the council leader at Lakeview for responding quickly, getting detailed and real time information to Vice President Williams and mobilizing all of us so we could organize our efforts and get there as fast as we could,\u201d said Vice President DiAntonio.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Programming at Lakeview was suspended following the incident, but was recently restarted with some protocol changes that PEF insisted upon. No longer will one staff member be in a room alone with an incarcerated individual(s). There must be at least two staff members in every room when programming is delivered. In addition, room doors will remain open and not locked so correction officers can more quickly respond in the event of an emergency. As a result of PEF’s advocacy, Lakeview is also now looking at using physical barriers, restraints, and other measures to keep staff and incarcerated individuals safe.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe DOCCS is in crisis. Everything we asked for prior to her being assaulted, they implemented after she was assaulted,\u201d said President Spence. \u201cThat tells me it\u2019s literally going to take our potential death for them to recognize change. And that shouldn\u2019t be.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n PEF will be hosting a meeting of union leaders from DOCCS facilities in June and then the traditional Labor Management conference in September, both with the goal of lifting up concerns at facilities as well as giving facilities with no council leaders or stewards \u00a0a chance to be heard and build leadership within the union.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The next PEF Convention will be held in Nagara Falls October 18-21, 2026. PEF staff from Communications, MIS, Facilities and Special Events conducted a comprehensive site visit to the Niagara Falls Convention Center on March 19 and 20. The site offers a walkable downtown area, plenty of space for breakout rooms, a large vendor area, and access to 12 hotels.<\/p>\n While many delegates reported enjoying the 2025 Convention in Lake Placid, some remarked that the amenities and hotels were spread out around town which limited accessibility. The convention committee hopes that denser yet spacious Niagara Falls will alleviate those issues.<\/p>\n The board agreed to discuss options for Convention 2027 and 2028 at their June meeting.<\/p>\n![\"Endorsed](\"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Endorsed.jpg\")
Endorsements approved by the board<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"PEF](\"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Convention-Logo.jpg\"){kind=logo}
Convention 2026 and beyond<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"COPE\"](\"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/COPE.jpeg\")
COPE \u2013 the Committee on Political Education run by PEF\u2019s international parent unions AFT and SEIU \u2013 continues to be an important part of PEF\u2019s lobbying efforts. Only COPE funds can be used for federal lobbying. The law prohibits unions from using member dues for that purpose. COPE Coordinator Don Morgenstern reported that COPE contributions have increased more than 30% for both members and retirees so far in 2026.<\/p>\n