{"id":9602,"date":"2026-09-10T13:32:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T17:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/?p=9602"},"modified":"2026-09-10T14:46:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T18:46:39","slug":"pef-rally-calls-out-bullying-at-department-of-financial-services-in-nyc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/issue\/volume-44-no-7\/pef-rally-calls-out-bullying-at-department-of-financial-services-in-nyc\/","title":{"rendered":"PEF rally calls out bullying at Department of Financial Services in NYC"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PEFSeptember 10, 2026 — <\/em><\/span>S.T.O.M.P. the bull made his union debut September 8 outside the Department of Financial Services (DFS) in New York City, where PEF members and staff have experienced bullying management tactics, intimidation, and retaliation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The 20-foot inflatable bull was blown up on the sidewalk outside 1 State Street in Lower Manhattan, where more than 100 PEF members work as investigators and other titles at DFS, the State agency in charge of regulating financial institutions in New York. Modeled after organized labor\u2019s famous \u201cScabby the Rat\u201d that pops up on city streets where non-unionized labor is employed, S.T.O.M.P. stands for \u201cStop Treating Our Members Poorly\u201d and is a symbol PEF plans to deploy statewide to call out bullying managers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat bull over there, if you only knew what it took to get it in that location!\u201d said PEF President Wayne Spence, referring to the arduous process required to erect a two-story inflatable on a New York City street. \u201cNo one wanted that bull to be out there.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are here for a very simple reason,\u201d said Vice President Darlene Williams at the start of the rally. \u201cEvery worker deserves dignity. Every worker deserves respect. And every worker deserves to go home without fear.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About 100 PEF leaders, members and staff were joined by elected officials and members from other unions (NYSNA, CWA) in a show of solidarity at the rally. Speakers included Coalition of Black Trade Unionists President Terrence Melvin, NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento, Chair of the State Senate Banking Committee James Sanders, Jr., incoming State Senator Grace Lee, Assemblymembers Brian Romero and Charles Fall, and City Councilman Yusef Salaam.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have one very simple message for all of my PEF family here today,\u201d NYS AFL-CIO President Cilento told the crowd. \u201cOne message: You are not alone in this fight. Your 2.5 million brothers and sisters and family members of the New York State AFL-CIO of the entire labor movement are here with you!\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A PEF field representative and member of PEF’s staff union, United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9265, experienced firsthand the bullying behaviors and toxic environment at DFS, raised the red flag, and filed a complaint. USW members joined with PEF to call out the agency.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo worker should have to come to work fearing bullying, intimidation, harassment or retaliation,\u201d said USW Local 9265 Steward Jessica Carpenter. \u201cAnd let\u2019s be clear: our members are experiencing that same toxic behavior. USW staff walk into DFS to represent PEF members\u2014and they deserve the same respect and dignity we demand for the members they represent. We will not accept bullying or intimidation as a substitute for leadership\u2014not against PEF members, and not against our union members. Today, we put aside our differences and stand together. We stand for respect. We stand for dignity. We stand for the right of every worker to have a voice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Next up at the podium was Noel Acey, who works as a training specialist at DFS and who has worked for various agencies during her 28-year state career. Right before the pandemic, Acey experienced mistreatment at DFS and made a complaint. As a result, she was constantly retaliated against, and it only got worse after she suffered a health condition.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI come before you as a survivor, not a victim,\u201d she said. \u201cI am so glad that this is happening. And do you know why? Because I wrote. I wrote to everyone I could think of. (Vice President) Darlene (Williams), President Spence, our coordinators, our field reps, our internal representation, the Governor, (NYS Attorney General) Tish James, everybody and anybody who would listen to me. We are professionals! Get your pen out, your paper, your email and write. Someone will listen to you.”<\/span><\/p>\n

President Spence closed out the rally by asking the State Legislature and the Governor\u2019s office to review the work of the <\/span>Anti-Discrimination Investigations Division (ADID) \u2013 a unit that operates within the Office of Employee Relations (OER) and is charged with investigating employment discrimination complaints at state agencies<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is as if you\u2019re asking the fox to watch the hens,\u201d said Spence. \u201cIt has never worked and it will never work!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Spence then talked directly to State workers who feel they\u2019ve been discriminated against or otherwise bullied on the job.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNobody can give anybody courage,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s a point when you have to say enough is enough. If you\u2019re being bullied, there\u2019s a good chance someone else is being bullied, too. You are part of a union. You are not by yourself. Do not allow bullying, hostile, toxic work to make your life miserable. You do not deserve to be abused at work. You have a union and we are union strong!\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n