New York has 11,200 fewer employees now than it had in 2008.

Understaffing Hurts All New Yorkers!

PEF Members Continue 19-Year Tradition to Help Others During the Holidays

ALBANY - On Saturday, December 10, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., members of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) will be reaching out to share the spirit of the holidays by wrapping gifts for needy families and children.

Union members and their families will wrap gifts and assemble holiday baskets of food at PEF Headquarters, 1168-70 Troy-Schenectady Road in Latham. Some of the gifts and food baskets will be given to children and families of local parolees who are working but financially restricted, and trying to turn their lives around.

The toys were collected from PEF members attending the PEF Region 8 holiday party and will also be donated to the Toys for Tots program and St. Margaret's Children Center in Albany.

"This marks our 19th year of doing something special for children during the holiday season," said PEF Region 8 Coordinator Bill Wurster. "The families of local parolees and the special-needs children at St. Margaret's have always appreciated the generosity of our members. This has become a wonderful and worthwhile tradition. PEF is pleased to make a difference for children, especially at this time of the year."

WHO: New York State Public Employees Federation

WHAT: PEF members wrap gifts to distribute to needy parolee families, and St. Margaret's Children Center in Albany.

WHEN: Saturday December 10, 2011 at 10:00AM Eastern Time (US & Canada)

WHERE: 1168-70 Troy Schenectady Road Latham, New York 12212 NOTES: Gift wrapping photo op

Statement of PEF President Ken Brynien on tax rate reform

Albany - We applaud the Governor’s and Legislature’s effort to address the growing income inequality in New York.  The agreement announced today on tax reform is a step in the right direction but unfortunately falls short in obtaining the goal of a fair tax system.

The agreement would give millionaires the largest tax cut at more than 2 percent while the middle class would get the smallest tax cut at less than half a percent.

Tax rate reform should include tax cuts for the middle class, but we support higher tax rates for New York’s wealthiest as proposed in the “Tax the 1 percent” plan developed by the Fiscal Policy Institute.  This plan would raise the tax rate for the wealthiest New Yorkers and generate between $4.4 billion and $5.1 billion in annual revenue.

We are urging lawmakers to adopt a true tax reform plan that addresses the basic unfairness in our tax system while raising the necessary revenue needed to provide important services including health care, education, environmental, mental health and human services as well as necessary infrastructure improvements.

Call Albany!

Tell Lawmakers - 'Tax Reform' must tax the wealthy!

For more information, see the attached flier.



PEF’s Executive Board Approves Contract for Albany County Probation Officers

ALBANY, NY – The Executive Board of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) approved an agreement for Albany County probation officers at its quarterly meeting Friday, December 2.

The county’s nearly 100 PEF-represented probation officers will hold a ratification vote this month.

Their previous bargaining agreement expired December 31, 2008.

“Our members who work at the Albany County Probation Department have been working without a contract for nearly three years. This agreement meets the needs of our members so they can continue to provide important services to the residents of Albany County,” said Albany region leader Bill Wurster.

The deal for PEF Division 502 members includes a 3 percent raise for 2009 with limited retroactivity, zero raises for 2010 through 2012, and a 2 percent salary increase in 2013. Members will also receive a $1,200 one-time payment, once the contract is ratified. A significant safety issue was resolved with an addition to the contract directing that equipment will be replaced on or before it reaches its expiration date. Probation officers have said in the past, items such as bullet-proof vests and mace would remain in use beyond expiration dates.

“We were glad to see this addition,” Wurster said. “These members risk their lives to keep Albany’s citizens safe by monitoring and enforcing conditions of release for thousands of offenders. This deal, if ratified, will help them do their jobs with proper safety protection.”