Public Employees Federation (PEF) Legislative Office Responsibilities

Role of the Legislative Office:

-          Assist PEF leadership in the research and development of legislative initiatives. 

-          Monitor legislation and budget initiatives through the State & Federal committee process.

-          Identify legislation/budget initiatives that will advance or endanger PEF members’ working conditions and other interests and working to stop or get approval of such legislation/budget initiatives.

-          Work with legislative leaders, legislators and their staffs to introduce and advance legislation identified as a priority in PEF’s State & Federal legislative agendas.

-          Coordinate PEF’s lobbying efforts at the federal, state, and local levels.

-          Assist local and statewide political action committees in the endorsement and election of candidates that support PEF’s legislative agendas.

Legislative Office Interface with PEF Political Action Activities

Regional and Statewide Political Action Committees (SWPAC)

-          12 Regional and 1 Statewide PACs; members include regional representatives and retiree representatives at each level.

-          Regional PACs are composed of regional members; Statewide PAC members are the Regional Coordinators and/or their designees.  Most PACs have a co-chair.

-          PAC polices are approved by the PEF Executive Board (E Bd) and resolutions adopted by the PEF Convention Delegates.

Legislative Agenda Adoption Process

The Federal and State Legislative Agendas are developed collaboratively through PEF Statewide Leadership, the Regional and Statewide PACs,  and PEF Convention Delegates, who give final approval to these agendas.

PEF Endorsement Process

Regional PACs interview and endorse candidates.  Slates sent to SWPAC.  Once approved, slate submitted to Executive Board, which includes PEF leadership, for review and final approval.

In 2012, PEF-endorsed candidates had a proven record of supporting PEF’s legislative and budget priorities.  PEF particularly looked at:

-          Candidate’s position on Tier 6 and the Cost-Benefit Analysis legislation.

-          Candidate’s position on the Triborough Amendment (Triborough protects public employees’ negotiated benefits until a new contract is in place).

-          PEF’s budget priorities (e.g., keeping Kingsboro Psychiatric Center open).

PEF ‘s Legislative Office assists PEF leaders and members to engage in political action in order to build its political relevance in electing candidates that support union values and PEF priorities. 

It is critical that PEF members get and remain engaged in political action activities throughout the year as well as during campaigns in order to establish and maintain our relationships with legislators.  Our most powerful political resource is our members.  Helping candidates get elected and re-elected shows legislators that PEF is a powerful political ally. 

Each  region needs a core of volunteers to work at least six hours a year in making member-to-member phone calls, walking election districts, and other campaign and political activist activities.  These activities ensure that PEF maintains a strong political presence in local, state, and federal elections.

Additionally, PEF has committed to a more visible and active role in developing alliances among allies such as labor unions, communities, religious organizations, etc. to strengthen the political power  of workers and unions.  PEF members are an integral part of these initiatives.

Campaign Contributions – State and Federal

PEF’s contributions to state and local candidates come from  members’ dues.  These funds are held in its political action fund.  New York State (NYS) Election Law sets the parameters for  these contributions.  Additionally, PEF has developed statewide PAC guidelines for the use of these monies.

PEF’s federal campaign funds come from voluntary member contributions to its Committee on Political Education (COPE) Fund.  PEF works in concert with its two international unions – American Federation of Teachers and Service Employees International Union – on federal elections and campaign funding and activities. 

Given that most agencies have jobs that are partially or fully funded by federal dollars, it is critical that PEF have strong congressional support for the services that NYS agencies provide and the staff who administer these programs.  To do that, PEF needs members’ participation in COPE.  By joining the COPE Team, members help to make our voice heard and to keep vital NYS services and jobs.  Members can contact the PEF Legislative Office for more information and a COPE contribution form.

Legislative Staff: