• Unions rally for pension reform with historic rally

    Unions rally for pension reform with historic rally

    March 9, 2026 — The ongoing effort to reform the New York State pension plan brought more than 15,000 members from PEF, NYSUT, AFT, UFT, IAF and dozens of other unions...

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  • PEF member pens open letter following assault at Lakeview

    PEF member pens open letter following assault at Lakeview

    The following open letter was written by a PEF member who works at the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility in Brocton, N.Y., who was violently assaulted by an incarcerated individual...

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  • PEF opposes Civil Service plan to make 40 more titles eligible for NY HELPS 

    PEF opposes Civil Service plan to make 40 more titles eligible for NY HELPS 

    On January 14, the Civil Service Commission approved a request from the Department of Civil Service to move 40 additional titles to the non-competitive jurisdictional class, including 28 within the...

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  • PEF Statement on 2026 State of the State

    PEF Statement on 2026 State of the State

    PEF President Wayne Spence released the following statement after attending Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address on Jan. 13, 2026, in Albany. “The 55,000 professional, technical and scientific...

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  • Division 187 donates $2k to food programs

    Division 187 donates $2k to food programs

    January 2, 2025 — Members and leaders of Division 187 presented a total of $2,000 to food banks around the state for the holiday season. In Buffalo, the Division donated...

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  • Executive Board welcomes four new members

    Executive Board welcomes four new members

    December 18, 2025 — Special Elections balloting is complete, and four new leaders have joined the PEF Executive Board. David Downing secured Seat 30, representing certain members at the Department...

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  • Telephone Town Hall covers health insurance increases and benefits to help you save money; deadlines are December 8

    Telephone Town Hall covers health insurance increases and benefits to help you save money; deadlines are December 8

    December 2, 2025 — Just before Thanksgiving, PEF learned there would be a 9.6% increase in New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) premiums in 2026, and President Wayne Spence hosted a telephone town...

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  • PEF and other labor unions uplift Regional Food Bank in time of need

    PEF and other labor unions uplift Regional Food Bank in time of need

    November 17, 2025 — Across the nation, Americans are facing rising costs of living, with many struggling to access food. According to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York (NENY),...

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  • PEF member collects donations for Hurricane Melissa relief in Jamaica

    PEF member collects donations for Hurricane Melissa relief in Jamaica

    November 10, 2025 — Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica late last month. Current damage estimates show the Category 5 storm caused as much as $7 billion in damages. International aid organizations have descended on the island nation with relief supplies, and...

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