Highlights of the June issue of The Communicator include the PS&T contract passing for member ratification, legislative wins in the Senate and Assembly, updates on anti-union attacks, vaccine mandate uncertainties, and an environmental educator and PEF member featured in a PBS docuseries.
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June 13, 2023 — Governor Kathy Hochul invited members of PEF, UUP and CSEA to an event at the Albany Labor Temple to celebrate the expansion of Paid Parental Leave to public sector workers. The 2023-2026 PS&T Tentative Agreement with New York State contains 12 weeks of leave for new parents who have a...
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The PEF Executive Board voted overwhelmingly on June 8, 2023, to pass a tentative 2023-2026 contract on to the full membership for a ratification vote. The following press release was issued following that vote. ALBANY, N.Y. — The Public Employees Federation (PEF) has reached a tentative agreement with New York State that, if ratified by...
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You may have heard discussion of Empire Plan benefit changes effective July 1, 2023, and an associated special option transfer period in June 2023. These changes and option transfer period do NOT impact active PEF members since we are still in negotiations with the state. The changes are a result of collectively bargained modifications to...
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On the first anniversary of the May 14, 2022, massacre in Buffalo, PEF joins in solidarity with the Western New York Area Labor Federation, whose president shared this message with members: Brothers, Sisters, and Siblings, On the anniversary of the racist, white supremacist massacre that occurred at Tops on Buffalo’s East Side, I wanted to...
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President Wayne Spence hosted a telephone town hall May 4 to update members on legislative victories in this year’s New York state budget, the underhanded tactics of anti-union groups, and the ongoing contract negotiations. But first, he shared PEF’s mission statement, something he said should be looked at more frequently. “If we don’t know what...
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With just days remaining before the passage of the New York State budget, it’s important that all PEF members make their voices heard about union priorities! The top of our wish list this year is further reform of Tier 6 of the State pension plan. PEF joins the NYS AFL-CIO, made up of more than...
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PEF President Wayne Spence and more than a dozen PEF parole officers gathered outside the city court in Cohoes, N.Y., on May 4, 2023. Spence delivered remarks regarding the case of parolee Taquan Hassell, who was charged with Unlawful Imprisonment and Assault in the third degree of a parole officer. The officer is a member...
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The Office of Employee Relations (OER), in accordance with Article 15 of the PEF Collective Bargaining Agreement, is offering a Leadership Development Program (LDP) for employees in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (PS&T) Unit at Grade 23 and above. The program provides employees with the skills to lead in New York State government. ...
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