• ‘Less is More’: Less resources, less services, less funding

    ‘Less is More’: Less resources, less services, less funding

    ROCHESTER, N.Y. — PEF parole officers and victims’ advocates rallied outside the Hall of Justice in Rochester November 22 to denounce the “Less is More” parole reform law and call out its serious repercussions for community safety, parole supervision and crime victims. “Less is More requires that we turn our eyes away from those who are still serving their court-imposed sentences, who continue to demonstrate behaviors that negatively impact...

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  • PEF tells lawmakers state staffing services for mentally ill falling seriously behind growing need

    PEF tells lawmakers state staffing services for mentally ill falling seriously behind growing need

    New York state must hire more mental health nurses and other professionals to meet the mounting demands of New Yorkers throughout the state.  But the state can’t recruit and retain enough staff to meet the challenge until it greatly improves pay and benefits enough to compete in a marketplace where demand for services far exceeds...

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  • Victims, parole officers matter: Rally denounces Less is More

    Victims, parole officers matter: Rally denounces Less is More

    QUEENS, N.Y. — New York State parole officers rallied outside Rikers Island on Oct. 7, 2021, to denounce the recently signed “Less is More” parole reform law and call out the serious repercussions for community safety, parole supervision and crime victims. “Bottom line – the “Less” in this law is public safety; the “More” is...

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  • PEF Actions Leading up to the Sept. 27 Vaccine Mandate

    PEF Actions Leading up to the Sept. 27 Vaccine Mandate

    On Sept. 17, PEF filed a declaration of impasse with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) requesting a mediator be assigned to facilitate impact bargaining with the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) over the Sept. 27 vaccine mandate imposed by the New York State Department of Health on patient-facing healthcare workers. The declaration was...

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  • Crisis at OPWDD: PEF rallies for increased wages, staffing

    Crisis at OPWDD: PEF rallies for increased wages, staffing

    PEF members, retirees and other disabilities services organizations joined State Sen. John Mannion (D-50th District) on September 14 outside the State Capitol for a rally to spotlight the lack of adequate funding, services and staff at the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). A 25-year veteran of OPWDD, PEF Vice President Randi DiAntonio spoke for...

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  • PEF statement on lifting of statewide hiring freeze

    PEF statement on lifting of statewide hiring freeze

    ALBANY, N.Y. – PEF President Wayne Spence issued the following statement in response to Gov. Hochul’s suspension of the statewide hiring freeze on Sept. 16: “PEF applauds Gov. Hochul’s decision to suspend the hiring freeze that has contributed to critical staffing shortages throughout the state workforce. Now it’s time to fill the more than 5,000...

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  • PEF welcomes Gov. Kathy Hochul

    PEF welcomes Gov. Kathy Hochul

    PEF President Wayne Spence issued the following statement after Gov. Kathy Hochul was sworn in on Aug. 24, 2021, as the 57th governor of New York: (Hans Pennink/AP Photo)​ “PEF looks forward to working with Gov. Kathy Hochul and her leadership team as our members continue to deliver the essential services that keep the state running....

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  • PEF statement on New York’s vaccination-or-testing mandate

    PEF statement on New York’s vaccination-or-testing mandate

    Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that New York will require all state employees be vaccinated or get tested regularly starting this Labor Day. PEF recognizes the importance of COVID-19 vaccination, but maintains such a requirement should be discussed between the union and the state before being rolled out. “PEF encourages our members to be vaccinated,”...

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  • EAP sponsoring webinars on NYS Deferred Compensation Plan

    EAP sponsoring webinars on NYS Deferred Compensation Plan

    The New York State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is sponsoring two webinars on the New York State Deferred Compensation Plan (NYSDCP) on July 13. The NYSDCP is a supplemental retirement plan, also known as a 457(b) plan, and the mission is to help state and local public employees achieve their retirement savings goals and help...

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