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...
Read More
PEF’s statewide labor-management and health and safety committees must move very quickly to influence return-to-work and future telecommuting policies before a July 31 deadline. That was the urgent message they received at an all-day Zoom meeting on June 25 with PEF leaders and staff. “We have a lot of labor-management work to do in the...
Read More
Another session of the New York State Legislature ended shortly before dawn on June 11 and the PEF Legislative department has compiled a summary of the major bills supported by the union that passed both houses. Members can read it here. If you’re interested in joining your local Political Action Committee, please visit our...
Read More
The following commentary by PEF President Wayne Spence ran in the Albany Times Union on April 27 and is republished here for our members who don’t subscribe to the newspaper. President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan would be a much-needed shot in the arm for this country’s ailing roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure. Here in...
Read More
We wanted to let PEF members know that New York State recently made available $26.6 million funded through private donations for the Empire Pandemic Grant Program. The money is intended for essential workers and first responders for “unreimbursed expenses they incurred while responding to the coronavirus pandemic between March 1 and July 31, 2020.” More information can be...
Read More
PEF gave state legislators disturbing facts at a joint budget hearing February 10 and asked them to use their common sense and reject state proposals that will cost taxpayers more and provide fewer services and benefits to New Yorkers. The hearing was one of several held jointly by the state Senate and Assembly to hear...
Read More
PEF provided strong testimony against Executive Budget proposals that seek to close or consolidate four Office of Children and Family Services Multi-Services Offices (CMSOs) and to close four facilities for at-risk youth. “In order to achieve $1.8 million in savings, the governor proposes the consolidation of four CMSOs,” PEF President Wayne Spence stated in written...
Read More
PEF Vice President Randi DiAntonio testified about the union’s state budget concerns relating to staffing and service reductions at a virtual legislative hearing on the workforce February 2. Although witnesses were only given three minutes to present their verbal testimony, she also answered legislators’ questions for 90 minutes along...
Read More
New York is facing a massive budget shortfall and a deadly pandemic, facts that PEF Regional Coordinator Andrew Puleo pointed to in written testimony urging state leaders to carefully assess capital projects, implement a tax on the uber-wealthy, and revamp the design-build system, among other key issues, during his testimony before a joint budget hearing...
Read More