• PEF statement on NYS Senate budget proposal

    PEF statement on NYS Senate budget proposal

    PEF President Wayne Spence issued the following statement following the State Senate’s release of their one-house budget proposal on March 12, 2024: “Under the leadership of Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the New York State Senate Majority’s budget proposal greatly improves upon the Executive Budget proposal submitted in January.  The New York State Senate Majority provides...

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  • PEF calls for negotiated ceasefire in Gaza

    PEF calls for negotiated ceasefire in Gaza

    PEF President Wayne Spence issued the following statement on Feb. 9, 2024: “It has now been more than four months since the horrific acts of terror committed by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed more than 1,200 Israelis and others. In that time, tens of thousands more Israelis and Palestinians have died, been injured,...

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  • PEF Statement on SUNY Downstate

    PEF Statement on SUNY Downstate

    The following statement was released by PEF President Wayne Spence on Jan. 19, 2024: “After serving the residents of Brooklyn for more than 100 years with distinction, SUNY Downstate is once again facing a financial crisis.  I heard the news from SUNY Chancellor John King on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  He advised me that...

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  • PEF statement on State of the State address

    PEF statement on State of the State address

    Following Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address on Jan. 9, 2024, PEF President Wayne Spence issued the following statement: “After a decade of neglect, Governor Kathy Hochul has made rebuilding the state workforce a priority. She embraced the tenets of PEF’s “Fund Our Future” initiative by negotiating union contracts that support the workforce,...

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  • PEF condemns Hamas attacks

    PEF condemns Hamas attacks

    PEF President Wayne Spence issued the following statement on Oct. 9 concerning the Hamas attacks in Israel. “PEF joins our parent union, AFT, in condemning the attacks by Hamas against innocent civilians in Israel. Israel is now justifiably defending itself.   We grieve for all those who are suffering, including those in our union community...

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  • PEF rallies to end toxic NYS work environments and expose bullying managers

    PEF rallies to end toxic NYS work environments and expose bullying managers

    Contact: Communications Director Rob Merrill, rmerrill@pef.org ALBANY, N.Y. – The Public Employees Federation (PEF) held a rally Sept. 21 at the New York State Capitol in Albany to shed light on the toxic environments many state workers face, from bullying, to harassment, to discrimination against union members. Marching from the Albany Hilton to Empire State...

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  • It’s time for New York to clean up its toxic workplaces

    It’s time for New York to clean up its toxic workplaces

    An open letter from PEF President Wayne Spence: The 50,000 members of the union I lead, the New York State Public Employees Federation, are dedicated professionals who provide vital public services for the people of New York. Unfortunately, “professional” doesn’t apply to everyone employed by the state. Many state workers walk into toxic workplaces created...

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  • PEF reaches tentative contract agreement with New York State

    PEF reaches tentative contract agreement with New York State

    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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  • PEF statement on budget deal

    PEF statement on budget deal

    From PEF President Wayne Spence on April 28, 2023 — “PEF has been following the budget negotiation process closely and is pleased that the Governor and the Legislature have reached a conceptual agreement on a final state budget.  While there are no budget bills in print yet, the PEF Legislative Office will be monitoring developments...

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