Thousands of members listened to a Telephone Town Hall on April 16, 2025, led by PEF President Wayne Spence. He was joined by PEF directors from the following departments: Civil Service Enforcement/Research, Membership Information Systems, Legislative, Field Services and Contract Administration. Staff shared information about the ongoing pay study for public service workers, the introduction of the PEF app, the federal and state budgets, efforts to keep cuts from harming New York, and upcoming contract increases and negotiations. Here are approximate time codes to help you listen to the video below.
3:40 – Director of Civil Service Veronica Foley shares details about Compensation and Salary Study being run by New York State Department of Civil Service and Deloitte Consulting. At about the 8:00 mark, Director Foley begins to talk about salary differentials and how that is addressed while the study is ongoing.
12:15 – Director of Membership Information Systems Joe Cocci introduces the PEF app and discusses how members can download it, as well as the progress of a MIN Lookup Tool.
14:40 – Legislative Director Patrick Lyons discussed the state budget, sharing mostly good news about a finalized state budget and budget extender.
15:40 – Director Lyons calls for action and one last round of letters to support PEF’s legislative priorities at the state level ahead of the finalized budget agreement.
18:30 – Director Lyons analyzes the situation at the Federal level as the government continues to cut services and what that could mean for New York and PEF.
21:40 – Director Lyons discusses some of the money already lost and how some New Yorkers have lost jobs and services due to those cuts. At about the 22:40 mark, President Spence and Director Lyons detail cuts to Department of Health and Research due to Medicaid cuts.
25:00 – Director Lyons highlights how much money comes from the federal government to support New York State agencies to keep New York running, as well as the reality that tariffs and other cuts may have on pensions on other benefits.
27:45 – Director Lyons focuses on how New York can potentially stay afloat while the cuts are ongoing.
28:40 – Director Lyons urges members to call their legislators to express displeasure about federal budgets cuts (202-224-3121)
31:15 – Director of Statewide Field Services Katie Vorwald talks about how to share information and keep members informed on changes due to federal cuts and how members can share information with PEF about what agencies or services are at risk.
33:00 – Director Vorwald gives extra details about how cuts could effect members.
35:00 – Spence makes a quick mention about how members can get involved through COPE contributions.
36:25 – Director of Contract Administration Debra Greenberg goes over the increases coming to salaries, the higher education differential, and other compensation bonuses from the contract.
39:00 – Director Greenberg discusses the changes to Longevity Payments, as there is a new eligibility system based on years of continuous state service. This includes details about what constitutes state service and who is included in the award.
44:55 – Director Greenberg talks about upcoming contract negotiations. The new contract team has been announced, and training is ongoing.
46:00 – President Spence chimes in to discuss why the contract team is getting started with training and negotiations a little earlier than usual.
48:00 – Finally, Director Greenberg discusses what happens if the contract expires without an agreement between PEF and the State, especially given current economic troubles.
50:20 – President Spence starts to wrap-up the Town Hall with a final announcement about the Toxic Workplace and Bullying Campaign. There is a contest to bring PEF’s newly-named 20-foot inflatable Bull, S.T.O.M.P., to their workplace.
51:30 – President Spence ends the meeting by thanking members in facilities and institutions where staffing is short, especially those facilities following the DOCCS strike and loss of thousands of correctional officers.