{"id":11754,"date":"2024-12-20T14:28:33","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T19:28:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pef.org\/?p=11754"},"modified":"2024-12-20T16:02:09","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T21:02:09","slug":"pef-statewide-leaders-update-membership-on-contract-legislative-work-dental-provider","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pef.org\/articles\/news\/pef-statewide-leaders-update-membership-on-contract-legislative-work-dental-provider\/","title":{"rendered":"PEF statewide leaders update membership on contract, legislative work, dental provider"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"December 20, 2024 —<\/em> Thousands of members tuned in as President Wayne Spence, along with Vice Presidents Randi DiAntonio, Bruce Giddings, and Darlene Williams, and select PEF staff, hosted a Telephone Town Hall December 19 to discuss the contract, ongoing legislative campaigns, the dental plan, and other topics of interest to members. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please refer to the below timecodes and topics for information:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

01:45<\/span><\/b>: President Spence reported the union was in a strong financial position, with the addition of nearly 7,000 new members in 2024, and stated that Secretary-Treasurer Joe Donahue expects to present a balanced budget in March 2025.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

03:00<\/span><\/b>: VP Williams briefly updated listeners on plans for the the 2025 PEF Convention, to be held Oct. 19-22, 2025,\u00a0 in Lake Placid, and VP DiAntonio urged members to consider becoming a delegate. Information will be provided in a Spring 2025 edition of the <\/span>Communicator<\/span><\/i>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

05:30<\/span><\/b>: VP Williams provided information on what members can expect in the next round of contract negotiations. Work is already underway to select the next negotiating team, which will begin training in the new year with hopes of returning to the bargaining table well before the current contract expires in April 2026.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

06:20<\/span><\/b>: Information was shared about longevities, or performance awards, and the contractual change to basing the awards on total years of service, including time in other bargaining units like CSEA. The award amounts: $1,500 for anyone with 12 years of service; $3,000 with 17 years of service; and $4,500 with 22 years of service.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

08:40<\/span><\/b>: Director of Contract Administration Deb Greenberg explained \u201cgrandfathered in\u201d members, explaining no one would lose out on awards if they received them under the previous eligibility guidelines.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

10:15<\/span><\/b>: VP Williams shared information on the Higher Education Differential payout of $600 in April 2025 and noted that multiple degrees will not earn members multiple payments. Anyone who received the first differential payment this year will receive it again. Talk to your HR or personnel office about how to prove eligibility if this will be your first time applying for the differential.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

11:50<\/span><\/b>: Discussion moved to location pay increases in April 2025 due to contract wins, with the Downstate adjustment going from $3,400 to $4,000 and the Midstate adjustment going from $1,650 to $2,000. PEF Civil Service Research\/Enforcement Director Veronica Foley talked about the difference between location pay and geographic pay.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

13:25<\/span><\/b>: Deb Greenberg shared information about Dependent Care Advantage Accounts, tuition reimbursement, and the Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP). The deadline for 2025 DCAA and PEP has passed. Members should read The Communicator or check <\/span>PEF.org\/benefits<\/span><\/a> for the very latest.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

17:30<\/span><\/b>: VP DiAntonio talked about the importance of political action and discussed some of PEF\u2019s wins from the 2024 legislative session, including Tier 6 pension reform, saving SUNY Downstate, eliminating lag payroll and salary deferral, stopping cuts to retiree health care, and other PEF priorities signed by the Governor, such as bills to allow work-related stress injuries as a result of on-the-job incidents in worker\u2019s compensation claims, addressing Department of Corrections and Community Service (DOCCS) facility temperatures, Civil Service exam availability, and more.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

26:50<\/span><\/b>: Information moved to goals and campaigns for 2025, including more Tier 6 reform, addressing workplace violence, creating penalties for assaulting public employees, as well as other issues important to members across many state agencies. Members are urged to get involved at the local level and should contact their <\/span>PEF Regional Office<\/span><\/a> for details.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

29:50<\/span><\/b>: VP Giddings discussed his work chairing the Labor\/Management Advisory Council, as well as the Division meetings he has attended across his coverage area (Regions 6-8).\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

33:15<\/span><\/b>: PEF CSE\/R Director Veronica Foley talked about her department\u2019s goals for the coming year, which include a major focus on educating members about how to advocate for salary reallocations. President Spence spoke about how he represents all members, but must operate within the State\u2019s parameters \u2013 when one title gets upgraded, that means the process works and other titles will hopefully see increases in the future.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

39:00<\/span><\/b>: The president spoke about the State\u2019s new dental provider, Anthem, and some members\u2019 dissatisfaction with the plan. Director Greenberg discussed the penalties the dental contract imposes should Anthem fail to meet performance standards in each quarter.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

42:35<\/span><\/b>: Director of Membership Information Services Joe Cocci touched on PEF\u2019s plans to launch a mobile app in the first quarter of 2025, which will be a central place for members to learn everything they need to know about the union and its current activities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n