![\"Toxic](\"https:\/\/www.pef.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Rally-header.jpg\")
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During lunch on September 21, the PEF Executive Board, joined by rank-and-file members, marched from the Albany Hilton to Empire State Plaza, loudly and proudly calling for respect in the workplace and denouncing toxic environments.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Members held signs emblazoned with \u201cWORKPLACE RESPECT, NOT BULLYING\u201d and \u201cEND BULLYING, EMBRACE RESPECT, CHANGE STARTS AT THE TOP!\u201d Some signs called out Office of Employee Relations (OER) Director Michael Volforte for failing to curb the problem and protecting toxic managers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The union has heard from many members about bullying, harassment, and discrimination by management against union members in state agencies across New York.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t allow this behavior to continue,\u201d said President Wayne Spence. \u201cNo one should have to go to work and feel unsafe or be harassed. Enough is enough! PEF members are sick and tired of being disrespected and demeaned by bullying managers who aren’t heeding Gov. Hochul\u2019s directive to make New York \u2018the most worker-friendly state!\u2019\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Members cited failure to resolve issues at the agency level and called for immediate change.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAt Five Points Correctional Facility, we have used multiple different avenues this past year to address these concerns – beginning with the chain of command, local management and state agencies; we filed complaints and continued to use the union to reach a resolution, all while watching good people continue to be victimized, transferred, or leave DOCCS (Department of Corrections and Community Supervision),\u201d said PEF Member Leslie Crane. \u201cIt\u2019s time to prioritize the wellbeing of our workforce and that begins with a culture shift, where every voice is heard and valued, regardless of their rank or position.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the State Education Department (SED), PEF Executive Board member Mickey Dobbin said a toxic workplace is the number one issue he hears from his members.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad PEF is standing up for its members against toxic workplace and bullying,\u201d said Dobbin. \u201cWe have brought this issue to labor management time and time again and they don\u2019t care, they just let it go. They say they don\u2019t believe us, despite all our evidence. People should be able to walk into their workplace and know that they are protected, know that they can stay safe, know that they can be respected. It\u2019s ridiculous and it must stop.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The union successfully drafted legislation last session that was passed by the Assembly Majority to address workplace bullying and abusive conduct through education and training. PEF will continue to push the legislation in 2024 and call on the state to create uniform standards to define bullying and abusive conduct in the workplace.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe state has regulated sexual harassment, but not other unacceptable activities,\u201d Spence said. \u201cThe state needs to set uniform standards on activities that aren\u2019t acceptable in the workplace and educate employees and employers on those standards. We hope the governor will ask somebody independent of OER (the Office of Employee Relations) to look at this issue. Maybe the governor will ask the Inspector General\u2019s Office to create a task force to look at some of these cases.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ==============================================================================<\/strong>
\nAn open letter from PEF President Wayne Spence:<\/a>
\n<\/strong>It\u2019s time for New York to clean up its toxic workplaces<\/a><\/strong>
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