The final full day of PEF’s 44th Annual Convention is underway in Niagara Falls, where delegates just watched this video of yesterday’s activities, including a passionate speech from Rev. Terrence Melvin, Secretary-Treasurer of the NYS AFL-CIO.
State lawmakers, leaders, and union presidents offer thanks to PEF
At the 44th Annual PEF Convention, held Oct. 23-26, 2022, in Niagara Falls, elected U.S. officials, union leaders and members of the State Assembly and Senate recorded greetings for all PEF members, thanking them for their public service and acknowledging the role they play in keeping New York State running.
October Communicator: A Step in the Right Direction
The October issue is now available at: Communicator.PEF.org.
The Communicator: September 2022
Celebrating Labor in Advance of PEF’s Annual Convention.
View the entire September issue online now.
Civil Service FAQs
For members attending the Sept. 13 training, click here for the FAQ that was referenced during the Zoom call.
September 11th
September 11, 2001, is a date that weighs heavy on all of our hearts. More than 30 members of our union went to work that day in lower Manhattan and never came home. Their lives were lost, their families bereft, and like the rest of America, we will never forget. Please pause for a moment today to remember those brave souls and tell your loved ones how much they mean to you.
Do I need to fill out a Health Care Workforce Bonus form?
PEF members who are eligible for the Health Care Workforce Bonus signed into law by the governor have asked whether they need to fill out a form to claim the money. The Office of Employee Relations has advised that State employees do not need to fill out Health Care Workforce Bonus forms unless directed to do so by your agency or facility. Agencies will be putting out advisories about the Health Care Workforce Bonus for State employees shortly, so please pay attention to your State email. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact your PEF field representative.
Health Care Worker Bonus Program is a good start, but it’s just a start
PEF President Wayne Spence sent the following message to all members on Aug. 4, 2022, following the announcement from the governor’s office about the process created to distribute the $1.2 billion allocated in the state budget to pay bonuses to eligible healthcare workers.
Yesterday, Governor Hochul officially announced the process to begin the distribution of the Health Care Worker Bonus payments PEF worked to secure in the 2022 State Budget. While we fully support this important program that will financially reward many worthy PEF members, we still do not think it goes far enough. The program provides up to $3,000 to health care and mental hygiene providers who worked directly with patients during the pandemic. You can read full details in this press release from the governor’s office and this FAQ from the Department of Health answers many questions, including which titles are eligible.
PEF is the only union that drafted and introduced legislation to provide “hazard pay” to all of the state’s “essential workers.” PEF continued this fight throughout the 2022 state budget negotiations and continued to lobby extensively to make 300 additional PEF titles eligible for this program. We argued that thousands of additional PEF members were designated “essential employees” and mandated to work under hazardous conditions during the pandemic and should therefore be eligible for the bonus.
This announcement does not mean the fight is over. We will continue to push for all members who risked their health and the health of their families during the pandemic to receive some sort of financial reward. I’d like to thank all the members who stepped up and wrote letters or called your representatives and want to assure you that your activism was not wasted. We are the loudest union in the state pushing for hazard pay and I do not plan on easing up on that pressure. I mention it in every meeting with lawmakers and state leaders and will continue to do so. We will certainly keep you updated on our progress.
In the meantime, please stay safe and thank you for all that you do on behalf of your fellow New Yorkers.
Communicator: What can PEF do for you?
From COVID, to environmental issues, to worker’s comp: PEF’s Health and Safety team keeps you safe on the job. Click here to see the most recent issue of the Communicator.