Dozens of volunteers from PEF and local American Federation of Teachers (AFT) unions throughout the country converged on Albany this week to take part in a week-long membership blitz to build PEF membership and unity.
PEF President Wayne Spence speaks to Division 194 members at the State Education Department in Albany on April 25.
“It’s important to reach out to the people we represent, to provide updates about important issues such as the state budget and contract and hear from them about their ideas and concerns,” said PEF President Wayne Spence. “We want to make sure they understand how the union represents them and the many opportunities and benefits that it provides. The more involved and actively participating they are in PEF, the more effective we can be on their behalf.”
AFT encourages its local unions, of which PEF is one, to conduct these membership blitzes from time to time and to involve volunteers from other locals as well as their own. In Albany this week organizers from Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland and Montana have joined PEF leaders and staff for a “membership blitz” aimed at assessing PEF members. The hope is that some of them who are already active in PEF will choose to become leaders in the union, while others who may not be aware of the benefits of membership will sign up. The blitz is a combination of worksite visits across the capital region and direct door knocking at members’ homes.
Organizers sign in Division 194 members, who were treated to lunch and given some PEF merchandise for spending a few minutes learning about the union’s latest priorities on April 25.
“Stopping by your home to speak with you is an ideal opportunity to learn about you and answer your questions,” said PEF Director of Organizing Dan Carpenter. “We are hoping to visit more than 1,000 members of the Professional, Scientific & Technical (PS&T) unit this week, so don’t be surprised if you find us smiling at your door.”
PEF President Wayne Spence issued the following statement in reaction to the proposal by SUNY Upstate Medical University to buy Crouse Hospital, a non-profit facility in Syracuse.
“SUNY Upstate Medical University’s bid to acquire Crouse Hospital presents a huge range of complex issues that must be closely considered. PEF deserves a seat at the table to talk through the complications that are sure to arise when two separate unionized workforces merge. To cite just one example — employees doing the same work could be subject to two different collective bargaining agreements with different benefits. To this point, no reason or justification has been provided to us for why Upstate is privatizing part of their healthcare system when it is clear that SUNY Upstate, a public hospital, is fully taking over Crouse and all its obligations. We await answers and trust that State lawmakers will ask questions throughout the approval process as well.”
Parole release of ‘Fat Cat’ Nichols a slap in the face to parole officers
The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) denounces granting state parole to infamous Queens drug lord Lorenzo “Fat Cat” Nichols, who orchestrated the murder of Parole Officer Brian Rooney for $5,000 in blood money.
Nichols ordered Rooney killed by two of his lieutenants, Howard “Pappy” Mason and Chris Williams. The “contract” was executed the evening of October 10, 1985. Rooney was lured to Baisley Park in Queens where Mason and Williams drove up to Rooney’s vehicle. Mason drew a gun and fired repeatedly until Rooney was dead.
“You order the murder of a New York State parole officer and then get paroled?” said PEF President Wayne Spence, who is also a 28-year parole officer in New York. “Words cannot describe the disgust and disappointment that each and every New York State parole officer is feeling upon learning the news that this murderous drug lord was granted state parole. As New York releases more inmates, what message does this send? Office Rooney, like all parole officers across New York, was a skilled professional, dedicated and courageous. He continues to inspire all of us today.”
More parolees are hitting the streets as a result of so-called ‘Less is More’ parole reform – a law PEF opposes because it ties the hands of parole officers. PEF lobbied vehemently against the law as a disservice to crime victims and an unfair burden on an already under-funded and under-staffed parole system.
The union continues to fight for amendments to the legislation, including the addition of more officers to supervise the increasing caseloads, reconsideration of the ‘30 for 30’ rule that allows incarcerated individuals to earn credit off their sentences even after they’ve violated the terms of their parole, and a rewriting of the state’s sentencing guidelines, which haven’t changed in more than 20 years.
State Budget Takes Major Steps Towards Funding Our Future
Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York Legislature have agreed on a $220 billion state spending plan for the 2022-23 fiscal year. This budget clearly provides what Governor Hochul termed a “blueprint” for our future.
“I want to thank Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Heastie for working with us to deliver a state budget that addresses many of the long-ignored needs of at-risk New Yorkers,” said PEF President Wayne Spence. “This budget makes significant investments in mental health and addiction services, public education and rebuilding the state workforce so that all New Yorkers can access the services they need to thrive.”
After a decade of austerity budgeting that left the state and its citizens ill-prepared to deal with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, this budget increases agency spending by more than 3% to address the state staffing crisis and to expand agency capacity to deliver needed services to New Yorkers.
In addition to making investments in agency staffing and operations, the budget agreement addresses several of PEF’s priorities as outlined in the union’s “Fund Our Future” campaign, including:
· Health Care Bonus Program: Establishes a health care workforce bonus for state and other employees who work in health care or mental hygiene positions. Health care and mental hygiene workers who provide direct services to clients will be eligible for a workforce and retention bonus of up to $3,000. PEF led the fight for hazard pay for essentialemployees. While not all essential employees are eligible for these bonus payments, we are thankful that the Governor secured her signature budget initiative in support of our health care heroes;
· Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program: Creates the Nurses Across New York program to repay the loans of nurses in hard-to-staff areas;
· Expand Mental Health and Addiction Services: Increases funding for mental health and addiction services and restores a number of inpatient psychiatric beds across the state to help address the current mental health crisis and the lack of stabilization services for the mentally ill;
· Protect SUNY Hospitals: Provides significant financial support for SUNY hospitals to ensure the continuity of operations and the delivery of quality services to residents in those communities;
· Expands Loan Forgiveness: Authorizes the state to share records to facilitate debt forgiveness benefits for state employees under the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and excludes such loan forgiveness from the definition of income for state income tax purposes;
· Protects Employees from Increased Costs from COVID Overtime: Protects state employees who worked overtime in response to the COVID pandemic from being subjected to higher contribution rates to the retirement plan because of those additional earnings;
· Tier 5 and 6 Pension Reform: Re-establishes the five-year vesting period for benefits in the New York State and Local Employees Retirement System so that the state can attract and retain talent in this extremely tight labor market. This begins the process of repairing the Tier 5 and 6 retirement plans so state and local governments can attract and retain the workers they need to maintain operations and build the public sector workforce of the future.
“PEF’s Fund Our Future campaign is about building relationships and forging consensus with stakeholders to improve the lives of New Yorkers,” Spence added, “PEF members sent more than 18,000 letters and made thousands of phone calls to lawmakers on behalf of their friends, neighbors and families to advocate that all New Yorkers have access to the quality public services they need and deserve. We are proud to be part of the process in collaboration with our elected officials as we work collectively to rebuild our state so that no one gets left behind and everyone thrives in New York’s future.”
Executive Board approves 2022-23 budget, hears from gubernatorial candidates
The PEF Executive Board met March 24 and 25 in Troy, N.Y., voting on the 2022-23 budget, hearing from three gubernatorial candidates and conducting other business of the union.
2022-23 budget
PEF Secretary-Treasurer Joe Donahue presented the 2022-23 budget for approval, with proposed $28,657,861 in revenue and the same in expenditures – a zero net change budget.
He outlined amendments to the Dec. 13, 2021 financial statements to account for higher than expected expenditures, including printing costs for the 2019-22 contract book; increased office supply, communications and minor equipment costs for the new PEF Headquarters; and an increase in janitorial and security expenses.
The advertising budget increased to cover the Fund Our Future campaign and to purchase PPE for members. Scholarship funding, affiliation fees and professional fees also increased.
Donahue pointed out the new vendor for election balloting, Educational Vistas, is more expensive than the previous vendor and the need for running Executive Board seat balloting every quarter costs the union $20,000 each time, regardless of whether there are candidates.
“We have to run the opportunity for an election, even if people don’t run, we are still charged each time we do it,” he said, urging all members of the board to seek out members who may be interested in filling those vacancies.
Membership dues saw a bump in the fall due to retroactive raises in the new contract, but membership numbers continue to decline. Donahue said PEF will continue to look at ways to increase those numbers, including hiring two new organizers.
“For the 2021-22 budget year, membership was estimated at 50,000,” he said. “These rates have continued to decline throughout the fiscal year, leading to a conservative estimate of 47,000 members for the 2022-23 fiscal year.”
In the coming year, proposed expenditures are up largely due to the anticipated return to in-person meetings, activities and the 2022 PEF Convention in Niagara Falls.
“We cannot increase budget items to pre-pandemic levels, but we want to be able to hold more in-person and that will mean additional costs,” he said. “We’re here to serve the members.”
The board approved the budget. Board approves PAC endorsements
The Statewide Political Action Committee recommended candidate endorsements to the executive board for the following candidates for attorney general, Senate districts (SD) and Assembly districts (AD):
Leticia James, Attorney General; Kevin Parker (SD 21); Brian Kavanaugh (SD 26); Luis Sepulveda (SD 32); Cordell Cleare (SD30); Robert Jackson (SD 31); Erik Dilan (AD 54); Peter Abbate (AD 49); Vivian Cook (AD 32); Kevin Cahill (AD 103); Tom Abinanti (AD 92); Michael Benedetto (AD 82); and Eddie Gibbs (AD 68).
“This is a major part of what political action committees across the regions do,” said Vice President Randi DiAntonio, who chairs PEF’s Statewide Political Action Committee. “Regions have the responsibility to send out questionnaires, interview and determine which candidates in their regions they want to recommend for endorsement. The process is open to all members in the region.
“PEF does not generally get involved in early endorsements in primary races,” she continued. “However, sometimes it behooves us to get involved. Good allies may need our support to remain in office.”
The endorsements were approved by the board.
Gubernatorial candidates address board
Three candidates vying for New York State Governor – Gov. Kathy Hochul, Congressman Tom Suozzi and Congressman Lee Zeldin – addressed the PEF Executive Board seeking the union’s endorsement, answering questions submitted by the membership on the nursing shortage, telecommuting, the Fund Our Future campaign, privatization and toxic workplace culture.
Suozzi took the stage first on March 24, followed by Zeldin, and Hochul addressed the board on March 26. New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who is also running in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, was unable to attend.
“This is it, right now, this is the time we all need to pull together,” Suozzi said. “We need to start doing things that serve the people. We have got to fight for the middle class and unions are the way to do it. We have to fight for our unions.”
Zeldin said New York is very different right now than in previous years.
“People don’t feel safe on the streets, in the subways,” he said. “New Yorkers across the state are deciding, ‘That’s it’ and they’re leaving.”
Hochul said it’s an honor to be surrounded by the dedicated and compassionate members of PEF.
“I’ve been defending public sector workers since those days,” she said, recounting her family’s history of social justice. “You’re doing the work because you believe in public safety, health care, front line workers in every sense of the word.”
On the nursing shortage and exodus of nurses from the state, Suozzi said the key is figuring out how to pay nurses salaries that are competitive with the private sector and that the disparity is demoralizing and unfair.
“I love nurses,” he said. “My mother was a nurse. I have great respect for nurses. We have got to figure out how to pay our nurses to be competitive with the private sector.”
Zeldin said nobody should be fired for not getting the COVID vaccine and nurse pay needs to be competitive.
“If they are not paid enough for what they do, they end up being hired away to someplace paying more,” he said. “Some people just love the work. A lot of people are early in their careers and the benefits aren’t as generous.”
Hochul pointed to her first budget as reflection of her dedication to nursing.
“A budget for the first time ever leaned hard into shoring up the nursing profession,” she said. “The disinvestment has gone on for too long. Yes, this is bold and ambitious and expensive, but if we don’t make these investments now, shame on us.”
PEF members stepped up and successfully telecommuted since the start of the pandemic. The membership wants to know if the next governor will continue or improve remote work options.
Suozzi said telecommuting made life easier for a lot of people, but it must be balanced and fair.
“Some jobs you can do remotely, but not everybody can telecommute. We need to set up an accountability system,” he said.
Zeldin said telecommuting makes sense for many occupations, but some people are more productive than others when working from home.
“You need to keep a short leash,” he said. “You can’t paint all people with the same brush.”
Hochul said she would be willing to come to the table and negotiate telecommuting with PEF.
“This COVID experience has given us an opportunity to examine new ideas,” she said. “This is something we will consider in all our collective bargaining agreements. The five-day work week is probably over. But there also needs to be a sense of fairness involved.”
Investing in the future of New York, both the workforce and the services it provides, is crucial for a thriving New York.
Zeldin said investing in state services can actually save money by reducing the number of clients who slip through the cracks.
“Investing saves money in the long run,” he said. “A lot of people will rely more on the government if you don’t help them.”
Hochul credited a conversation with President Spence for inspiring investments in her budget.
“We’re going to continue investing,” she said. “It means hiring more people. There should not be vacant positions. If a position was created, obviously there was a need for it. I want New York to be a model employer.”
The Tier 6 pension plan falls short and PEF is working in the legislature to amend the plan.
Suozzi said good pay, good benefits and a robust pension draw people into public service and that needs to be studied and discussed.
Zeldin said the pension is a huge recruitment and retention tool. “We have to look at the entire package,” he said. “Think creatively. Pensions are one piece.”
Hochul was willing to discuss pension reform.
The fight against privatization calls for keeping state work in the hands of state employees. PEF advocates for looking inward, not out to contractors, for projects and services. A cost-benefit analysis is vital to a fair and transparent process.
Suozzi supports cost-benefit analyses and using the state workforce, pointing out that the previous administration brought in outside contracts frequently.
Zeldin also recognized the importance of cost-benefit analysis and said hiring consultants to tell you what you already know is a waste of money.
“The best source of ideas comes from inside the agency,” he said.
PEF members across the state face a toxic workplace. Candidates were asked what they would do to hold management accountable and lift up employees.
Suozzi said there needs to be accountability and there must be rules and regulations and a process to follow. “I believe New York can be the model employer,” he said.
Zeldin said the culture trickles from the top down and some people think they are more important than others. “We don’t want an emperor government,” he said. “You need to respect your peers.”
Hochul pledged to change the culture and how abuses are handled.
“No longer should someone have to report an abuse to the same people who are protecting the people who are doing it,” she said.
The PEF regional PACs will meet and make a recommendation to the Statewide Political Action Committee who will ultimately make an endorsement recommendation for governor that the Executive Board will consider at their June 2022 meeting.
Organizing ‘Blitz’ in Albany
Late next month, in partnership with AFT, and with help from an SEIU grant, PEF will hold a membership “blitz” in Albany, knocking on doors and engaging with potential members face-to-face.
“A blitz is a mobilization effort to reengage members of the union and to do it in a very personal, one-on-one, way,” said PEF Director of Organizing Dan Carpenter. “The last time we did this, in 2017, there was an 18-person team broken into six teams that went and visited 27 different worksites in a week. They knocked on 1,300 doors and had one-on-one conversations with members across Region 8.”
PEF organizers participated in other union blitzes in Alaska, Montana and Colorado, Carpenter said. Now is the time to bring the blitz back to PEF, since new hires have to opt in to union membership after the Janus decision and reaching them has been difficult.
“During COVID we lost the ability to hold in-person traditional onboarding,” Carpenter said. “A number of people fell through the cracks. We are taking the opportunity to work with AFT. They bring 18 members from across the nation and we’re going to bring 18 staff and members and we are going to do this all over again. The goal is to knock on 1,000 doors and hold 50 to 55 worksite meetings in a week.”
Carpenter said the team hopes to reach at least the 500 full-time hires who are not currently in the union. The blitz will take place April 24-29, 2022.
This is just the first blitz. PEF plans to use it as a model to hold mini-blitzes around the state.
Legislative engagement and updates
Texting is a successful way to get members involved in legislative letter-writing campaigns, said Vice President DiAntonio. She reported members submitted 1,713 letters on telecommuting; 459 on the ITS budget; 1,041 on the social safety net; 996 on health care bonuses; 484 on reinvestment to DOCCS programs; 545 on design-build; and 8,538 on pension reform.
“There are lots of opportunities to engage members over this,” DiAntonio said. “This is how we communicate our issues with our legislators. They do take note of the numbers of letters. Getting thousands of emails, letters, pushes on Facebook, wherever we can let them know where our concerns are.”
Members are encouraged to make sure PEF has an accurate cell phone number and personal email address so they can participate in member actions.
PEF Legislative Director Patrick Lyons said this is a very different year in Albany.
“This is really the first year that we’re not on a major defensive in terms of the state budget,” he said.
Top priorities in Albany this year include those outlined in the Fund Our Future campaign, as well as health care investments, cost-benefit analysis and design-build, OPWDD and OMH service investments, amending the ‘Less is More’ parole law, significant funding of SUNY hospitals, and reforming Tiers 5 and 6 of the New York State pension plan.
Legal department addresses vaccine, testing mandate cases
As of March 23, 2022, there were 383 members suspended and facing termination on allegations they failed to comply with the vaccine mandate or that they were subject to a vaccinate or test mandate and they have not complied with testing. Those numbers continue to increase on a weekly basis.
“We are actively representing hundreds of members,” said General Counsel Edward Greene. “Arbitration hearings are currently under way in dozens of cases and we are starting to see some arbitration awards.”
The breakdown of cases as of March 23rd includes 236 for vaccine mandate non-compliance and 147 for testing, Greene reported. Successes so far have come in cases where procedural defenses have been raised. “Our victories to date have been where we have identified procedural irregularities or due process violations,” he said. “We are continuing the fight. Our attorneys are engaged every day in one or more hearings in these cases.”
There have been victories on these procedural issues, with members reinstated and the issuance of backpay and accruals that amount to tens of thousands of dollars to members.
Training, education benefits you may be missing
PEF President, WAYNE SPENCE
Through the PS&T contract’s Article 15, members can participate in Public Service Workshop Program (PSWP) trainings, continuing legal education, a nursing grant program, leadership development, certification and licensure exam fee and college tuition reimbursements and more.
“I think many of our members don’t know about a lot of the offerings in our contract,” said President Spence. “They don’t even know some of the stuff we have at Membership Benefits. I suspect members are spending their hard-earned money on programs and they don’t know they can utilize some of these.”
Between the 2016 and 2019 agreement, 16,261 state employees participated in 779 in-person PSWP workshops ranging from project management to data analysis, to professional writing. There were 10 Leadership Development Program offerings, with 390 PEF members participating. Seventy-eight nurses completed the Nurse Leadership Development Program.
Through the College Tuition Reimbursement Program, 12,990 applications were reimbursed to the tune of $16,976,595. Of that, $3,217,383 was reimbursed through the Nurses Enhanced program.
As people across the world condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, we are activating the PEF Relief Fund to help our brothers and sisters forced to flee their homes or struggling to continue serving the people of Ukraine despite Russia’s devastating attacks.
Thousands of Ukrainians – men, women, children and Ukrainian armed forces – have been killed. Millions face displacement. The war has already cost Ukraine more than $100 billion in infrastructure damage. The United Nations estimates one in two Ukrainian businesses are shuttered and millions of dollars will be needed to cover income losses.
The Ukrainian people need our help.
The PEF Relief Fund exists to render aid to those in need. During natural disasters, we supported those in dire need of supplies to aid their recovery. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we supported our health care professionals on the frontlines with housing and PPE. Now, we stand ready to help the people of Ukraine. Please consider contributing to the PEF Relief Fund. Just click here. Every donation, no matter how much, can make a difference. The union will then make a lump sum donation to the Common Solidarity Fund established by the International Trade Union and European Trade Union Confederations. The donations will be used to support workers and union members fleeing Ukraine with shelter, food, supplies, transport and more.
The PEF Relief Fund is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax deductible.
Let’s all stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
NYS Office of Mental Health: It’s time to Fund Our Future!
Meet Emily, a 15-year-old from Alfred, N.Y., who isn’t getting the mental health care she needs from the state of New York. Why? One word: Privatization. The State contracts out too much of the work performed under the auspices of the Office of Mental Health and the result is inadequate and inconsistent care for New York’s most vulnerable residents.
The March Communicator: Budget Negotiations Show PEF’s Power
March 2022 Issue of the PEF Communicator is now available!! Find out about the status of budget negotiations, nurse lobby day updates, Black History Month celebrations, or upcoming events with NYC Women’s Committee, and other latest news.
Three candidates vying for New York State Governor – Gov. Kathy Hochul, Congressman Tom Suozzi and Congressman Lee Zeldin – addressed the PEF Executive Board seeking the union’s endorsement, answering questions submitted by the membership on the nursing shortage, telecommuting, the Fund Our Future campaign, privatization and toxic workplace culture.
Late next month, in partnership with AFT, and with help from an SEIU grant, PEF will hold a membership “blitz” in Albany, knocking on doors and engaging with potential members face-to-face.