PEF President Wayne Spence makes remarks at the union’s memorial on the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
September 11, 2025 — PEF leaders, members, and staff honored the memories of the 34 union members who were killed in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, in New York City, observing a moment of silence and reading off each of the names.
“Today, we join with our fellow Americans to honor their memory with a moment of silence, a tribute to lives cut short but never forgotten,” said President Wayne Spence. “The attacks were meant to break our spirit, weaken our values, and shake our democracy. I think they failed. Instead, it brought us together.”
President Spence said in the days and months that followed, PEF stood shoulder to shoulder with members and their families, helping them face unimaginable grief while navigating painful challenges with benefits, insurance, and support.
“There were no bodies, sometimes for months,” he said. “No one should have to worry about being able to pay their bills while dealing with this grief. PEF staff and Membership Benefits Program mobilized to help our members’ families.”
The union holds a ceremony each year at a memorial wall inscribed with the names of those who died that day or in the ensuing years from sicknesses related to the falling towers. Most of the PEF members who died were from the Department of Taxation and Finance and two members were from other agencies. This year, Secretary-Treasurer Joe Donahue, and Vice Presidents Randi DiAntonio, Bruce Giddings, and Darlene Williams had the solemn task of reading the names.
“The years may pass, but our memories endure,” said President Spence. “We will never forget.”
The 34 PEF members who died on Sept. 11, 2001:
Ignatius Adanga
Jeremiah Ahern
Japhet Aryee
Steven Berger
Eli Chalouh
James Domanico
Sareve Dukat
Clyde Frazier Jr.
Dianne Gladstone
Yan Z (Cindy) Guan
Neil Lie
Chow Lam
Myoung Lee
Paul Lee
Stephen Lefkowitz
Charles Lesperance
Tyrone May
Robert Miller
Richard Miuccio
Oscar Nesbitt
Michael Ou
Salvatore Papasso
Diane Parsons
Dennis Pierce
Gerard Rauzi
Rose Riso
Jon Schlissel
See Wong Shum
Barry Simowitz
Yesh Tembe
Diane Urban
Sankara Velamuri
Yuk Ping Wong
PEF mobilizes in the face of Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak in Harlem
August 22, 2025 — An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease was first detected on July 25 in the Central Harlem area of New York City. The New York City Health Department has been investigating the outbreak and found that the cluster of cases centered around zip codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037 and 10039. Since the initial detection, there have been 111 confirmed cases and six deaths. The NYC Health Department has traced the outbreak to 12 cooling towers at several buildings, mostly city-owned public buildings.
PEF leaders answer member questions on Aug. 21.
The response from agencies where PEF members may be at risk of contracting the disease at their place of work has been inadequate, according to PEF. At a meeting held at PEF’s New York City office on Aug. 21 and via Zoom for members who couldn’t attend, PEF Vice President Darlene Williams, along with Region 10 Coordinator Tamara Martin and other PEF leaders, detailed their efforts to keep PEF members safe.
“We have filed complaints with the New York Department of Health,” said Martin. “We have been working with Field Representatives to make sure that agencies are responding to requests we have made for telecommuting, office closures, and other steps to keep PEF members safe.”
The NYC Department of Health, Office of General Services (OGS), and other agencies have told workers that employees are “safe” or that the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease is “low” according to their testing of cooling towers. However, PEF members have not felt reassured taking them at their word.
“We want to see those test results from the Department of Health and from OGS and other agencies, because we want to know what ‘low’ means,” said PEF Health and Safety Director Geraldine Stella.
Some PEF members and elected leaders attended the meeting via Zoom.
State Senator Robert Jackson attended the Aug. 21 meeting via Zoom. He said that as the number of confirmed cases and deaths increase, it is unacceptable that PEF members are being kept in the dark about test results from and what they mean.
“The tests have already been done, supposedly,” said Senator Jackson. “We want to see the results. We need to get to work on this and if the agencies or commissioners are not releasing those reports, we should go to Mayor Eric Adams and whoever is responsible for communicating with his commissioners.”
Senator Jackson also said he would be working with other elected officials, including State Senator Cordell Cleare, who has constituents in Harlem as part of New York’s 30th Senate District.
Some members are not only concerned for the safety of themselves and their co-workers, but also of families who are visiting buildings where the risk of disease may still be present. Erik Ruiz is the Council Leader for Division 245 and a Labor Servies Representative at the Department of Labor. He said he worries for people who visit the career center located at 215 West 125th Street in Harlem.
“We had 191 people show up today and that includes older people, children and infants. I do not think they would have the best chances against this disease,” said Ruiz. “I would be interested in having the building shut down temporarily not only for our members, but for the safety of all New Yorkers and their children.”
While some telecommuting has been made available to employees working in the affected area, members feel the response has been inadequate so far since they are still being asked to work at locations where the disease may still be contracted. Tracy Peel, council leader of PEF Division 285 at the Workers’ Compensation Board, said that it isn’t enough to be given a few telecommuting opportunities while so little information is being provided about the possibility of disease.
“Most of our hearings are remote, but we did still have people come into the office for other services with the board during this period of time,” said Peel. “We did receive an initial test result from April and July for our location, but right after we received that, we learned we weren’t one of the buildings that tested positive for Legionella.”
Peel said that despite not testing positive, the building has had problems with maintenance before and has been cited for issues several times. She worries that there may still be a presence of bacteria in the cooling towers.
“Why is the state just taking the word of the city without showing that it’s verified? Members of the public are being put at risk,” said Peel. “If they can produce the test, then produce the tests and show us we’re fine. But if they can’t, why aren’t they doing other things that are absolutely within their capacity?”
While PEF works with legislators and other officials to find new avenues to keep members safe, PEF Health and Safety, working with Field Representatives and Regional Coordinators, have filed PESH complaints with the offices where Legionella has been found.
“The more information we get from leaders and members, the better we can bring that information to the proper authorities,” said Stella. “Also, if you know of anyone who was diagnosed, we know that there is a likelihood that the exposure is work-related. We want to make sure we can get them the information they need to pursue their rights under the workers’ compensation law and our contract.”
PEF Health and Safety also advise going to the doctor if members are feeling sick and advising the treatment provider that they work in the Central Harlem area. That should trigger a test to see if Legionella bacteria is present.
“In terms of symptoms, it may seem like a summer cold or flu, with difficulty breathing, high temperature, or a cough,” said Health and Safety Trainer Micheal Marquez. “I would advise everyone to seek medical treatment, do not delay, do not shrug it off as a summertime cold. It may be something more serious.”
According to Health and Safety, the bacteria can stay in the system for weeks or even longer, depending on how quickly the body deals with the illness. Having documented tests and results from a doctor could benefit anyone seeking workers’ compensation as well.
Vice President Williams ended the meeting with some words of wisdom regarding members’ health.
“If you feel sick, go to a doctor, if you do not feel safe drinking the water, bring in bottled water, if you feel you need to wear a mask, do that,” she said. “And I’m saying this even if there wasn’t a Legionella outbreak in Harlem.”
The PEF Protest of Assignment (POA) form is now digital!
PEF has created a digital-only version of the Protest of Assignment (POA) form. This important tool, previously used primarily by nurses, is now available to all healthcare professionals working in 24/7 institutional settings. Paper submissions will no longer be accepted.
Why This Matters The POA form is a critical step for protecting your professional license and documenting unsafe or inappropriate assignments. In the event of a disciplinary action or Justice Center investigation, a properly filed POA can help mitigate personal liability. Expanding its use to all healthcare titles ensures that every PEF member working in direct care has a voice—and a layer of protection.
Why the Shift to Digital? The new digital format increases efficiency and transparency. Upon submission:
You, the union, your supervisor, and appropriate clinical leadership (e.g., Director of Nursing, Chief Nursing Officer, Social Worker Supervisor, etc) will receive immediate notification.
Your PEF Council Leader and Field Representative will also receive a copy.
Your concerns will be sent in real time to your employer, increasing accountability for resolving workplace issues.
How This Benefits You The new system generates reports by agency, unit, and shift—giving PEF the tools to:
Advocate more effectively for safer staffing and working conditions
Protect your license and respond to disciplinary actions
Address health and safety concerns
Support labor-management discussions and contract negotiations
Influence legislation that impacts healthcare workers
Filing a POA Is Simple
Notify your supervisor and say three things:
“This assignment is unsafe and I need to protect my license.”
“I will be filling out a POA.”
“I need to get back to work.”
Submit the form within 24 hours of the start of your shift at www.pef.org/poa.
The process takes less than 2 minutes digitally.
If you don’t have internet access or time during your shift, file it as soon as possible — ideally at the end of your shift. You can even do it while you warm up your car!
This can be done on your phone at the link above or via the PEF mobile app.
Be sure to note the name of the supervisor you informed about the protest of assignment and the time of notification.
PEF President Wayne Spence issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed their version of the federal budget bill on May 22, 2025:
“PEF is profoundly disappointed that New York’s Republican Congressional delegation did not do more to blunt the negative impact of the “One Big Beautiful bill” on New Yorkers. New York is the 3rdlargest economy in the nation and the 8th largest economy in the world. New Yorkers pay a disproportionate share to fund the services, programs and benefits afforded to all Americans through our federal government. By a vote of 215-214, the legislation passed by the U.S. House perpetrates economic and policy malpractice on all Americans, but especially hard-working New Yorkers. PEF is disappointed with every member of the New York delegation who voted in favor of stripping even more resources away from New Yorkers to fund a $4.5 trillion giveaway for the wealthiest Americans. This legislation literally strips food from hungry children and ends access to health care for millions of seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and children to continue a failed tax policy that disproportionately benefits wealthy Americans — a policy approach that has ballooned our federal deficit and our federal debt.
PEF, working through its national affiliates AFT and SEIU, will continue to fight this ill-conceived proposal as it makes its way to the U.S. Senate. Ultimately, after action in the Senate, the proposal will go back to the U.S. House for more negotiation and “reconciliation” prior to a final determination. I thank all of the PEF members who mobilized to stop this proposal. I urge every PEF member and every New Yorker who lives in a Republican Congressional District to call their representatives today to urge them to reconsider their position and to stop the harm they are inflicting on their constituents and the residents of our state.”
PEF members who work at DOCCS facilities across the state, including nurses and mental health care workers who work for OMH in Corrections Based Operations, listened to a Telephone Town Hall on May 22, 2025. PEF President Wayne Spence and PEF Legislative Director Patrick Lyons shared information about PEF’s involvement in recent meetings with DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III and other unions to explore changes to the HALT (Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement) Act. President Spence and Director Lyons also shared their thoughts following a legislative hearing earlier this month in Albany on “Safety of Persons in Custody, Transparency, and Accountability within State Correctional Facilities.” Here are approximate time codes to help you listen to the video below.
0:30 – President Spence discusses the cancellation of an annual DOCCS Labor-Management meeting and instead announces a PEF member focused meeting on concerns in DOCCS facilities to be held June 19-21 in Albany.
2:40 – President Spence talk about meetings with Commissioner Martuscello and unions with members at DOCCS facilities and what has been discussed at the meetings.
4:25 – President Spence invites the PEF members who were a part of those meetings to share their perspective.
4:50 – PEF member Anne Jordan, an Offender Rehabilitation Coordinator at Groveland Correctional Facility, shares her perspective.
6:50 – PEF Executive Board Member and Vocational Education Supervisor at Mohawk Correctional Facility Steve Drake shares his perspective.
8:35 – Lindsay Bonanza is a Teacher 4 at Marcy Correctional Facility in Utica. President Spence invites her to share her perspective.
10:25 – Jeff Taylor is a Registered Nurse 1 at Clinton Correctional Facility. He also shared his perspective.
11:15 – President Spence shares a recent report in the Albany Times Union that alleges that assaults against incarcerated individuals are happening in infirmaries.
12:40 – Director Lyons jumps on to add details regarding the Times Union article and shares some information about legislation introduced as a result of the report.
13:55 – President Spence invites Lyons to share his perspective on the DOCCS and union coalition meetings.
14:45 – Lyons details each of the recommendations made by PEF and the unions that were adopted and are going to be pushed forward to the next meeting with the advocates of the HALT Act to find a solution together with the unions.
19:45 – President Spence discusses his appearance at the joint legislative committee hearing on “Safety of Persons in Custody, Transparency, and Accountability within State Correctional Facilities” that was held in Albany on May 15, 2025.
21:05 – President Spence shares his perspective and the union’s position as Corrections Officers and NYSCOPBA members receive raises and age requirement changes while civilian staff are left out of the conversation.
22:45 – President Spence talks about the hearing and his opinion on how the legislature has responded to the strike, recent murders in correctional facilities, and how PEF is dealing with the issues.
24:40 – President Spence invites Lyons to share his opinion on the hearing. Lyons focuses on PEF members stepping up during the strike and also shares the reality of the situation for civilian workers.
27:50 – President Spence advocates for the role of the parole officers and civilian staff during the strike and shares testimony from members. He also shares his belief in how the system can change for the better for PEF members and incarcerated individuals.
33:10 – President Spence thanks Steve Drake for helping to set up leave time properly for DOCCS staff to attend the June 19-21 meeting mentioned at the start of the townhall.
April 24, 2025 — The Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) advises PEF that there were challenges in calculating years of qualifying service for the 2025 performance awards (longevities) for employees with more complicated work histories, which include the following groups:
Employees with multiple records when time in the records do not overlap
Employees with multiple payment eligible records
Hourly and FEE service
Legacy service prior to PayServ conversion
Certain reinstatements where the effective date of the reinstatement is after the effective date of the rehire
OSC will therefore be conducting the necessary review and issuing additional and/or corrected payments for the above-referenced employee groups. When we find out more specific details about the dates for these additional payments, we will provide an update.
Click here for a complete memo from PEF Contract Administration detailing the situation.
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.
PEF Executive Board to consider no-confidence vote against OMH Commissioner Sullivan
ALBANY, N.Y. — The 120 members of the PEF Executive Board, representing more than 54,000 New York State employees, voted unanimously at their quarterly meeting on March 27 to consider a no-confidence vote against Office of Mental Health (OMH) Commissioner Ann Sullivan when they meet again on June 12.
“The board spoke strongly and in unison because they are sick and tired of the lack of action by Commissioner Sullivan when it comes to addressing conditions in the agency that are leading to violent assaults against PEF members and other staff who work there,” said PEF President Wayne Spence.
The board agreed to draft a resolution before its June meeting that will list all the assaults the union is aware of that have not been addressed. In addition, the union leaders committed to holding rallies and press conferences in the coming months outside facilities where workplace violence is occurring.
Not every assault makes headlines, but since April of last year three people were stabbed at Buffalo Psychiatric Center (PC), a PEF member was struck in the head and spent weeks on a respirator after an attack at South Beach PC on Staten Island in September, and just this month a PEF member was sexually assaulted at Pilgrim PC in Suffolk County.
“PEF members at OMH understand they work in a dangerous setting, but this is not part of the job,” said President Spence. “They care for New Yorkers who really need the services they provide, and it’s time for the State to do everything in their power to protect its workforce.”
PEF is advocating for funding to install body scanners at OMH and other State agencies in this year’s budget and is committed to discussing additional policy changes with OMH that will make all facilities safer.
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The Public Employees Federation is a labor union representing more than 54,000 professional, scientific, and technical workers in New York State. About 6,700 of those members work at the Office of Mental Health. PEF members work in more than 3,000 different titles – from social workers to nurses to engineers to parole officers, and from Long Island to Buffalo.
DOCCS Impacted by Loss of Health Insurance: How to Enroll
PEF-Represented Family Members Impacted by Loss of Insurance Due to the Corrections Officer Strike:
We have heard reports from PEF members who have lost their health insurance because their spouse/domestic partner was/is a Corrections Officer (CO) who had their insurance terminated effective February 17 because of the strike. If you are in this situation, please note that the termination of your spouse/domestic partner’s health insurance is “a qualifying event” entitling you, as long as you are otherwise eligible, to enroll or change your enrollment in NYSHIP immediately without a waiting period. The enrollment may be individual or family, including the CO spouse/domestic partner. To enroll you must complete the PS-404 Form and submit it directly to your Agency Health Benefits Administrator for processing within 30 days of the qualifying event (use the termination effective date). You will need documentation of the termination of the family member’s health insurance.
If you need assistance with the enrollment, please contact the PEF Health Benefits Team at healthbenefits@pef.org.
PEF President Wayne Spence issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed their version of the federal budget bill on May 22, 2025:
PEF members who work at DOCCS facilities across the state, including nurses and mental health care workers who work for OMH in Corrections Based Operations, listened to a Telephone Town Hall on May 22, 2025. PEF President Wayne Spence and PEF Legislative Director Patrick Lyons shared information about PEF’s involvement in recent meetings with DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III and other unions to explore changes to the HALT (Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement) Act. President Spence and Director Lyons also shared their thoughts following a legislative hearing earlier this month in Albany on “Safety of Persons in Custody, Transparency, and Accountability within State Correctional Facilities.” Here are approximate time codes to help you listen to the video below.