November 27, 2024 — The PEF Jewish Committee invites members to participate in its annual Hanukkah celebration from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. on December 16, both in person at the New York City Office, 100 William St., and online via Zoom.
Dinner will be provided at the in-person event, which is limited to the first 40 people to RSVP. Members interested in attending in person are advised to RSVP as soon as possible to RSchwartz@pef.org. Make sure you indicate whether you will be attending in person or via Zoom. The committee will send further information if you can be accommodated in person.
If you don’t have a computer, call (516) 642-5741 and leave a message with your name, address, telephone number and whether you want to attend in person or via Zoom. For those coming in person, be advised that building security requires all names to be submitted in advance for admission.
PEF President Wayne Spence released the following statement on Nov. 6, 2024:
“The results of the presidential election have brought a change in leadership at the national level. Regardless of the outcome, our focus as a union remains steadfast: advocating for the priorities and needs of PEF members. Now, more than ever, we must come together, setting aside divisions, to ensure that our voices are heard, and our work continues to make a meaningful impact.
PEF has always been a union rooted in unity and resilience, rising above political tides to fight for fair wages, safe workplaces, and the resources our members deserve. Together, we will engage with policymakers at every level to advance our priorities and protect the hard-won gains we’ve achieved. Let’s move forward as one union, united in purpose, for the betterment of all our members and the communities we serve.”
In Unity,
Wayne Spence
PEF President
PEF condemns insulting remarks directed at Latinos during Trump rally
PEF nurses pose for a photo before boarding a plane to San Juan in October 2017. The Hurricane Maria volunteers are Carolyn Cole, Douglas Massey, SusanWilliams, Justin Farrier (kneeling) Patricia Trowbridge and Llamara Padro-Milano.
PEF President Wayne Spence issued the following statement on Oct. 29, 2024:
PEF joins our union siblings from the AFT Latino Caucus and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement in strongly condemning the racist and disparaging remarks directed at Puerto Rico during the Trump/Vance rally at Madison Square Garden this past weekend (Oct. 27, 2024).
PEF is a diverse union, made up of thousands of job titles performed by people from all over the world who choose to live and work in New York State. We are stronger because of that diversity. When Hurricane Maria tore through Puerto Rico in 2017, PEF nurses traveled there to help provide critical care during the relief effort. The PEF Relief Fund has raised tens of thousands of dollars to assist families in Puerto Rico and wherever other natural disasters happen. Time after time, our members donate time and money to help others survive and rebuild. That is who we are. As a union, we are committed to supporting each other and our families, here at home and abroad, whenever they are in need.
Verdict is still out on New York’s new dental provider
Didn’t get your Anthem ID card yet? Call them at (833) 821-1949 or contact your agency’s HR Department, Health Benefits Administrator, or Business Service Center!
Updated Dec. 10, 2024 — New York State’s new dental provider, Anthem Blue Cross, began serving members on Oct. 1, after PEF led a multi-union charge to get the state to put the decades-old dental contract out to bid.The level of benefits offered are determined by the current 2023-2026 PEF/State Agreement and have not changed under Anthem. Among the enhanced contractual benefits afforded PEF members are:
a higher annual maximum allowance of $3,000 per person
an increase to $3,000 for the orthodontic lifetime maximum per child
inclusion of a $600 implant allowance
long overdue coverage for precious/upgraded metal fillings
Now that some members have received or scheduled dental care with an Anthem network dentist, PEF wants to know: How is it going? Please email Communicator@pef.org with your experiences, positive or negative. If you’ve had a positive experience with a dentist in your area and recommend the provider to your fellow PEF members, please let us know! We are attempting to create a list of member-recommended dental providers in each PEF region. Similarly, if you’ve had a negative or frustrating experience, please be as specific as you can in your email and the union will share that feedback with Anthem and the NYS Office of Employee Relations. Please include the name of the dentist and your contact number or personal email so we can follow up as needed.
PEF members who have not yet tried out Anthem should use this link to search for an in-network dentist:https://www.anthembluecross.com/mcr/nys-dental. Select “New York State Dental Plan” under Search for a Dental Provider. You will be directed to the XPO Dental Complete network where you can search for providers by address, doctor name or specialty type. If you need further assistance, contact Anthem Blue Cross at (833) 821-1949.
Payment of the October 2024 contractual performance advances (increments) will be included in paychecks dated October 23 (Administration) and October 31 (Institution), according to Payroll Bulletin 2269 from the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC).
OSC also released Payroll Bulletin 2261 providing information about the payment of the 2024 Performance Advances for Institution Teachers and those in related titles, which were included in paychecks dated September 25 (Administration) and September 19 (Institution).
Details regarding eligibility are contained in Article 7.11 of the 2023-2026 PEF/State Agreement and in the above links. Please direct any questions about these payments to your field representative.
PEF members can enroll in Learning and Development Series
Oct. 15, 2024 — Enrollment is now open in the Statewide Learning Management System (SLMS) for the November 2024 through February 2025 Learning and Development (L&D) Series.
The course catalog is available on the Office of Employee Relations (OER) website. There are six courses offered:
Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
Essentials of Supervision: Planning Performance and Giving Feedback
Essentials of Supervision: The New Supervisor – Making the Transition
Navigating Transitions in the Workplace–A Guide for Managers and Supervisors
Respectful Communications in the Workplace
Successful Supervision in a Remote Environment
Supervisory approval is required to attend any classes in the series.
The L&D Series is made available through a partnership between OER and the New York State Learning Alliance (NYSLA). Any PEF member may self-enroll for these courses at NYSlearn.ny.gov. For questions regarding enrollment, call the SLMS Help Desk at (518) 473-8087 or send an email to SLMSHelpdesk@its.ny.gov.
PEF gives back to community at Tops Friendly Markets in Buffalo
October 15, 2024 — More than two years after the mass shooting at a Tops Friendly Markets in Buffalo that killed 10 people, the community is still looking for answers and support. That’s why PEF sponsored a community giveback event on October 12.
The event gave a chance for the community to gather supplies, books and other needs for school children. The books were donated as part of AFT’s Reading Opens the World program, which has distributed more than 10 million books for free to children across the U.S.
PEF also partnered with members from the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to give the community a chance to get to know the agencies while also working to recruit new employees from the community.
Left to right: PEF Membership Benefits Administrator Stephanie McLean-Beathley, PEF Vice President Darlene Williams, PEF President Wayne Spence, PEF Region 1 Coordinator Michele Iorfida, and PEF Regional Director of Field Services Eric Kwasniewski.
“There are state jobs here for the community, plenty of books, and other supplies,” said PEF President Wayne Spence, who attended with other Statewide Officers from the union. “We want the community to know that PEF is here for them, and we keep them in our hearts.”
PEF also partnered with local organizations like the Buffalo Urban League and fraternities like Phi Beta Sigma to make sure the community has the services they need and that they are registered to vote. In addition, shredding services were on hand, allowing members of the community to safely dispose of their old documents and sensitive materials.
Hundreds of books were handed out and several visitors filled out job applications to potentially join the ranks of OPWDD and OMH in the near future.
Teachers, daycare administrators and other educators appreciated the book giveaway, loading their trunks for their students.
“I’m very glad the Union is here, this community needs healing,” said Sandra McAdor, a General Business Instructor at the Department of Corrections and Community Supervisor (DOCCS). “This is a community that is still experiencing trauma. Bringing books and these supplies means that there is a chance for people to escape that trauma. It can be very healing and I’m proud to be a part of that.”
“I’m also proud of what we were able to do today,” said President Spence. “The people here are still recovering, but it is great that we’ve been able to help them, even a little bit.”
This evening, members of the Jewish community will come together to usher in Yom Kippur, the most holy day in the Jewish calendar. Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, provides a time to reflect and prepare for the year to come. To all those observing Yom Kippur, we extend warm wishes for a meaningful day and an easy fast. Gmar Chatima Tova.
October 9, 2024 — Are you or one of your family members planning on attending college? If so, take advantage of NYS College Application Month (CAM). CAM’s primary goal is to increase the number of students applying to college from NYS high schools.
The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) runs the campaign, which provides students with tools, resources and guidance to help them pursue their higher education.
More than 130 colleges and universities throughout New York State are waiving their application fees in October. This means students can apply to multiple colleges without the burden of application fees, making it easier and more affordable for students to pursue their college goals.
For a complete list of participating schools and their fee waiver dates, please click here.
Want to get connected to resources you need to prepare for college or apply for financial aid? Sign up now to receive texts with key information about financial aid, important deadlines, and resources to put you on the right path toward your college career.
Updated Dec. 10, 2024 — New York State’s new dental provider, Anthem Blue Cross, began serving members on Oct. 1, after PEF led a multi-union charge to get the state to put the decades-old dental contract out to bid.
