• PEF Actions Leading up to the Sept. 27 Vaccine Mandate

    PEF Actions Leading up to the Sept. 27 Vaccine Mandate

    On Sept. 17, PEF filed a declaration of impasse with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) requesting a mediator be assigned to facilitate impact bargaining with the Governor’s Office of...

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  • Crisis at OPWDD: PEF rallies for increased wages, staffing

    Crisis at OPWDD: PEF rallies for increased wages, staffing

    PEF members, retirees and other disabilities services organizations joined State Sen. John Mannion (D-50th District) on September 14 outside the State Capitol for a rally to spotlight the lack of adequate...

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  • PEF statement on lifting of statewide hiring freeze

    PEF statement on lifting of statewide hiring freeze

    ALBANY, N.Y. – PEF President Wayne Spence issued the following statement in response to Gov. Hochul’s suspension of the statewide hiring freeze on Sept. 16: “PEF applauds Gov. Hochul’s decision...

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  • PEF welcomes Gov. Kathy Hochul

    PEF welcomes Gov. Kathy Hochul

    PEF President Wayne Spence issued the following statement after Gov. Kathy Hochul was sworn in on Aug. 24, 2021, as the 57th governor of New York: (Hans Pennink/AP Photo)​ “PEF looks...

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  • PEF statement on New York’s vaccination-or-testing mandate

    PEF statement on New York’s vaccination-or-testing mandate

    Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that New York will require all state employees be vaccinated or get tested regularly starting this Labor Day. PEF recognizes the importance of COVID-19 vaccination,...

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  • PEF tells committees to ‘act fast’ to impact return-to-work, telecommuting

    PEF tells committees to ‘act fast’ to impact return-to-work, telecommuting

    PEF’s statewide labor-management and health and safety committees must move very quickly to influence return-to-work and future telecommuting policies before a July 31 deadline.  That was the urgent message they...

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  • New York State Legislative Session Wrap Up

    New York State Legislative Session Wrap Up

    Another session of the New York State Legislature ended shortly before dawn on June 11 and the PEF Legislative department has compiled a summary of the major bills supported by...

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  • Faulty Cuomo Bridge Bolts Not the Only Crack in New York’s Infrastructure

    Faulty Cuomo Bridge Bolts Not the Only Crack in New York’s Infrastructure

    The following commentary by PEF President Wayne Spence ran in the Albany Times Union on April 27 and is republished here for our members who don’t subscribe to the newspaper. President...

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  • New York State Announces $26.6 Million for Grants to Support Essential Workers

    New York State Announces $26.6 Million for Grants to Support Essential Workers

    We wanted to let PEF members know that New York State recently made available $26.6 million funded through private donations for ​the Empire Pandemic Grant Program. The money is intended for essential...

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