Thank you for visiting the PEF Political Action page. This page is specifically designed with resources and information to help you navigate the complex world of legislation and politics in New York state. I’d like to call your attention to some key items: Information about how to volunteer, and a tool to look up your state lawmakers.
Your PEF leadership team understands that the union’s involvement in political and legislative action is absolutely critical to you and every PEF member. We need to be involved because our elected representatives in Washington, D.C., and in Albany enact laws and implement policies that impact the terms and conditions of your employment, as well as your health and retirement benefits.
We know that there are politicians who will use any excuse to cut your retirement benefits, increase your health care costs, eliminate your due process rights or privatize your job. Your union makes sure you are represented and heard by monitoring bill introductions, attending and testifying at public hearings, conducting bill analyses, drafting new bills, developing amendments to pending bills and developing talking points and memoranda in support or opposition to pending legislation.
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Send a letter to Gov. Hochul urging her to sign important bills
PEF supported several important bills in the 2024 Legislative Session and now they are in the hands of Gov. Kathy Hochul, who can sign them into laws or veto them. To keep the pressure on, we need your help! The Governor has a Contact Form on the State’s website where voters can contact her about any issue. Please fill out a new form for each letter you wish to send and then copy and paste the bold language into the subject field and the italicized portion into the Message field. It only takes a few minutes, but it can make a huge difference for the employees and the people of New York!
Regulate and disclose use of AI by state agencies
Dear Governor Hochul,
As a member of the 56,000-member Public Employees Federation, I urge you to sign legislation to disclose and regulate the use of artificial intelligence by state agencies into law (S.7543-B by Sen. Gonzalez/A.9430-B by Asm. Otis)
Artificial Intelligence and other computer-aided decision making has become an issue of major concern over the last few years. Some of the reasons for concern include security, privacy and built-in biases. This bill would ensure that the public is aware of which state agencies are using it and for what purposes.
It is critical that New York closely monitors the acquisition and implementation of AI systems and it is equally important to undertake periodic reviews of those applications. There are already examples of significant errors in existing AI applications, like DOCCS use of the COMPAS program to determine the dangerousness of individuals on parole and the appropriate frequency of parole visits. There are also reports of AI being used to generate audit determinations at the Department of Taxation and Finance.
Unregulated and non-transparent expansion of AI systems into government decision making processes – like social services, unemployment insurance benefit determinations, and workers’ compensation claims – is completely irresponsible and potentially dangerous. This bill would require continued meaningful human review of AI that impacts public assistance benefits, civil liberties, or Constitutional rights.
While AI will likely prove to be a powerful tool to increase productivity, it comes with great responsibility and the need for human oversight. Concerns over AI-generated discrimination and bias will continue, especially without the public knowing what programs are being used and how they are being utilized. This legislation does not prohibit the use of AI, except for programs that are known to be biased.
It would allow for the public to be aware of the extent of AI usage by state agencies. In addition, the bill would protect and preserve the labor rights of public employees by prohibiting any displacement of workers or reduction in their normal hours.
I urge you to sign this important legislation into law as soon as possible.
Please copy and paste into this form.
Bullying and abusive conduct language and training
Dear Governor Hochul,
As a member of the 56,000-member Public Employees Federation, I encourage you to sign legislation to address “bullying” and “abusive conduct” in the workplace into law (S.3065-A by Sen. Ramos/A.8934-B by Asm. Bronson).
This legislation adds “abusive conduct” and “bullying” in the state’s workplace violence prevention law. This legislation also requires training for all employees on such terms to reduce the incidences of abusive behavior at the workplace and requires agencies to develop reports on incidents of bullying and/or abusive conduct.
According to a 2021 survey, 30% of workers have directly experienced bullying while at work. People who work remotely were more likely to report such bullying, with 43% responding that they had been bullied on the job. This legislation seeks to address bullying in the worksite by educating managers and staff about the nature and impact of such conduct and outlining the processes available to those who are subject to bullying and/or abusive conduct. As an employer, the state of New York has a responsibility to train its employees to identify abusive conduct and/or bullying and to educate staff on the remedies available to the affected employees to seek redress.
Once again, I urge you to sign this important legislation into law.
Please copy and paste into this form.
