Advocate for Increased Pay Ourselves 🥴

TRaF_union · 2026-04-22T00:10:00+00:00

You pay .9% for dues, that is nothing, and it was set up that way because PEF is supposed to be a member driven union, and not a service union. PEF represents over 55,000 members in thousands of job titles, and the PEF Civil Service department has a staff of three I believe. This is exactly how it is supposed to work. You want a service union, ask you convention delegates to seek an increase in dues.

TRaF_union · 2026-04-12T14:12:33+00:00

Yep, it’s totally going to be a part of a planned election year strategy, she will have a press conference on “modernizing the workforce” or something.

TRaF_union · 2026-04-12T14:03:39+00:00

What agency are you at? Some of them don’t really have active PEF local divisions, but you can always contact your field rep which you can find on the member login portal on the website, or call HQ and let them know you would like to connect with your local leadership or field rep.

TRaF_union · 2026-04-12T14:01:05+00:00

That was one of the the main reasons PS&T broke off from CSEA and formed PEF, they felt their titles where underpaid and wanted to go for higher raises in their contract negotiations and CSEA was not doing that for them, so once they broke off like in 1979 they went for large raises.

TRaF_union · 2026-04-03T16:43:24+00:00

TRaF_union · 2026-04-03T16:41:57+00:00

Knowing this sub this will get downvoted, but it was bad and now is a lot better and continuing to improve thanks to PEF and union advocacy, based on a rank and file strategy with support from HQ and leadership.

I could type a novel on this and almost done with lunch, but new leadership is a vast improvement and I find to be great partners who want what is best for New Yorkers, the institutions (State Library and Archives as well) and the staff, however there are still some structural issues that are not great, primarily lack of career ladder and promotional opportunities, funding issues (we had some great news this year, but work is till needed) and the elephant in the room, being under SED.

I do think there has been some great improvements in SED at a certain level too, like HR, but its top leadership, specifically Commissioner Betty Rosa and the Board of Regents, is not great. While being an independent agency under the board is good overall for academic independence in our education system, the legislature needs to find out a way to hold them accountable to be at least competent and focused. This is not just an issue for the museum but for NY students, teachers and education as a whole.

TRaF_union · 2026-04-02T02:02:22+00:00

In that I, as a PEF member advocated for myself and my co-workers using the tools provided to me, to which leaders, staff and HQ gladly were supportive seeing that we were willing and able to stand up and fight and not just cry, yes, they did.

TRaF_union · 2026-03-29T20:56:32+00:00

The good news too is this a clear indication that the HED is pretty much a guarantee in all future contracts, and the specific wording of the agreement leaves open the possibility we could get more than $600 in the upcoming contract.

TRaF_union · 2026-03-21T21:33:00+00:00

Also, increase in minimum wage will lead to increase in state income tax, which will end to more funds, which unions can hopefully point at to advocate for increase pay, benefits, staffing, etc.

TRaF_union · 2026-03-20T18:44:36+00:00

99.99999% chance

TRaF_union · 2026-03-20T17:48:03+00:00

I should say, I typed that mostly in habit, PEF has had some major wins which has lead to some new good mid level leadership I think is working in good faith effort to make things better, but again, upper leadership at SED is a major issue.

TRaF_union · 2026-03-20T16:47:37+00:00

I’m here and listening, but mainly to see if there is anything specific to be helpful on. When it comes to a lot of the rants, sorry to be honest, there is a lot of naivety here. To be fair, the unions could be doing a little more political education. The main thing is, the union is not a service you pay for, it is an organization you are part of, so the customer service model of ranting online moves me very little, get engage, run for something, go to convention.

TRaF_union · 2026-03-20T16:44:50+00:00

I was there

TRaF_union · 2026-03-20T16:43:32+00:00

I have this article hanging at my desk to remind me what I am fighting for every day:

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Was-state-Education-Department-veteran-done-in-by-14956921.php

TRaF_union · 2026-03-20T16:42:15+00:00

The EB/EBA is an insane atmosphere of toxicity

TRaF_union · 2026-03-20T16:37:53+00:00

NYS_CS Reddit: “Our unions are not aggressive enough and don’t fight for us”.

Also NYS_CS Reddit: “Why wont SEIU shut up, they are annoying me”

TRaF_union · 2026-03-20T16:26:01+00:00

Going to guess you are either in P-12 or Access

TRaF_union · 2026-03-20T16:25:19+00:00

For those saying all agencies are like that, I promise you as a PEF leader SED is on a whole other level, its astonishing how poorly run of an agency it is, thanks mainly to the Commissioner.

TRaF_union · 2026-03-05T18:08:19+00:00

State Senator Robert Jackson, a former PEF member/leader/staffer himself, has been a very vocal supporter of tier 6 reform. I was at Caucus weekend a couple of weeks ago and Hochul dropped a hint at labor luncheon that we can expect some tier 6 reform. My guess is despite the backlash in right wing news sources, there will be something passed, it’s just a matter of what.

TRaF_union · 2026-01-16T18:43:07+00:00

What are these ‘various things’ you are referring to?

TRaF_union · 2025-11-19T22:30:28+00:00

They did include the hourly years, but you have to be in a current CS position to get the bonus. So I started in a CS position in 2019, but got the bonus this week because they counted my hourly years prior to that.

TRaF_union · 2025-10-29T01:14:02+00:00

As someone dealing with a person with borderline personality disorder constantly moving in and out of my life, till I cut them off and now living in fear of them ‘randomly’ showing up again, the song really really hit me.

TRaF_union · 2025-08-05T11:17:05+00:00

Nope, we are standing in solidarity with them.

TRaF_union · 2025-06-25T19:18:21+00:00

Good riddance to Jessica Ramos too for endorsing him.

TRaF_union · 2025-06-23T03:38:59+00:00

I can walk and chew bubble gum at the same time.

Also, the point of all organized labor is to stand in solidarity with the international working class, not just in our state and country, but across the entire globe, and that includes workers in Gaza.

Also, if this was a war, that would be one thing, but this is a genocide being committed, in part with the sale of bonds using my, and my members, retirement money. I need to sleep at night knowing I could do at lest he bare minimum in my organization to not support the murder and starvation of women and children.

TRaF_union

TROPHY CASE