DMV PEF Division 211

Capital District
6 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12228

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December 4, 2015:

PEF Members:

PEF and GOER recently negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding that provides $2.25 million for a tuition reimbursement program for 2016. This agreement and these funds will allow PEF members to continue to access tuition benefits while we continue to negotiate the successor agreement to the contract that expired in April. We understand the importance of continuity for those currently pursuing additional education, and we are pleased that we can provide some measure of assistance even as we continue our negotiations.

PEF will soon meet with the State to discuss the details of implementing this benefit. As more details are available, we will post them on the PEF Website.

On December 2nd, PEF and New York State reached agreement on a memorandum of understanding that restores the Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) for 2016. We are working with the State to expedite implementation of the program, but the MOU provides that the benefit will be retroactive so participants will receive the full annual benefit. As soon as more detail is available, we will post it on pef.org.


November 16, 2015:

PEF Members:

In the past several weeks, we have heard concerns from many of you about the expiration of the Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP). We know this is a valuable benefit important to our members and appreciate the hardship that can occur when the program ends.

I want to let you know that while PEF has historically deferred discussions on extending PEP to be included in contract negotiations, we are now looking to begin these discussions separately from contract talks. To that end, I have formally requested that the Governor's Office of Employee Relations (GOER) begin discussions with PEF about extending The PEP program immediately. I will keep you updated on our progress of resolving this issue that is so important to so many of our members.

In solidarity, Wayne Spence PEF President


October 26, 2015:

PEF Delegates/Members:

Thank you for your participation in PEF's 37th annual convention. You made history! Without a doubt, the 2015 convention was the most successful PEF convention in more than a decade.

Let me recap:

  • Together, we finished ALL the union business we set out to do - 17 resolutions and two constitutional amendments;
  • You attended informative workshops at a record level – standing room only;
  • You heard from the President of AFT, the President of AFL-CIO and the Secretary Treasurer of SEIU;
  • Where differences of opinion occurred, you were respectful and not argumentative;
  • You met PEF members you can now call your colleagues.

So, when you report back to your members about your time at the Convention, I hope you will represent the proceedings in an optimistic way. Yes, we heard and talked at length about impending challenges. But, I am so invigorated and proud of the unity you displayed that I am more confident than ever that we are on the right track not only for a good contract, but to beat back threats to our union.

I thank you once again for the terrific work we accomplished together. PEF Members: GET YOUR UNION ON!

UNITED WE BARGAIN, DIVIDED WE BEG

In solidarity,

Wayne Spence
PEF President


September 23, 2015:

Bi-Annual Membership Meeting:

Wednesday October 28th 12pm, Room 137. Lunch wiil be provided. You must charge accruals if you remain past 12:30. You must pre-register to attend. Register by calling: Ralph Mabb: 486-5876, Jim Parker: 474-3320.


September 21, 2015:

HEIP Program:

The Membership Benefits Trustees are pleased to announce that the Higher Education Incentive Program (HEIP) tuition reimbursement pilot program will be extended for the Fall, 2015 semester. The program provides active PEF members with tuition reimbursement of up to $600 for one job- or career-related, successfully completed post secondary course at an accredited college or university. In addition to extending the program, deadlines for past applications and for Fall 2015, registrations have been added to the pilot program as follows:

Fall 2015 Semester

October 31, 2015: Fall Application Deadline
Members MUST apply online by midnight, October 31, 2015, to be accepted for Fall 2015. Requests submitted after midnight, October 31, 2015, will not be accepted.

February 15, 2016: Fall Supporting Documentation Deadline
All supporting documentation for Fall 2015 MUST be received by midnight, February 15, 2016, to be accepted for reimbursement. No documentation will be accepted after this date.

Fall 2014, Spring 2015, and Summer 2015 Semesters

September 30, 2015: Reimbursement Request Deadline
All requests for reimbursement, and all required supporting documentation, MUST be received by midnight, September 30, 2015, to be considered. No exceptions permitted.

The HEIP program was initially introduced for the Fall, 2014 semester to help bridge the gap left when the State refused to restart the PS&T tuition program. The program has issued 1,754 reimbursement payments for courses ($998,971) and books ($75,056.02) to date. The Board will reevaluate the program at the end of 2015 to determine if MBP is fiscally able to sustain this pilot program.

Three promotional emails were developed to communicate the program extension and new deadlines:

  1. Fall 2015 Program Extension Announcement sent to all e-newsletter subscribers
  2. Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Summer 2015 Semester Reimbursement Deadline Notification sent to existing applicants
  3. Fall 2015 Program Extension Announcement sent to ALL applicants.

The program extension and new deadlines have also been announced in the The Source - the PEF MBP enewsletter, The Communicator, and on the MBP website.


September 9, 2015:

Programs and Events:

2015 Women of Merit Flier

Labor Rally Flyer


August 14, 2015:

Recent Division 211 Activities:

  • On May 19th, 2015 PEF Division 211 met with Management for our ongoing Health and Safety Labor Management meetings. Div 211 and DMV meet quarterly regarding all things Health and Safety initiatives within the agency.
  • Approximately 30 DIV 211 PEF members attended the Annual DMV Clambake on Friday the 7th of August.
  • The next PEF Executive Board meetings are set for Thursday Sept 10th and Friday Sept 11th at the Desmond in Latham. R. Mabb will be attending as the DMV Statewide Executive Board Representative.
  • DIV 211 Is Sending One delegate to the PEF Convention in Syracuse NY, on Oct 18th to the 21st. R. Mabb will be attending and will be along side other DMV Members from Divisions Downstate. (FYI did you know any PEF member of DIV 211 can petition for Convention each year?)

May 26, 2015:

DiNapoli: State Pension Fund Reaches Record High of $183.5 Billion:

Earns 7.16 Percent Return on Investments in State Fiscal Year 2015

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced that the New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) reached a record estimated value of $183.5 billion as of the close of the state fiscal year on March 31, 2015.

"The Fund performed well over the past year despite the challenges in the market," DiNapoli said. "We achieved a solid return on investments in the midst of global volatility thanks to our talented investment staff and our diversified asset allocation."

The Fund is the third-largest public pension fund in the country and remains one of the nation's best-managed and best-funded pension plans. The New York State and Local Retirement System provides retirement security to more than one million active state and local government employees, retirees and their beneficiaries. Over the last 20 years, 80 percent of benefits have been funded from investment returns. Employer and employee contributions cover the remainder of the benefits cost and are determined by investment results over a multi-year period along with numerous other actuarial assumptions, including wage growth, inflation, age of retirement and mortality. The Fund's long-term expected rate of return is 7.5 percent. Strong returns in recent years have resulted in back to back consecutive reductions in employer contributions in fiscal years 2014-2015 and 2015-2016.

The Fund's value and rate of return in prior years. A graph showing the Fund's value since 1993.


May 6, 2015:

Contract Talks Continue:

Formal talks for the PS&T contract between PEF and the Governor's Office of Employee Relations (GOER) are continuing today, May 5th and Wednesday 6th.

The initial meeting on April 15th was very productive. The PEF contract team presented its conceptual proposals and the sides agreed on dates for future negotiating sessions.

As negotiations continue, PEF will continue to keep members updated through the PEF website and via our social media channels, Facebook and Twitter.

Also, sign up on the PEF website to Become A Contract Activist.

As we negotiate our next contract, your personal professional stories will assist us at the bargaining table to illustrate the challenges our members face and the value we provide to the citizens of New York State.


April 6, 2015:

Annual Membership Meeting:

Friday May 22nd 12pm Room 137. A Pizza Lunch & Giveaways will be provided. You must charge accruals if you remain past 12:30. You must pre-register to attend. Register by calling: Ralph Mabb 486-5876 or Jim Parker 474-3320.