Chairman’s Message
 
 
 
Welcome to the official website of the New York State Public Employee Conference (NYSPEC). We have revised this site to make it more useful for our member unions and for those interested in finding out more about our organization.

NYSPEC is growing each year as more unions realize there is truth to the adage “strength in numbers”. NYSPEC today is a force to be reckoned with. We‘re constantly adding more members in both civilian and uniform titles, which makes our membership list quite impressive.

I’m proud of how far the organization has come. In light of all the problems the labor movement deals with on a regular basis, such as reductions in health benefits, and talks of reducing pension benefits, along with contract battles, it’s now more important than ever for unions to band together as one.

With input from our individual unions, NYSPEC fights the battles that need to be fought in order to protect our members. The best example of this, and one of my proudest accomplishments, was getting the 9/11 bill signed into law. With all the hours I spent, along with our Legislative Committee (Co-Chairs Bing Markee and Floyd Holloway and Legislative Director Lou Matarazzo), on pushing this bill through the Senate and Assembly, it was ultimately the voice of so many unions speaking in solidarity that got this bill signed into law.

I would like to thank Marci Rosenblum of RWD Group for having the foresight to realize our ever-growing organization needed a new website. She spent countless hours designing, writing and uploading information to our new site in order to give it just the right look. In addition to the time spent on this site, she writes and produces our newsletter, the PEConnection. Her time and commitment to NYSPEC is unwavering.

If you have suggestions for what you’d like to see on the site, please contact NYSPEC.
 
 
An Additional Message From The Chairman
 
As we embark on the 31st Annual Breakfast of the New York State Public Employee Conference, our organization is looking forward to working with the State Legislature on numerous bills of importance to the labor movement.

In the past few years, NYSPEC has successfully had two very important pieces of legislation signed into law insuring protection for our Public Employees who responded so valiantly to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 — the 9/11 Presumptive Disability Bill and the Death Benefit Legislation known as the Zadroga Bill. The 9/11 Bill created a Task Force to monitor the bill’s implementation and address all ongoing 9/11-related issues. This Task Force is finalizing its first report to the Governor with recommendations for improving the existing legislation and correcting inequities that may exist. This will continue to be a work in progress.   

We would like to offer a very special thank you to Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver, and our major sponsors, Senator Martin Golden and Assemblyman Peter Abbate and their legislative staffs. Without their hard work and dedication to public employees, these very important bills would never have been possible. 
 
In addition to monitoring the 9/11 issues, we are focusing on the health benefits of our active and retired members, and the entire Workers’ Compensation issue. We are appealing to all Legislators to carefully consider the impact of all legislative proposals upon public employees of the State and City who continue day in and day out to show their commitment to the people of New York State, who at the very least need to be assured that they and their families will continue to receive the benefits they currently enjoy. While we realize that not all legislative proposals we submit will be acted upon favorably, we are asking Legislators keep an open mind to all of our issues and allow us the opportunity to meet and discuss them. 
 
The legislative proposals presented in our official Agenda were developed and unanimously approved by all unions represented by the Public Employee Conference. Throughout the years, the State Legislature has shown great concern and compassion for all public employees, and we hope that sentiment will not be different this year. In the coming months, we will be seeking support for our legislative program to ensure the well-being of our members. The Conference and I wish to continue our partnership in working together to accomplish mutual goals.
Designed by RWD Group & Nathan Ash & Associates