PEF rally calls out bullying at Department of Financial Services in NYC

Related Media

Leaders_with_PEF_bull_vertical.png

NEW YORK (09/08/2026) (readMedia)-- The Public Employees Federation (PEF) rallied on September 8 in New York City, calling out managers at the Department of Financial Services (DFS) for bullying management tactics, intimidation, and retaliation against state employees and their union representatives.

"It's unconscionable that our state government allows this type of behavior to exist and persist," said PEF President Wayne Spence. "In 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she wanted to make New York 'the most worker-friendly state' in the nation and three years later, this union continues to receive complaints about bullying and intimidation by managers who definitely didn't get that message. We want immediate, meaningful action; not empty assurances. There needs to be accountability. DFS can't scare our rights away."

A field representative and member of PEF's staff union, United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9265, experienced firsthand the bullying behaviors and toxic environment at DFS, raised the red flag, and filed a complaint.

"When I spoke to our member and heard the details of the bullying and intimidation by DFS management, I was appalled that anyone who calls themselves a professional would engage in this behavior," said Kate Stickles, president of Local 9265. "As union representatives, our job is to stand up for PEF members. We won't be intimidated, we won't tolerate bullying, and we are proud to stand with PEF to demand action for the members of both unions."

In the fashion of organized labor's "Scabby the Rat," PEF deployed the centerpiece of its anti-bullying campaign – a 20-foot-tall inflatable bull named S.T.O.M.P. (Stop Treating Our Members Poorly).

"PEF members provide vital services to the people of New York and poor management should not get in the way of that," said President Spence. "I applaud the PEF members and USW staff who took a stand and called out DFS management. It's not easy to stand up to a bully and I hope their bravery encourages others to come forward and call out toxic management."

***

PEF represents about 62,000 professional, scientific, and technical workers acoss New York State – from Long Island to Buffalo. PEF members work in more than 3,000 different titles in every state agency, including nurses, social workers, doctors, engineers, counselors, parole officers, lawyers, IT specialists, teachers, habilitation specialists, therapists, and many more.

###