(NEW YORK CITY) - S.T.O.M.P. The Bull made his Union debut last week outside the Department of Financial Services (DFS) in New York City, where Public Employees Federation (PEF) Members and Staff have experienced bullying management tactics, intimidation, and retaliation. 

The 20-foot inflatable bull was blown up on the sidewalk outside 1 State Street in Lower Manhattan, where more than 100 PEF Members work as Investigators and under other titles at the DFS, the New York State Agency in charge of regulating financial institutions in New York.

Modeled after Organized Labor’s famous and inflatable Scabby the Rat that pops up on City streets where Non-Unionized labor is employed, S.T.O.M.P. stands for Stop Treating Our Members Poorly and is a symbol PEF plans to deploy statewide to call out bullying managers.   

“That bull over there, if you only knew what it took to get it in that location!,” PEF President Wayne Spence, referring to the arduous process required to erect a two-story inflatable on a New York City street, said. “No one wanted that bull to be out there.” 

“We are here for a very simple reason,” PEF Vice President Darlene Williams said at the start of the rally. “Every Worker deserves dignity. Every Worker deserves respect. And every Worker deserves to go home without fear.” 

About 100 PEF Leaders, Members and Staff were joined by Elected Officials and Members from other unions (including the New York State Nurses Association and the Communications Workers of America) in a show of solidarity at the rally.

Speakers included Coalition of Black Trade Unionists President Terrence Melvin, New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento, Chair of the State Senate Banking Committee James Sanders, Jr., incoming New York State Senator Grace Lee, New York State Assembly Members Brian Romero and Charles Fall, and City Councilman Yusef Salaam. 

“I have one very simple message for all of my PEF Family here today,” NYS AFL-CIO President Cilento told the crowd. “One message: You are not alone in this fight. Your (2.5 million) Brothers and Sisters and Family Members of the New York State AFL-CIO of the entire Labor Movement are here with you!”  

A PEF Field Representative and Member of PEF’s staff union, United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9265, experienced firsthand the bullying behaviors and toxic environment at the DFS, raised the red flag, and filed a complaint.

USW Members joined with PEF to call out the Agency. 

USW Local 9265 Steward Jessica Carpenter said: “No Worker should have to come to work fearing bullying, intimidation, harassment or retaliation. And let’s be clear: Our Members are experiencing that same toxic behavior. USW Staff walk into DFS to represent PEF Members - and they deserve the same respect and dignity we demand for the Members they represent. We will not accept bullying or intimidation as a substitute for leadership - not against PEF Members and not against our Union Members. Today, we put aside our differences and stand together. We stand for respect. We stand for dignity. We stand for the right of every Worker to have a voice.”

To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: PEF rally calls out bullying at Department of Financial Services in NYC - PEF Communicator

PEF Photo.