Labor Power Players

Michael Volforte has served as the director of the New York State Office of Employee Relations since 2013 and has worked in the public sector labor field for over 25 years in a variety of roles for the office. As director, Mr. Volforte oversees collective bargaining on behalf of the State, as employer, with the 10 unions that represent approximately 160,000 Executive Branch employees and implements negotiated compensation and other benefits provided through the various negotiated labor-management committees. As counsel to the Office, he also oversees the legal department, which represents state agencies in contract grievance and administrative matters before PERB.

What are the benefits that unions (your particular union, if applicable) offer their members?
Our office, in partnership with the many unions that represent State employees, offer a variety of negotiated benefits to employees including health benefits, attendance and leave benefits, education and training programs, tuition reimbursement, pre-tax benefits like transportation, health care and dependent care, and other benefits to aid the workforce like employee assistance programs, retirement seminars, and wellness programs.

What brought you to organizing and/or the issue of worker advocacy?
I was lucky enough to be hired as a law clerk during law school by the Civil Service Employees Association and fell in love with labor law, and then was fortunate to be hired by the State.  While I represent the employer, the unions and my office have a longstanding positive relationship and commitment to working together to provide a rewarding career for the State workforce and deliver critical services for New Yorkers.

Richard Wells is the current president of the Police Conference of New York. He has served in that capacity since 2007, after having risen through top positions on the Executive Board. He began his police career in 1973, when he was appointed to the Village of Hempstead Police Department, and his union career commenced in 1978, when he was elected as a delegate in the Hempstead PBA. He was elected president in 1989, a position he held for 18 years until his retirement. Upon retirement in 2007, he became president of PCNY.

Richard also serves in the following capacities: legislative chair and area vice president for National Association of Police Organizations; recording secretary of the New York State Public Employee Conference; member of the State of New York Police Officers Memorial Advisory Committee; member of the Governor’s Police Officer of the Year Advisory Committee; member of the Comptroller’s Advisory Council for the New York State Employees’ Retirement System; member of the New York State Civil Service Police Examination Review Committee; member of the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Council.

John Wirenius has represented both unions and employers in the public sector. From 2006- 2014, he was deputy general counsel of NYC’s Office of Collective Bargaining, and since 2014 he has served at PERB, first as deputy chair, and as chair since 2016. John is committed to ensuring a fair hearing for all parties before the Board, and to the just application and enforcement of the Taylor Law and the SERA.

Michelle became the first female president of MagnaCare in 2017, joining a team focused on serving Labor with custom-fit, self-funded health plan products and solutions. Michelle has over 25 years of experience in the health insurance industry serving Labor. At MagnaCare, she has led efforts to expand its services for Labor, including introducing technology-powered health, trust, and pension administration capabilities; new cost-effective provider network solutions; and new communications and programs to support Labor through the COVID-19 pandemic.

After joining Holt in 2014 as in-house counsel responsible for managing risk, Patricia Zugibe now serves as chief executive officer, ensuring that corporate goals are met while retaining a workplace culture that prioritizes community, family, diversity, and inclusion. Ms. Zugibe grew up in a construction family, has been involved in development and construction companies for over 30 years, and incorporates this experience in her leadership at Holt.