About

Mission

The Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) was created by the Public Employees’ Fair Employment Act of 1967, commonly referred to as the Taylor Law. Effective July 2010, PERB’s mission was broadened to encompass administration of the New York State Employment Relations Act (SERA).

PERB’s mission includes:

  • the impartial application and enforcement of the Act
  • the prevention of strikes, protecting the delivery of services to constituents
  • the protection of the rights of public employees to organize without interference or detriment
  • the determination of appropriate bargaining units and the direction of the process of representative selection
  • the issuance of determinations on charges of improper employment practices

Chair of the Board
Timothy Connick

Timothy Connick was appointed to serve as PERB Board Member and Chairman in June 2024. He has been an attorney for more than 40 years, devoting his practice almost exclusively to labor law and employment litigation. From 2011 to 2023, Mr. Connick represented the New York State United Teachers, AFT, AFL-CIO, and was its Senior Counsel in Western New York and on behalf of the Buffalo Teachers Federation. From 1992 to 2011, he represented the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc., AFSCME, Local 1000, AFL-CIO, holding the position of Deputy Counsel and director of statewide litigation from 2001 to 2011. From 1988 to 1992, Mr. Connick worked for the Counsel’s Office, New York State Department of Labor, where he specialized in worker protection and child labor enforcement. From 1981 to 1988, he was in private practice specializing in civil litigation. Mr. Connick is a graduate of Albany Law School and the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
All Board Members
About the Board
Timothy Connick PERB Chairman

PERB Offices and Functions

Historical Information and Resources

View photos, documents and a timeline of events since the creation of PERB. See also materials from the Taylor Law 50th Anniversary Conference.

Contact the Public Employee Relations Board Staff Directory

Find general contact information for the Albany, Brooklyn and Buffalo offices along with a staff directory for each office.