NYS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FEDERATION (PEF) IS A UNION REPRESENTING THE PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND TECHNICAL EMPLOYEES OF NEW YORK STATE AND SEVERAL OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES. PEF EXISTS TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF ITS MEMBERS BY REPRESENTING THEM WITH RESPECT TO ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT. PEF SHALL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONCEPTS OF INDIVIDUAL MERIT AND ETHICAL PERFORMANCE AS CRITERIA FOR PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES IN ORDER TO BEST PROMOTE EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK STATE. PEF RECOGNIZES THAT ALL POWER ULTIMATELY RESIDES IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE CITIZENS AND SHALL THEREFORE INSIST THAT THE GOVERNMENT OPERATE TO SERVE AND NOT DOMINATE ITS CITIZENS. SIMILARLY, IT RECOGNIZES THAT PEF EXISTS AS SOLE BARGAINING AGENT FOR ITS MEMBERS BECAUSE OF THE MANDATE OF THIS CONSTITUENCY AND IS HEREBY BOUND TO SERVE THE INTERESTS OF ITS MEMBERS.