On July 28, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the ratification of a three-year labor agreement with the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF), which includes over 51,000 New York State employees in a in a wide variety of professional, scientific and technical titles. The agreement, which runs until April 1, 2026, won the approval of 95 percent of PEF members who cast ballots.
"This contract fairly compensates the hard-working members of the Public Employees Federation who provide critical expertise to benefit New Yorkers each day," Governor Hochul said. "I’m grateful to President Spence for his partnership to help get this agreement finalized and to ensure that New York workers' pay and benefits reflect their important contributions to our state."
The ratified contract includes raises in each year of the agreement of 3 percent. In addition, the contract includes other increases in compensation such as a one-time lump sum bonus of $3,000 and up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave. The contract also includes changes in the health insurance program that will encourage in-network employee utilization and help control health insurance costs plus funding of labor-management initiatives and yearly salary increases and increases in location pay.
Public Employees Federation President Wayne Spence said "I’d like to thank Governor Hochul for the role she played helping PEF secure this contract. It rewards the professional members of our union with compensation increases, a signing bonus, and a first-of-its-kind Higher Education Differential, recognizing the advanced degrees and professional licenses required by PEF members to do their jobs. In addition, we hope the $400 annual dental stipend it includes will lead to a new dental plan that better serves PEF members statewide.”