CSEA, New York State Reach Tentative Agreement on Contract for 70,000+ State Employees

ALBANY, NY (10/29/2007)(readMedia)-- New York's leading union has reached a tentative agreement with New York State on a new contract covering more than 70,000 state executive branch employees. CSEA-represented Executive branch state employees are in four bargaining units: the Administrative Services Unit; the Institutional Services Unit; the Operational Services Unit; and the Division of Military and Naval Affairs Unit. The previous CSEA-New York state contract expired on April 1 of this year.

"Every round of negotiations is challenging and at times difficult," said CSEA President Danny Donohue. "Our objective is always to get the best deal possible for our members while recognizing the needs of the people of the state. Governor Eliot Spitzer's administration deserves enormous credit for seeing the negotiations through to a positive conclusion. Our negotiating team has worked hard at the bargaining table along with their state counterparts to reach an agreement that we can all support."

The agreement includes enhancements in nearly all major contract areas.

  • Across-the-board salary increases in each year of the agreement:

3 percent retroactive to April 2007

3 percent in April 2008

3 percent in April 2009

4 percent in April 2010

  • Longevity payments increase: 1st longevity, currently $750 after five years at the job rate, increases by $125 in each year of the contract; 2nd longevity, currently $1500 after 10 years at the job rate, increases by $250 in each year of the contract (added to base years 1 - 3; year 4 payment by separate check);
  • Significant improvements in downstate and mid-Hudson salary adjustments to reflect cost-of-living; (Downstate adjustment is currently $1,302 annually and will increase to $1,850 on April 1, 2008 and to $3,026 on October 1, 2008. Mid-Hudson adjustment is currently $651 and will increase to $1,000 on April 1, 2008 and to $1,513 on October 1, 2008);
  • Some increases in health insurance co-payments balanced by a wide range of benefit enhancements;
  • Agreement for Labor-Management development of Safety and Health training programs on (among other issues) ergonomics, imminent danger situations, pressurized heating systems and security;
  • Funding improvements for the Joint Safety and Health Program.

Representatives of CSEA's state locals have been briefed on the details of the agreement. Full information will be mailed to the rank and file covered by the contract and will be subject to their ratification and then approval by the New York State Legislature and Governor. Ratification ballots are expected to be mailed in the next few weeks.

CSEA's state contract negotiating team consisted of 23 members from across the state, supported by the union’s professional staff negotiators, led by Chief Negotiator Ross Hanna. CSEA represents 265,000 active and retired members across New York covered under more than 1,100 separate collective bargaining agreements. Additional information about the agreement and CSEA can be found on the union's website: www.csealocal1000.org.

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