CSEA Rank and File Ratify Agreement on Contract for 70,000+ State Employees

• by Civil Service Employees Association

ALBANY, NY (01/04/2008)(readMedia)-- The rank and file members of CSEA - New York's leading union have overwhelmingly ratified a new three year 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, 2007 and tentative agreement on new terms were reached in October.

CSEA members approved the deal by a 29,755 to 1,839 margin with more than 31,000 ballots cast.

"The CSEA Negotiating team worked hard with their state counterparts to reach an agreement that would be good for our members, good for fair and responsible management and good for the people of New York," said CSEA President Danny Donohue. "The strength of the ratification demonstrates that our rank and file fully support the agreement. Governor Eliot Spitzer and the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations, led by Gary Johnson deserve enormous credit for their effort to get the job done right."

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 $1,500 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.

The agreement must now be approved by the New York State Legislature and signed by the Governor.

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.

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