PEF Executive Board approves sending tentative contract agreement to membership

ALBANY, NY (08/11/2011)(readMedia)-- The Executive Board of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) today voted to send its tentative contract agreement with the state to the full union membership for ratification.

The board is made up of 135 members representing members from every state agency. Ballots for ratification will be mailed to union members September 2. Votes must be returned by September 26, for counting September 27.

PEF President Ken Brynien described negotiations leading up to the tentative agreement as the most difficult task in his tenure at PEF.

"There were no good choices," Brynien said. "In the past, contract negotiations achieved significant gains for our members. Unfortunately, the state of the economy, the will of the state's political leaders and public sentiment have created an environment where the services our members provide are undervalued."

The tentative agreement preserves the pay-scale, the employment and the careers of tens of thousands of PEF members. The agreement maintains increments and salary-grade parity, longevity payments and co-pays for doctor visits at their current levels. It calls for no salary increases for years 2011, 2012 and 2013. Salary increases of 2 percent are included for years 2014 and 2015, in addition to lump-sum payments of $775 in 2013 and $225 in 2014.

The agreement increases the share members pay of their health insurance premiums, includes five days of unpaid furloughs and four days of deferred pay.

"Under the circumstances, I can say with confidence this is the best contract that could be negotiated. I recommend its ratification. I am pleased every member affected will have an opportunity to study the agreement and have a voice in the process," Brynien added.

PEF's state contract negotiating team consists of 14 members from across the state, supported by the union's professional staff negotiators. PEF is the state's second-largest state-employee union representing 56,000 professional scientific and technical (PS&T) employees and other public and private employees. The contract covers the PS&T employees.