PEF Has Reached a Tentative Agreement with the State

ALBANY, NY (07/16/2011)(readMedia)-- The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) has reached a tentative contract agreement with the state. As a result of the conceptual agreement, the governor has agreed to rescind the planned layoffs of nearly 1,000 PEF members.

"This was a difficult agreement to reach, but with our members' jobs in peril and the state's fiscal hardship we've stepped up and made the necessary sacrifices," said PEF President Ken Brynien.

"The agreement will preserve our members jobs and careers while bringing long term fiscal stability to the state. We are confident this is the best agreement that could be negotiated in the current environment," Brynien said.

The agreement provides the state with the required savings needed to preserve PEF's share of the 9,800 jobs targeted if the $450 million in Labor Management Partnership savings were not achieved.

"This agreement reflects the financial reality of the times," said Governor Andrew Cuomo. "I am pleased that we could avoid these layoffs, protect the workforce and the taxpayer," Cuomo said.

"This agreement could not have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of PEF's contract team made of up union members representing a variety of titles and agencies across the state," said PEF Contract Chair Tom Comanzo.

PEF is the state's second-largest, state-employee union, representing 56,000 professional, scientific and technical employees.