PEF Reaches Tentative Agreement with State - Saves Jobs

ALBANY, NY (10/17/2011)(readMedia)-- The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) reached agreement with the state today on a revised contract that better meets the needs of our members.

The revised agreement will be presented to the union's Executive Board on Monday, October 17. If approved by the board, the state will delay the effective date of the layoff notices that have already gone out to November 4. This will allow time for a membership ratification vote. If approved and ratified it will preserve the jobs of 3,496 PEF members.

The new agreement is a four year contract and now includes reimbursement for the 9 furloughs days payable at the end of the agreement.

"The changes we were able to obtain under this revised agreement address many of the concerns raised by our members," said PEF President Ken Brynien.

"If the agreement is approved by our executive board and ratified by the full membership the jobs of 3,496 members will be saved," said Brynien.

The revised agreement also includes changes to the productivity enhancement program which will allow our members greater opportunity to use vacation time to offset health insurance costs. These changes are revenue neutral for the state.

The four year deal calls for no salary increases for years 2011, 2012 and 2013. A salary increase of 2 percent is included for 2014. The lump sum payment that was included in the earlier tentative agreement would be exchanged to reimburse furlough days.

"The ratification of this agreement will demonstrate that our members are willing to sacrifice to save the jobs of 3,496 of their coworkers and preserve the level of service to taxpayers," Brynien added.

PEF's Executive Board will meet at the Desmond Hotel in Colonie at 1 pm on Monday, October 17.

PEF is the state's second-largest state-employee union representing 55,000 professional, scientific and technical (PS&T) employees and other public and private employees. The contract covers the PS&T employees.

###