PEF's Executive Board approves contract salary raise; Members must vote to ratify the pact

ALBANY, NY (04/20/2016)(readMedia)-- – The Executive Board of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) today voted overwhelmingly in favor of sending a one year tentative contract agreement, including a 2 percent retroactive salary increase, to its members for a ratification vote.

The raise, if ratified by the membership, would be for the first year of a successor agreement and retroactive to April 1, 2015 when the contract between PEF and the state expired.

PEF President Wayne Spence said, "I applaud both negotiating teams for their delivery of this agreement. I urge our members to follow suit with the Executive Board and ratify this contract with a resounding 'yes' vote."

The American Arbitration Association will send out ballots to the PEF membership May 13, and they must be returned to the AAA by Monday, June 6. The count will be done June 7.

If the union membership sends in a positive vote, it is expected members may receive the raise and retroactive pay before the end of summer.

Negotiating teams will continue to meet and bargain for the remaining salary increments and other issues such as health insurance benefits and job security for the new pact, which the Executive Board and membership will also have to approve and ratify.

PEF represents 53,000 professional, scientific and technical employees who work at various state agencies and facilities in the PS&T bargaining unit. PEF is the largest white-collar labor union in the state.

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