Governor Hochul announces ratification of five-year labor agreement covering tens of thousands of New York State employees

Albany, New York – New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced the ratification of a new five-year labor agreement with the Public Employees Federation, a deal covering tens of thousands of New York State workers in professional, scientific and technical positions.

The agreement, which will remain in effect through April 1, 2031, was approved by 88 percent of PEF members who participated in the ratification vote. The contract covers approximately 60,000 state employees, according to the governor’s office.

The agreement provides workers with salary increases in every year of the five-year contract. The raises are set at 4.5 percent in the first year, followed by increases of 4 percent, 3.5 percent, 3 percent and 3 percent in the remaining years.

Hochul said the agreement recognizes the work performed by state employees across New York and reflects the importance of the public workforce.

“Public employees provide vital services every day to New Yorkers everywhere, and this agreement recognizes their hard work, professionalism and contributions,” Governor Hochul said. “New York values its talented public servants, and this agreement underscores my administration’s support and dedication to the Empire State’s public workforce. I thank PEF’s leadership in helping realize this deal, and I applaud PEF’s members for their continued commitment to serving New Yorkers all across this state.”

The contract also provides increases to location pay, along with several other payments that apply specifically to employees covered by the agreement. Those provisions are in addition to the annual salary increases included in the new contract.

PEF members will also receive new or expanded benefits under the agreement. One provision provides 20 hours of paid pre-natal leave. The contract also increases the amount of sick leave employees can accumulate.

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Health insurance is another part of the agreement. The contract makes several changes to health coverage that are intended to lower costs for members. Among the changes are the elimination of certain co-pays and incentives encouraging employees to use providers within their health insurance networks.

Public Employees Federation President Wayne Spence said the negotiations were not always easy but credited the governor’s leadership in reaching an agreement that he said serves both employees and New York residents.

“While contract negotiations can be challenging, we appreciate Governor Kathy Hochul’s leadership in forging an agreement that works for the 62,000 professional, scientific, and technical staff represented by the NYS Public Employees Federation as well as for the residents of New York. We look forward to continuing to work with the Governor to improve the safe, efficient and effective delivery of services for every New Yorker.”

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The ratification marks the formal approval of the agreement by PEF members and establishes the terms that will govern the union’s contract with the state for the next five years.

The Public Employees Federation represents a broad range of New York State workers whose jobs include professional, scientific and technical duties. The new agreement provides those employees with a combination of wage increases, changes to benefits and other compensation provisions through 2031.

With the contract now ratified, the state and PEF will move forward under the terms of the five-year agreement as employees continue providing services to communities throughout New York.