After 19 months at the table, PEF reaches four-year agreement

Within days of walking away from the negotiating table with the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF), state negotiators came back to the table.

After 19 months of bargaining, the parties ironed out their differences, resolving two of the major sticking points in negotiations—health benefits and electronic time-keeping devices.

The tentative agreement, which was reached at press time, covers more than 52,000 PEF members in the professional, scientific and technical (PS&T) unit of the state workforce.

“This contract meets the needs of our members,” says PEF president Roger Benson. “It provides annual raises, maintains strong health benefits and corrects a long-standing inequity in PEF’s salary schedules.”

On the major sticking points, there were more gains for the union than tradeoffs. The new contract, if ratified by the membership, would preserve employee protections against the use of electronic timekeeping methods. Notable gains also include an increase in dental benefits from $1,800 annually to $2,300 starting January 2006; the addition of over-the-counter drugs to allowable expenses reimbursable through medical flexible spending accounts; and the doubling of the hearing aid allowance by providing $1,200 for each ear rather than $1,200 for both ears.

Other highlights from the pending settlement include an $800 bonus; base pay increases totaling 8.25 percent from April 2004 to April 2006; plus $800 added to base salary in April 2007.

“We began negotiations four years ago when the convention delegates approved the establishment of the $3 million contract war chest,” said PEF leaders. “We then began reinforcing the theme that patience and purpose are important components of any negotiations. Finally, we understood we had to use the power of mobilization, public relations and politics to achieve a fair contract. All of these components have been used to achieve a very solid tentative agreement in the worst economic times for New York State since the 1930s.”