Mobilized members in campaign for fair contract

After 17 months of bargaining and dozens of statewide rallies for contract justice, the New York state Public Employees Federation (PEF) has reached a tentative agreement with the state on a new contract. The tentative four-year pact would cover more than 53,000 employees in the state's professional, scientific and technical (PS&T) unit.

The pact includes 3 percent across-the-board increases on base salaries retroactive to October 1999 and April 2000, and 3.5 percent in April 2001 and again in April 2002. There will also be a $500 bonus for full-time employees (pro-rated for employees working less than full time), payable as soon as practicable. (PEF anticipates that members will begin to receive the raises and $500 signing bonus in late August or early September.)

Saying that the agreement "meets the unique needs of our members," PEF president Roger E. Benson thanked PEF members and leaders, as well as the international unions, the American Federation of Teachers and the Service Employees International Union, for standing "shoulder to shoulder with us during these long negotiations."

For over a year, PEF members staged rallies to press their demand for a fair contract. The union also ran targeted radio and print ads. "It has been a long and difficult two years," PEF contract chair Dr. Eric Miller told the union's executive board.

PEF is "a stronger union as a result of what we were called upon to do, as an organization; and as individual members," added Miller, who said the contract will put nearly an extra $19,000 in the pocket of the average PEF member over the next four years.

The use of electronic timekeeping methods, a major sticking point in negotiations, was resolved. The new agreement would preserve members' protections against the use of such records for disciplinary purposes.

Overwhelmingly approved by the union's executive board, the tentative agreement was to be sent to PEF members in late July for ratification. Votes were scheduled to be counted in early August.