After 18 months of negotiations with the state of New York, the FPE/AFT-affiliated Public Employees Federation (PEF) ratified its new contract by an overwhelming vote of 33,899 to 2,876.

"For the first time in eight years, our members have a contract with real raises in each year of the pact, and we achieved major improvements in retirement benefits," says PEF president Roger Benson.

The new contract, retroactive to April 1, 1999, increases salaries across the board by 6 percent for the first two years of the pact and 3.5 percent for each of the next two years, beginning April 2001.

"We would not have been successful in our contract negotiations over 18 months if we had not mobilized our members and allowed them to participate in the process," says negotiations team chair Dr. Eric Miller.

During the grueling bargaining process, dozens of statewide rallies were held, presenting labor's united front in their fight for contract justice. The unity that was built during contract talks continues to gain momentum, evidenced by the recent ratification of a dues increase by the some 900 delegates who attended PEF's convention in September.

"We have a very upbeat, excited and energized membership, all because of one word: mobilization," Miller says. "They have seen it makes a difference."

Details of the new contract were featured in the August/September 2000 edition of Public Service Reporter.