PEF Ratifies Pay Deal By Huge Margin

By MIA GOLDBERG

Members of the Public Employees Federation (PEF) April 11 overwhelmingly approved a four-year contract with the state that provides an across-the-board 13-percent pay raise over four years.

KENNETH BRYNIEN: 'Addresses members' needs.'

The contract is retroactive to April 2, 2007 and runs through April 1, 2011. It also includes increased differentials for members who live in higher-cost areas of the state.

PEF is the state's second-largest state-employee union, representing 58,000 professional, scientific and technical employees.

Wage Hikes

The deal includes two 3-percent salary increases retroactive to April 2, 2007 and April 1, 2008, a 3-percent hike effective April 1, 2009, and a 4-percent raise effective April 1, 2010.

The prior downstate adjustment of $1,302 - meant to compensate employees in that area for higher living costs - increased to $1,850 as of April 1, 2008 and goes to $3,026 on Oct. 1. The Mid-Hudson adjustment, previously $651, increased to $1,000 April 1 and will go to $1,513 on Oct. 1.

There will be enhancements to PEF's current vision plan. The agreement leaves untouched members' share of the cost of health insurance premiums, and entails only modest increases in their co-pays.

"This contract was extremely popular with our members, as exemplified by the vote," said PEF President Ken Brynien in a press release. "The contract addresses the needs of our members today and in the future."

The landslide tally of 34,758 to 1,214 - 96.6 percent in favor - included the largest number of votes ever cast for a PEF contract.

The agreement also sailed through the State Legislature with about 95 percent approval.