8he New York State Public Employees Federation, AFT/SEIU, AFL-CIO, representing 52,000 professional, scientific, and technical employees, distributes this PEFonline News to PEF active informed members and to labor, political, media, community, and education leaders.
AIM (Active Informed Member) Update 9.15.04
The New York State Public Employees Federation, AFT/SEIU, AFL-CIO, representing 52,000 professional, scientific, and technical employees, distributes this PEFonline News to PEF active informed members and to labor, political, media, community, and education leaders.
- PS&T CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE
(Previous updates can be read at http://www.pef.org/pst2003/index.htm)
CONTRACT RATIFIED
FOR RELEASE:
IMMEDIATE—Tuesday, September 14, 2004
PEF members overwhelmingly approve contract with state
In a landslide vote of 24,300 to 4,306 — an 85 percent approval rating — members of the NYS Public Employees Federation (PEF) approved a four-year contract with the state.
Retroactive to April 1, 2003, the new contract provides an $800 bonus for full-time employees; a base pay raise of 2.5 percent retroactive to April 2004; a 2.75 percent raise in April 2005; a 3 percent raise in April 2006; and, $800 added to base salary in April 2007.
The votes were counted by the American Arbitration Association in New York City.
“Our members recognized the gains and enhancements of this contract,” said PEF President Roger Benson. “Despite a severe state budget shortfall and skyrocketing health care costs, we negotiated an agreement that provides a compensation package that is remarkable within this economic environment, plus several benefit enhancements specific for PEF members.”
Some of the highlights of the new pact include dental benefit enhancements such as a $500 increase in the maximum allowable annual coverage; a portable longevity award for employees who are promoted; 13 days sick leave for all members; a merit advance salary step for salary grades 1-18; and, a pre-tax transportation benefit for New York City members. The contract also retains timekeeping restrictions unique to PEF members, which was one of the stumbling blocks during the 19-month bargaining stretch.
“At the onset of negotiations, our goal was to stand together with pride, power and purpose,” Benson added. “We achieved that goal because our membership delivered strong support when the contract team needed backing. This vote is a sign of our solidarity and strength.”
- FULL CONTRACT TEXT and OTHER IMPORTANT INFO ON-LINE!
What follows is a listing of contract information posted at the PEF website. Just click here to check any of them out:
http://www.pef.org/pst2003/contractinfo/index.htm
- Express Scripts National Preferred Formulary (Requires Adobe Reader)Posted 8.03.04
- Full Text Tentative PS&T Contract Adobe Acrobat Version (1 MB) Posted 8.02.04
- Full Text Tentative PS&T Contract HTML Version (2 MB) Posted 8.02.04
- FAQ's on Contract Agreement Posted 8.02.04
- Press Release Announcing PEF Executive Board approval of tentative contract Posted 7.30.04
- Detailed Information re: Significant Changes to Contract (Requires Adobe Reader) Posted 7.27.04
- PEF Executive Board Meeting to Review Tentative Contract Agreement Announcement Posted 7.21.04
- Summary of Gains and Tradeoffs in Tentative Contract Settlement Posted 7.21.04
- Significant Improvements/Concession Resistance Posted 7.21.04
- Press Release Announcing Tentative Settlement Posted 7.19.04
- Empire Plan FAQ's Posted 7.19.04
- Rx FAQ's Posted 7.19.04
FAQ or When do I get paid?
A. Our members will not have to wait for the NYS Legislature to come back into session to pass a PEF paybill as they passed the paybill in anticipation that the contract would be ratified. Now that it has been ratified the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) will need to issue a payroll bulletin. Assuming this issuance occurs in the traditional time frame we would expect payments to begin to flow somewhere between mid October and mid November. When the payroll bulletins are issued we will post the information in AIM and on our website!
OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEW CONTRACT?
Q. Now that the contract is ratified how long will it take to receive the retroactive money I am owed?
If you have a contract question just send your inquiry to pefonline@pef.org