Governor Announces Agreement With Public Employee Union

Governor Eliot Spitzer announced that the State and the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) have reached a four-year agreement covering more than 70,000 CSEA State employees in the state's Administrative, Institutional, and Operational Services Units as well as the Division of Military and Naval Affairs. The agreement must be approved by the union membership.

"This agreement shows that the parties can achieve fair and financially responsible results when bargaining balances the interests of both the state workforce and the residents of New York State," said Governor Spitzer. "I applaud the efforts of all parties involved in achieving positive results for both the state and CSEA."

The previous collective bargaining agreement with CSEA expired on April 1, 2007. The four-year package covers the period beginning April 2, 2007 through April 1, 2011 and contains the following major elements:

¥ A 3 percent salary increase retroactive to April 2, 2007, payable upon ratification of the agreement by union members. Subsequent salary increases will be provided yearly, as follows:

¥ÊA 3 percent salary increase effective April 1, 2008

¥ A 3 percent salary increase effective April 1, 2009

¥ A 4 percent salary increase effective April 1, 2010.

¥ A location pay increase will be made available for employees in Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess counties (increasing from $651 to $1,513 as of October 2008), as well as for employees in Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester counties, in addition to New York City (increasing from $1,302 to $3,026 as of October 2008) to help offset the higher cost of living in those areas.

¥ Statewide availability of a Pre-Tax Transportation Program that reduces employee commuting costs and promotes a cleaner environment.

¥ Continued support for the Employee Benefit Fund, Meal Allowances, Labor Management Committees, and Inconvenience Pay.

¥ Continued support for Special Assignment to Duty Pay and Hazardous Duty Pay.

¥ Continuation of existing salary steps and increases in longevity payments based on increased experience and performance.

¥ To assist in making the overall agreement more affordable, modest increases in co-pays for health care will be implemented, and a joint labor-management committee will explore the potential for other reforms in the area of prescriptions drugs.