The State University of New York faculty union approved a new contract that includes salary raises and increases in location pay, Gov. Hochul announced Tuesday.
The five-year agreement with the United University Professions, or “UUP,” covers 42,000 faculty and professional staff across the SUNY system. The contract was approved by 98% of UUP members who cast ballots.
“This agreement invests in the hard-working members of the United University Professions, recognizing their contributions to SUNY while also underscoring my administration’s support for New York’s public university system and its talented workforce,” Hochul said in a statement.
The ratified contract, which runs through mid-2031, includes annual salary increases of 4.5%, 4%, 3.5%, 3% and 3%. The agreement boosts “location pay” as well, based on variations in the costs of living where SUNY faculty work.
Apart from pay, the contract has provisions around prenatal and sick leave, offering faculty 20 hours of paid leave before giving birth and increasing a cap on the number of sick days they can accumulate. The agreement also includes health insurance provisions that eliminate some co-pays and encourage union members to use in-network providers — updates the governor’s office said will reduce service costs and premium increases in the coming years.
UUP President Frederick Kowal said the agreement “recognizes the important work our members do, in our teaching, student support, healing and life-changing research,” and thanked the governor.
SUNY Chancellor John King added, “We thank Governor Kathy Hochul for securing this well-earned contract and for supporting our world-class faculty and staff.”