Members of New York state’s largest public-sector labor union have approved a five-year labor agreement with raises and benefits, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday.
The contracts with four Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) bargaining units include annual raises of 4.5%, 4%, 3.5%, 3% and 3% from April 2 of this year through April 1, 2031, the governor said.
The agreements, which cover more than 55,000 state employees, also include “boosts to location pay and several other unit-specific payments,” 20 additional hours of paid pre-natal leave, an increase in the sick leave accumulation cap and the elimination of of certain health insurance co-pays, Hochul said.
“Every day, dedicated CSEA members perform essential work to keep New York moving, and these agreements recognize those efforts while also serving as a fair deal for New York’s taxpayers,” Hochul said.
CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan thanked the governor “for working with CSEA to reach an agreement that reflects the value of our members and the vital services they provide.”
The state’s prior agreement with CSEA included 2% raises for the first two years and 3% for the remaining three years.