“After negotiating in good faith, we have reached an agreement with PEF that protects the rights of our state’s workforce and New York taxpayers,” Governor Cuomo said. “This agreement aligns PEF’s contract with other state labor contracts, while continuing the trend of fiscal responsibility in New York.”

"I applaud Governor Cuomo for the cooperative and fair approach his team demonstrated at the bargaining table," PEF President Wayne Spence said. "We appreciate the Governor's recognition of his valuable workforce and the way each union member helps to make New York the great state that it is."

The one-year contract agreement includes a two percent salary increase retroactive to April 1, 2015. This agreement brings into line PEF with other state union contracts, including CSEA, UUP, NYSCOPBA, Council 82, DC-37 Housing and GSEU. The agreement must be ratified with PEF’s executive board in May. The cost of the agreement is $73 million.