Article

Gains

Tradeoffs

Article 4--Employee Organization Rights

• Increased PEF reporting

• Reduce convention days from 1000 to 950
• Reduce EOL days from 415 to 400; reduce EOL for contract committees from 70 to 55

Article 4--E mail

• Access for Union purposes only allowed via L/M agreement; access limited to electronic bulletin boards for communication on L/M issues unless Executive Level L/M agreement provides more
• PEF waives right to send mass e-mail to state equipment.

Article 7 Compensation

• Across the Board Increases 3% (10/99) 3%,(4/00) 3.5% (4/01) 3.5%(4/02)
• April 1 Effective Date in last three years

• $500 Lump Sum Payment (for employees on payroll 3/00)

• Increment waiting period reduced for people hired or promoted after 4/99

• Inconvenience Pay Increased to $500 (4/99)

• Downstate Adjustment Increased to $1,000 (4/00) $1,100 (4/01) and $1,200 (4/02) (and Committee to review possible expansion)

• Hazardous Duty Pay increased from $.43 to $.50/hr (4/00)

• Statutory limitation of geographic differentials to NYS removed (PEF members stationed out of State can now apply)

• Raises apply to seasonals and fire instructors

Pension Enhancement

• Tier I/II: one month of additional pension credit for each year of service; (Retroactive to 6/1/00)
• Tier III/IV: elimination of 3% contribution after 10 years of membership (10/00)

NOTE: these benefits will not be made available to PEF members until the contract is ratified

Article 8 Travel

• 7 cents/mile additional reimbursement for transport of clients or residents

• State/PEF to review pre-tax benefits including parking expenses and transit passes (TransitCheck)

Article 9

Health Insurance

(Note: EP designates Empire Plan Change Only)

• EP: Co pay waived for pre-admission testing

• EP: Routine Physicals for enrollees or spouses age 50+ made annual instead of every two years

• EP: Fertility benefits available to both partners (previously only for female infertility)

• EP: Voluntary Centers of excellence for transplants

• EP: Newborn Allowance Increased
• EP: Hearing Aid Allowance doubles (to $1,200) over term of the contract.
• EP: Influenza added to pediatric immunizations
• EP: Nurse Call hotline available 24/7
• EP: Adult Immunizations covered
• EP: Voluntary Disease Management Program
• Flexible Spending Account for non-reimbursed medical costs
• EP: Point of service language eliminated
• Coverage for dependent students following graduation
• Waiver of all premiums for dependent health insurance coverage during military activation
• Total Joint Committee Funding Increased $120,000 over last agreement

• EP: Emergency Room co pay increased from $30 to $35 1/1/02

• EP: Physical Therapy co-pay required regardless of setting (previously not required for hospital based services)

• EP: Office visit co-pay increases from $8 to $10 (1/01) and $10 to $12 (1/03)
• EP: Centers of Excellence for infertility will provide discounted prices; life-time benefit maximum of $25,000 (was unlimited)
• EP: Disabled Lives reserve reduced from 18 months to 90 days
• EP: HCAP (Home Care Advocacy Program) non-network reimbursement at 50% of network fee (was 80% of reasonable and customary); out of pocket costs not counted toward annual out of pocket maximum
• EP: Benefits Management Plan (BMP) changes including pre-certification for Skilled Nursing Facilities and Prospective Procedure Review for MRIs.

Article 9

Health Insurance Prescription Drug (Empire Plan)

• EP: Rx Co-pay increased from $8 (brand or generic) to $5 generic/ $15 brand name; continued ability to get up to 90 supply for single co- pay

Article 9

Health Insurance Dental Benefits

• Waiting period for dental reduced from 6 months to 56 days
• Sealants added for dependents under 14
• Maximum benefit increased from $1,200 to $1,800 (1/01)

• Dental Anesthesia covered

Article 9

Health Insurance Vision Benefits

• Annual vision benefit for dependents under 19 and for adults with medical necessity

• Additional services (no line lenses, coatings etc) available at reduced costs

• Waiting period for vision benefits increased from 28 days to 56 days

Article 10 EAP

• Total Funding Increased more than $170,000 over last agreement

Article 11 Accidental Death Benefit

• Tuition benefit expanded to include private schools in NYS. Age cap for use of benefit extended to 25 under certain conditions

Article 12 Attendance and Leave

• Floating Holidays can be used in 1/4 hour increments (was full day)

• Maximum number of days of sick leave used to purchase health insurance in retirement raised from 165 to 200.

• Professional Leave can be used for programs which are not accredited but are necessary for licensure

• Telecommuting Agreement added to the contract and included in Appendix; benefit does not sunset.

• Executive L/M to review issue of absence for extraordinary circumstances

• Memo from Civil Service to Agencies reminding them to allow the use of leave credits prior to separation

• Memo from Civil Service directs agencies to permit employees to charge absences for which sick leave would otherwise be approved to other accrued time if they have exhausted their sick leave.

Article 12.17 Maintenance of Time Records

• Overtime ineligible employees (SG-23 and up) now required to record actual hours worked in same manner as overtime eligibles (SG-22 and below); Prohibition on use of time clocks or recording time with a timekeeper are preserved; all employees will continue to maintain time on self accounting basis

• PEF and State to discuss issues relating to the potential use of electronic recognition systems for maintenance of time records. NOTE: no change can be made to the Article without approval of the membership.

Article 12 Attendance and Leave--Leave Donation

• Cross Agency donation between family members allowed; time donated across agencies is not returned if unused
• Executive L/M to review expansion of cross agency donations to other employees

Article 12 Attendance and Leave--Sick Leave Exchange

• Voluntary program allows employees to reduce their sick leave accrual rate by three days each year in exchange for $300 to use to offset the employee share of health insurance premium

Article 12 Attendance and Leave--VRWS

• Requirement that enrollees have 26 continuous pay periods of full-time service prior to starting VRWS eliminated. Requirement is now one year of State service.

Article 15--Professional Development Committee

• Total Funding Increased more than $750,000 over last agreement

Article 17 Out of Title Work

• PEF to provide notice to other negotiating units when grievance involves work outside of PS&T Unit

• Sustained Agency Level Decisions (step 2) expedited to Class and Comp

Article 26-- Institution

Teachers

• Pay Basis changed from 21 pay period method to Academic Year
• Language added to preserve employees choice of being paid over 10 or 12 months
• Sick leave accrual rate for institution teachers corrected
• Commitment from GOER to examine various payroll issues impacting 10 month employees

Article 27

Property Damage

• Allows for claims up to $350 where the damage is not caused by patient or client (a current limitation)
• $17,000/yr available for claims

• Agree that forum for dispute resolution is Court of Claims and not Arbitration of Contract Grievance

Article 31 Standby/ Oncall

• Payment increased from 15 to 20% (retroactive to 4/1/99)

• Payment made bi-weekly instead of quarterly

Article 38 Overtime Meal Allowance

• Overtime eligibles will now receive benefit
• Employees working 6 hours on regular day or 9 hours on pass day receive two allowances

Article 42--Family Benefits Committee

• State makes direct contribution to Dependent Care pre-tax account of up to $400 per year (based on income)
• Total Funding Increased more than $184,000 over last agreement

• Direct funding for day care centers eliminated

Appendix--Triage and Expedited Arbitration

• Program eliminated; Step 4 arbitration processed according to Article 34 process

Appendix--Nurses Committee

• New Executive Level L/M Committee to study nursing issues

Appendix--Roswell Park

• Increase nurse differential to $1.75/hour nights; $1.50/hour evenings (currently $.80/hr nights and $.60/hr evenings)
• Additional day of Professional Leave

• Supplemental management discretionary compensation program for recruitment and retention of research scientists (i.e., merit pay)
• Language to allow for replacement of SIF as Workers' Compensation Insurer