PEF’s collective bargaining agreement with the State dictates the compensation and non-economic benefits members receive as part of a New York State bargaining unit. The 2026 PEF Contract Team has begun negotiations with the New York State Office of Employee Relations on successor contracts to the 2023-2026 agreement for the PS&T unit, Roswell Park, and the Schools for the Blind and Deaf, which expired on April 2, 2026. PEF Vice President and Contract Team Chair Darlene Williams provided the following update on May 1, 2026:
Contract negotiations with New York State resumed this week, April 28-30. Following our April 13 session, both the State and our union took a necessary reset. Tension is a part of bargaining. We do not avoid it, but we also will not let it unnecessarily slow us down. We remain disciplined and focused on the goal: Securing a fair and deserving contract for every PEF member.
The reset allowed us to move forward productively.
During negotiations with the Roswell Park unit, our team delivered strong, effective representation. Teresa, Jordan, and Bruce demonstrated professionalism and resolve at the table, and their Field Representative, Robert, ensured that the priorities raised during contract mobilization were clearly presented to the State. These discussions were direct, serious, and grounded in the real experiences of our members. We are awaiting additional dates to continue this work and push for meaningful change.
On April 29 and 30, full contract negotiations continued. Proposals were exchanged, debated, and challenged. That is the process, and we will continue pressing forward until we reach outcomes that reflect the value of our workforce.
Serious discussions on across-the-board wages have finally begun. These conversations will continue, and we will not accept outcomes that ignore the economic realities our members are facing.
Throughout these sessions, your voices were present. In an unplanned moment before contract negotiations, a member who works at the Department of Financial Services spoke to a representative from New York’s Office of Employee Relations about the real financial strain of travel costs, out-of-pocket expenses, and the rising cost of living. These are not abstract concerns. They are daily realities for our members, and they are driving our demands at the table.
We are scheduled to return to negotiations May 20-21. Our mission remains clear: to secure the contract our members deserve fully and without compromise on the issues that matter most.
This effort does not belong to the nine individuals at the table. It belongs to all of us.
Members across agencies, hospitals, and institutions continue to face short staffing, workplace violence, harassment, bullying, and increasing economic pressure. These conditions are unacceptable, and they reinforce the urgency of this moment.
When we call on you to stand up, we mean it. Do not wait for someone else to act. Bring your coworkers. Bring your families. Bring your voices. The State must see that we are united and that our demands are shared across the entire membership.
We will continue to report out after each session. Our next update will follow negotiations on May 21.
In solidarity,
Darlene Williams
Vice President & Chair, PEF Contract Team
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CONTRACT MEETINGS
The Contract Team is traveling around the State meeting with members to answer questions about the process and update them on the progress of negotiations. We will inform members of all future scheduled stops via this page so you can RSVP when the team comes to your Region.
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FAQ: What benefits continue while PEF is out of contract?
Payroll dates for longevity, increments, and Higher Ed Differential
Click the + sign below to read the Articles, Side Letters, Salary Schedules and other documents contained in the 2023-2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement.