August 18, 2026 — New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) members turned out in force to ratify the union’s 2026-2031 collective bargaining agreement, with 88 percent of voters in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PS&T) unit casting yes votes.
“Labor unity builds power,” said PEF President Wayne Spence, who has now negotiated five collective bargaining agreements as head of the union. “Overwhelming support of this contract sends a message and will position us for gains in the legislature, in the workplace, and in the community. Our members saw the value of this contract, with well over $4 billion in new money, and they stood behind it.”
The five-year contract includes:
- Annual raises of 4.5%, 4%, 3.5%, 3% and 3% each year of the agreement, which compounds to equal a salary increase of 19.3% over the term;
- Provisions for a new Employee Benefit Fund to deliver improved dental and vision benefits;
- The continuation of a $600 annual Higher Education Differential that recognizes the unique professional qualifications of PEF members;
- Increases in location and inconvenience pay, as well as a hazardous duty bonus for certain members;
- No additional health insurance co-pays for the life of the agreement and the elimination of stacked co-pays.
“PEF fought hard throughout these negotiations to secure a fair contract that recognizes our dedication and the essential services we provide New Yorkers,” said Spence. “We appreciate Governor Hochul and her team for working with us to reach an agreement that addresses the priorities of our members and reflects the value of our hard work. None of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the PEF Contract Team, led by Chief Negotiator Mark Richard and PEF Vice President and Contract Chair Darlene Williams.”
The other members of the PEF Contract Team are:
Scarlett Ahmed — Department of Labor, Queens
Vincent Cicatello — Office of Mental Health, Buffalo
Conrad Davis — Tax & Finance, Brooklyn
Christopher Ford — Office of Information Technology Services, Albany
George Howard — Office of Information Technology Services, Queens
Christopher Jordan — Department of Transportation, Hornell
Maureen Kozakiewicz — Department of Motor Vehicles, Albany
Tanya Oliver – Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Albany
Ben Traslaviña — PEF Director of Contract Administration
Cynthia Walker — SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn