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 is negotiating 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 25, 2026:
As contract negotiations continue, we want to provide a frank assessment of where things currently stand.
Bargaining is not moving fast enough, and we are not making enough progress on the issues that matter most to PEF members.
The State still fails to fully recognize the economic challenges that our members and their families face every single day.
Our salaries are not keeping pace with today’s economic realities. Members feel it at the gas pump, in the grocery store, through rising healthcare costs, and in the struggle to afford housing and basic necessities. The cost-of-living crisis impacting communities across New York, especially in Downstate and the Hudson Valley, continues to weigh heavily on PEF leaders and members alike.
PEF’s message to the State is simple: We need relief, and we need it now.
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.