May 7, 2026 — For people across the country and across New York State, affordability is not a buzzword. It is a constant reminder that wages have not kept up with prices, inflation continues to rise, and essential needs are becoming harder to obtain. PEF members have been feeling the squeeze on their household budgets for some time, with some barely paying bills each month despite being highly trained and qualified public servants working for millions of New Yorkers every day.
As negotiations for a successor contract continue, members have been vocal about their need for significant, meaningful wage increases.
In New York City, Antero Barrantes is a Human Rights Specialist with the Division of Human Rights (DHR). He works to investigate claims of discrimination, as well as help with compliance and facilitation of New York’s human rights laws.
“Being an investigator is a very strategic job, and I do my best to put my nose to the ground to look for facts and investigate and interview people,” said Barrantes. “But the other part of my job is to be a facilitator and to ensure compliance. I am not just a person punching information into a computer.”
Despite the detailed nature of the job, as well as the many hats an investigator with DHR sometimes wears, Barrantes said he loves his job.
“I love what I do. I am always looking forward to waking up and getting to work,” said Barrantes. “I believe in the work we do, and I know that we help so many New Yorkers.”
Loving the job, however, is not paying the bills. Most state positions get paid bi-weekly. Barrantes said that while that may be true, it often feels like he is only getting paid once a month.
“One of my paychecks always goes just to my rent,” said Barrantes. “After that, I am stretching my second paycheck to deal with whatever other expenses and food costs I have. I’m working magic with that second paycheck.”
Rent in New York City continues to rise. According to the NYC Comptroller’s Office, the median asking price for rent reached $3,500 per month in 2023. At that level, a household would need to earn more than $140,000 a year to not be considered rent-burdened— which is defined as paying 30% or more of one’s income for rent.
In Western New York, PEF members face the crisis of affordability in different ways. Carrie Busekist is an Environmental Educator with Parks and Recreation in Salamanca. She took on a second job to help bolster her income.
“I work part-time at a job where it is a tipped position,” she said. “I am able to make ends meet with just my state job as I live a pretty frugal lifestyle, but in my 40’s, I really thought I would be much farther ahead financially by now.”
Like Barrantes, Busekist loves the work she does with Parks and Recreation and worries about her colleagues who are struggling more than she is.
“I really love the people I work with, and it is a beautiful place to work,” Busekist said. “Everyone is passionate about what they do and being able to teach the younger generation about the environment and how to care for it, but many are not as financially stable and are very underpaid for what they do.”
Despite living different lifestyles in different parts of the state, Busekist and Barrantes agree that the price of necessities are out of reach.
“As I drove home, gas prices increased again and groceries are going up,” said Busekist. “I don’t have a family that I am responsible for, but if I was there’s a very small chance I would be able to make it work.”
At the time of this publication, gas prices in Western New York are about $4.49 per gallon. The volatility is expected to continue.
“There are times where I am thinking about things I may need to get from the grocery store, but I am instead trying to see how much longer I can extend going without it,” said Barrantes. “I like to go to the supermarket when I need to go and stock up on food items, but sometimes I have to consider that maybe right now is not a good time.”
As the contract team works to bring wages up in the next contract and as PEF calls on the Department of Civil Service to release its statewide compensation study, PEF members, like Barrantes and Busekist, look to State leaders to address the dire consequences of wage inequality.
“If the state wants people to stay in state service or to stay in New York, they need to do something,” said Busekist. “I could go to another state with lower taxes and higher salaries. We have constant turnover where we are and a lot of it has to do with low wages in our positions.”
“The governor and the legislature need to understand that we’d like to see something done about it,” said Barrantes.
Editor’s Note: If you’d like to share an affordability story with the union, please reach out via Communicator@pef.org, or when the Contract Team visits your worksite, talk to a PEF Communications staff member.