February 7, 2022 — As the pandemic and short staffing continue to take its toll on the state workforce, PEF has negotiated agreements with various agencies and the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations that entitle members to 2.5 times the rate of their regular pay for overtime worked during certain time periods. Below is a summary of those agreements at this time.

DOCCS (non-nursing titles)

A new 2.5 Overtime Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was reached with DOCCS. The agreement applies to any overtime eligible employees and takes effect for overtime hours worked beginning at 11:00 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2022, for employees on the Institutional Payroll and 11:00 p.m. on Feb. 16, 2022, for employees on the Administrative Payroll. The agreement ends, unless extended by mutual agreement, at the end of the Institutional Payroll period at 10:59 p.m. on March 9, 2022, and at the end of the Administrative Payroll period at 10:59 p.m. on March 16, 2022. See the MOA for full details. 

DOCCS (nursing titles)

Certain PEF nursing titles at DOCCS are covered under a separate MOA. That agreement is in effect for overtime hours work starting at 11:00 p.m. on Jan. 12, 2022 until 10:59 p.m. on April 6, 2022, for members on the Institutional Payroll and from 11:00 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2020 through 10:59 p.m. on March 30, 2022, for members on the Administrative Payroll. See the MOA for full details.

SUNY

A new 2.5 Overtime Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was reached with SUNY.  It contains the same terms as the initial 2.5 MOA and the term runs from January 2-March 31, 2022.  Based on representations from SUNY Central, PEF expects the three SUNY Hospitals and the SUNY Veterans’ Home to continue to offer an overtime rate equivalent to 2.5 times an employees’ regular rate of pay to all applicable titles for work performed from Jan. 2-March 31, 2022.  For the specific SUNY titles that are impacted, please read the Memorandum of Agreement signed with SUNY, here.

OCFS

The 2.5 Agreement with OCFS, which was due to expire on December 31, 2021, was extended through March 31, 2022 (any shifts starting before 11:59pm on March 31, 2022, are included). Youth Counselors 1 and 2 at the following OCFS facilities will also receive the higher overtime rate:

  • Brentwood Residential Center
  • Brookwood Secure
  • Finger Lakes Residential Center
  • Goshen Secure
  • Harriet Tubman Residential Center
  • Highland Residential Center
  • Industry Residential Center
  • MacCormick Secure
  • Taberg Residential Center

OMH

A 2.5 Overtime Agreement was reached with OMH in November.  Excluding the Nathan Kline Institute, the following PEF titles at OMH hospitals are eligible: Nurse 1, Nurse 2, Nurse 2 (Psychiatric), Nurse 3 (Psychiatric), Community Mental Health Nurse, Infection Control Nurse, Nurse Administrator 1 (Psychiatric) and Nurse Administrator 2 (Psychiatric). This Agreement was extended past its original expiration and is now in effect through March 31, 2022.

OPWDD

A 2.5 Overtime Agreement was reached with OPWDD for the period commencing at 11:00 p.m. on December 1, 2021, through any shifts that commence before 11:00 p.m. on February 23, 2022.  See the MOA for applicable titles.

DOH

PEF reached a 2.5 Overtime Agreement with DOH for the period commencing 11:00 p.m. on December 1, 2021, through any shifts that start before 11:00 p.m. on February 23, 2022. See the MOA for applicable titles.

“We realize that none of these temporary agreements solve the staffing issues PEF professionals have been experiencing for years, but it’s one way to reward your hard work,” said PEF President Wayne Spence. “We continue to push for safe staffing measures and hazard pay for all PEF members deemed essential during the COVID state of emergency.”