September 8, 2025 — PEF’s Contract Team is deep into training and preparations for a successor contract, positioning the union strongly for what may be challenging negotiations as the state braces for the impact of federal budget cuts. In the last round of bargaining, the team secured major wins by ending “sunsets” on several provisions that once expired with the contract.
While important benefits such as health insurance, performance advances, location pay, on-call pay, and hazardous duty pay, have historically been protected, other benefits and monies need to be extended by mutual agreement, or they expire at the end of each contract term.
Funding for joint labor-management committees (i.e., health benefits, professional development, health and safety, and career mobility), longevities for newly eligible employees, and the Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) are now among the benefits protected. The fact that joint committee funding continues after contract expiration is important as it means that highly utilized programs such as tuition reimbursement, license renewal reimbursement and contributions to Dependent Care Accounts will not be interrupted.
PEF fought hard to make sure these benefits would no longer be at risk of termination.
“Thanks to gains in the 2023–2026 Agreement, these benefits will now stay in place until a new contract is reached,” said Contract Team Chair and PEF Vice President Darlene Williams. “Ending sunsets takes away a bargaining chip the state has used to push for givebacks. Protecting funding for joint committees — especially tuition reimbursement and professional development — means millions of dollars for our members’ growth and advancement. That’s a major victory for PEF.”
Some provisions do still sunset, including the Higher Education Differential, which provided $600 payments in FY 2024–25 and 2025–26 for members with degrees or State Education Department-issued licenses, and a pilot expedited suspension review program.
“These benefits are essential to recruiting and retaining the skilled professionals New York relies on,” said VP Williams. “The Higher Education Differential rightly recognizes our members as highly trained public servants, and ensuring this recognition continues will be a top priority in the next round of negotiations.”
As the team prepares to go to the table, the union is seeking input from members on their priorities. Please take a few minutes to fill out the contract survey on the PEF website.