State, SUNY employees ratify new contract

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and United University Professions (UUP) President Frederick Kowal announced the state and the union have come to an agreement on a five-year contract affecting 35,000 employees.

Union members, who had been without a contract since 2011, voted 77 precent in favor of the new pact.

According to the State Budget Office, the agreement will save approximately $87 million in wages through a deficit reduction program over the contract period. Changes to health benefits will save $99 million over the contract period.

The employees will receive no salary increases from 2011 to 2013 and a 2 percent increase in 2014 and 2015. Employees earning less than $40,137 will contribute two percent more to their health insurance, while employees earning more than $40,137 will contribute 6 percent more to their health insurance.

“Our members understand the challenging times in which these negotiations took place,” Kowal said in a statement. “We are very pleased to deliver a fair and equitable contact to our members.”