ALBANY – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association President Michael Powers announced on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, a tentative contract agreement between the State and the labor union representing over 20,000 employees in the Security Services Unit that provide for the safety and security of correctional facilities, mental hygiene facilities and many other State agencies.
“This agreement fairly compensates the hardworking men and women who help keep our facilities safe, while at the same time provides the State the ability to appropriately discipline those that engage in the most serious misconduct,” said Governor Cuomo. “These new reforms will ensure the highest standards of professionalism are upheld and I thank Michael Powers for his leadership in reaching this agreement on behalf of his members.”
Michael Powers, President of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, said, “We are pleased with the agreement NYSCOPBA has reached with State of New York, securing a fair and equitable five year contract for our 20,000 members. The men and women of NYSCOPBA work under some of the most dangerous conditions, and play a vital role in the law enforcement community that makes New York one of the safest states in the nation. I would like to thank Governor Cuomo for his continued support and leadership in recognizing that our members carry themselves with professionalism and integrity.”
The agreement provides for a 2 percent wage increase for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, recurring health insurance savings, recurring overtime savings and reforms to the discipline process.
In addition to the wage increases above, highlights of the tentative agreement, which will require ratification by the full NYSCOPBA membership, include:
· Health insurance design changes resulting in cost savings to the State of approximately $35 million over the term of the agreement. This includes medical and prescription drug co-payment changes, resulting in reduced premium charges for employees
· Overtime savings of approximately $35 million over the term of the agreement
· A redesigned discipline process that includes a new tripartite panel to hear abuse and neglect cases involving inmates and wards of the State, and table of penalties covering serious misconduct
· A joint workers compensation committee to review and evaluate the workers compensation process and improve administration of claims
· Compensation enhancements based on location of work and hazardous duties similar to other bargaining units
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