Cuomo Presses PEF to Vote on Modified Contract

Closed-door negotiations continue in Albany to reach an agreement that would avoid laying off 3,500 New York state employees.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Public Employees Federation union are racing against a Wednesday deadline. If there is no new contract with significant concessions to the state, layoffs will begin.

But there is apparently some potential for extending that deadline.

PEF members rejected a tentative contract struck by their union leaders and Cuomo that included a pay freeze and higher employer costs for health care.

Cuomo is insisting on the concessions. Savings are already budgeted as part of the way the state balanced its budget and addressed a $10 billion deficit.

In a statement released Sunday afternoon, Cuomo said he hoped PEF leaders moved for a revote and that members would ratify the contract.

"I am confident that my Administration has been more than resonable and fair, as CSEA's ratification demonstrates," said Cuomo. "Simply put, the fate of the members is in the union's hands. It's up to them."