u/RefrigeratorBest6543 — reddlx

Why the LIRR decision matters for PEF/CSEA contract negotiators, and the necessary verbiage to replicate their 4.5% wage increase for 2026:

Regarding the recent LIRR contract, detractors will inevitably say, "MTA are not technically a state agency," however, under NYS collective bargaining law (Civil Service Law §209), arbitration and bargaining panels MUST consider wages of similar public employees in comparable work settings.

CSEA/PEF/LIRR workers are ALL unionized NY public sector employees competing in the SAME labor market, AND what others in the market get can reasonably be used as a benchmark for regional wage competitiveness.

Remember, an arbitration board determined that they should have gotten nearly 5% for 2026.

HOW we present this argument will be critical for our success, in lieu of the ability to walk off the job.

Thanks for representing us,

Your hopeful PEF and CSEA Members

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u/RefrigeratorBest6543 — 1 day ago

▲ 100 r/nys_cs

CSEA and PEF’s negotiators are now on the clock, AND a conversation between us and NYS:

The MTA and five LIRR unions, representing about 3,500 workers, reached a tentative contract agreement that ended a three-day work stoppage. The deal averts additional tax or fare hikes and brings train service back to normal operations. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Contract Details:
Duration: A four-year agreement running until roughly mid-2027, featuring a six-week contract extension.
Wage Increases: Annual raises totaling 14.7% over the life of the contract, broken down as:
Year 1-2: 3% each
Year 3: 3.5%
Year 4: 4.5%
Bonuses & Back Pay: Includes full retroactive pay going back to 2023, plus a $3,000 lump-sum payment.
Concessions & Rules: A portion of the Year 4 raise increase is offset by union concessions, including required out-of-work computer-based training (up to 16 hours annually) compensated at standard hourly rates.
—————

When we ask for a 4.5% raise for 2026, what are they going to tell us as to why we can’t get that?:

THEM: “They can strike and you can’t.”
US: “What difference should that make?”
THEM: “We can bully you guys. We can’t do it with them.”
US: “Why can’t we strike?”
THEM: “Because you’re ESSENTIAL. The Taylor Law says so.”
US: “If we’re “essential,” shouldn’t we be treated like it and compensated fairly?”
THEM: *shrug*
US: “Doesn’t the Taylor Law also say that ‘essential’ employees should be given something in lieu of having the right to strike, such as Mandatory Binding Arbitration?”
THEM: “In theory, yes, but they never added you guys in to NY Civil Service Law 209(4), so you’re out of luck. You’re stuck with non-binding fact-finding if we go to impasse. They can recommend you guys get 10% and we can just scoff at it and say NO.”
US: So what do we actually get in exchange for not having the right to strike?
THEM: “Jack sh*t; A lesser contract and some lovely parting gifts.”

This is the reality, and it’s unacceptable.

LIRR got 4.5% for 2026 because a non-binding review board recommended back in October that they should get a 4.5% raise. 6 months later they went to them again and that recommendation was raised to close to 5%. We all need to CHALLENGE our PEF and CSEA negotiators to draw a line in the sand on this. We’re NO different. We pay A LOT more for Family NYSHIP than LIRR workers do for their health benefits (as an aside, the PERCENTAGE we pay for medical, vs what the state picks up IS NEGOTIABLE), and inflation has outpaced our raises since 2021 by 9% (-9% raises vs inflation).

We’re expecting results. Let them KNOW!

PEF PROUD
CSEA CONTRACT

u/RefrigeratorBest6543 — 3 days ago

▲ 51 r/nys_cs

What the PEB found at Arbitration for LIRR/MTA negotiations and implications for PEF/CSEA contract (PEB=Presidential Employee Board)

Twice The LIRR/MTA negotiations have gone to non-binding fact-finding over their April 2026 raise. The rest of the contract is not in dispute:

2023 3% (we got 3% as well)
2024 3% (we got 3%)
2025 3.5% (we got just 3%)
2026 ???

The first time was October 2025 and the review board found that the workers should be entitled to a 4.5% raise; the union was demanding 5%.

MTA didn’t want to give them the 4.5%. Instead, they’re playing games and suggesting the union take a 3% raise and a cash payment to make up the difference. But the union isn’t dumb, they want it in their base for future compounding. They’re also aware of current and recent inflation.

They’ve now gone BACK to PEB fact finding and due to inflation, the board is NOW recommending a raise even CLOSER to the 5% that the union originally demanded. The union is threatening to walk off the job tonight if they don’t have a deal.

Even though the negotiations are not directly involved with the Governor, she is involved heavily with the board and financing of the MTA.

PEF and CSEA should be watching THIS negotiation and what they ultimately get for 2026 VERY CLOSELY.

LIRR’s raises for the other 3 years are extremely close to what we got for 2023-2025 (it’s off by just .5%). If LIRR workers ultimately get 4% or more for 2026 (which would be the first year for OUR next contract), there’s NO reason why PEF and CSEA shouldn’t be drawing a line in the sand here.

After all, she’s running on affordability, and our raises have been way under water vs inflation since 2021.

The bottom line is THIS: an independent review board is RECOMMENDING employees get a 5% raise for 2026. The raises are there IF we want it. Hold your negotiating committees and union leadership responsible for what they bring to us for a vote.

But FIRST, let’s see what LIRR gets for 2026.

PEF and CSEA CAN get a GOOD contract, IF YOU WANT IT.

*Edit: PEB stands for Presidential Emergency Board. It won’t let me edit the title.

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u/RefrigeratorBest6543 — 7 days ago

▲ 64 r/nys_cs