What's happening
This bill prohibits public employers from granting wage or benefit increases based on longevity or service after a union contract expires and before a new one is negotiated.
Why it matters
Limits automatic pay raises. The bill specifically prevents any increases in wages or benefits tied to time worked—such as step increases, longevity pay, or additional vacation accrual—once a union contract expires, until a new contract is agreed upon. This could have a significant impact on public employees who traditionally expect these scheduled increases.
Changes leverage in negotiations. By removing guaranteed raises after a contract expires, the bill alters the balance of power in collective bargaining. Public employers may have less financial pressure to settle contracts quickly, potentially extending negotiation periods and affecting workers’ bargaining strength.
Potential fiscal impact on government budgets. Since public employers would not be obligated to pay higher wages or benefits during contract lapses, municipalities and state agencies could realize short-term budgetary savings during prolonged negotiations.
Affects labor relations climate. The change could increase tensions between public sector employers and unions, as employees may perceive the loss of automatic progression as a reduction in earned compensation, possibly leading to increased labor unrest or strikes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Freeze Raises After Contracts Expire
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Held for consideration in governmental employees
- Referred to governmental employees
- Referred to governmental employees
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6625
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 10, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. GOODELL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Employees
AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to the requirements of a public employer when a collective bargaining agreement has expired and a new agreement is not in place
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (e) of subdivision 1 of section 209-a of the civil service law, as amended by chapter 244 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows:
(e) to refuse to continue all the terms of an expired agreement until a new agreement is negotiated, unless the employee organization which is a party to such agreement has, during such negotiations or prior to such resolution of such negotiations, engaged in conduct violative of subdivision one of section two hundred ten of this article, provided, however, that nothing herein or in any other provision of law shall require a public employer to pay higher wages or benefits to any employee based on longevity, length of service or passage of time after the expiration of such agreement and before a new agreement has been negotiated, including without limitation any step increases in wages based on existing wage scales, longevity payments, increased vacation or personal time, or other similar increases in wages or benefits;
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10391-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.