Freeze Is Over – $600 Million Coming To New York State Employees

Have you ever let someone borrow money and you immediately have concern that they won't pay you back? When it comes to your job you don't always have a choice. One year ago, Empire Center reported that Governor Cuomo would be invoking his “emergency” powers to freeze 2 percent pay increase for most unionized state government workers, to name a few.

Finally some good news arrived Wednesday! News10 ABC reports, Cuomo announced that New York State will restore $600 million in retroactive general salary increases for state workers.   

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“The FY 2022 enacted budget will repay $600 million that was withheld from State workers during the pandemic, On behalf of the entire family of New York, we thank state workers for their extraordinary service, sacrifice, a selflessness which helped us through this unpredicted crisis.”

So, where is the money coming from? NY.gov credits the federal government for delivering $12.6 billion in funding and additional revenues were made available in the FY 2022 budget, which also invests in the ongoing response to the pandemic and recovery efforts.

This means that nearly 120,000 state workers will not only receive the 2% raise they were promised, they will also get retroactive paid for the work they have already done. Many of the 120K are union workers from:

• Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)
• United University Professions (UUP)
• New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA)
• Management Confidential (MC)
• New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association (NYSTPBA)
• New York State Police Investigators Association (NYSPIA)
• DC37HOUS
• Graduate Students Employees Union (GSEU)

As the lights of the Corning Tower illustrate, 'NY Tough', It has still been a difficult 12 months for everyone. It's nice to see good things like this compensation start to happen.