Budget gives retroactive raises for state workers

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that New York State will restore $600 million in retroactive general salary increases for state workers after having sacrificed their contractual raises as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The announcement comes after the federal government delivered $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.

“New York State workers showed up every day so people could stay home and they are true heroes of the Covid crisis,” Governor Cuomo said. “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, and selflessness which helped us through this unpredicted crisis.”

In April of 2020, New York State was forced to freeze scheduled 2% pay increases as the State at the time was contending with the worst revenue loss in modern history as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic. The announcement fully funds the scheduled salary increases and retroactive pay to approximately 120,000 state workers, including members of the below unions:

• 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)