ALBANY (AP) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the union representing state workers in New York's executive branch say they've reached a contract agreement that protects the union's members from administration plans for cost-saving layoffs.
The Civil Service Employees Association and Cuomo announced the five-year labor deal on Wednesday.
The agreement includes a three-year wage freeze for the 66,000 workers represented by CSEA, but provides employees with a $1,000 lump-sum payment split into two increments and 2-percent pay increases in 2014 and 2015.
It also calls for workers to take nine unpaid days off split between the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years and to pay for a larger share of their health care coverage.
Cuomo had threatened to lay off 9,800 state workers if public workers unions didn't make concessions in the contract talks.
The deal is subject to approval by rank-and-file members.
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