New York reaches agreement with SUNY unions for overtime pay

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced that a pilot program designed to provide SUNY hospital employees with elevated overtime pay had launched.

The program stems from an agreement between the state and the Public Employees Federation and Civil Service Employees Association. It grants overtime pay at up to two and a half times the hourly rate, rather than one and a half times. Funding is being provided from the hospitals’ operating revenue.

Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, techs, medical assistants, aides, clerks, cleaners and other patient-facing staff at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences in Brooklyn, Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island and Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse are eligible to participate. Across the three facilities, 7,637 employees are eligible, and the benefit is retroactive to Sept. 16. The program runs through the end of the year.

The agreement recognizes overworked healthcare workers for their efforts throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Hochul said in a statement. As working overtime will almost be required of the staff as more New Yorkers seek to meet vaccination requirements, the higher compensation helps acknowledge their service, said Mary Sullivan, president of the Civil Service Employees Association.

The Public Employees Federation, the Civil Service Employees Association and United University Professions all represent health workers in SUNY hospitals, and the three unions had petitioned state officials for hazard pay since the start of the pandemic, Crain’s reported. United University Professions workers were not mentioned as being eligible in the pilot program, however.

A UUP spokeswoman declined to comment, citing ongoing discussions with the state.

This story first appeared in our sister publication, Crain's New York Business.