Union rejects Cuomo contract offer

ALBANY -- The first labor contract proposal negotiated by the Cuomo administration, which called it a model for other unions for its pay freeze and concessions in hard fiscal times, has been rejected by the union's members, the administration confirmed Tuesday.

Council 82 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees rejected the proposal by a margin of more than 2-to-1. The union represents about 1,000 State University of New York police, park police, environmental conservation officers and forest rangers.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had hoped the tentative deal would pave the way for pay freezes and other concessions by larger unions now in negotiations. He is counting on union concessions to avoid or limit thousands of layoffs in the 2011-12 budget, which addresses a $10-billion deficit.

He said in April the tentative agreement would help put New York "on the road to recovery." At the time, the union's leaders tentatively agreed to pay freezes, the elimination of automatic "step" increases in pay for years of service, and greater contributions to health care in the three-year deal. But Council 82 also faces a challenge by a group of members called the Police Benevolent Association of New York State who hope to lead the union members. -- AP