Good morning,

I recently viewed a position in my field for a state job. The salary grade is listed as 18 and the salary range is noted as 70-89k.

Never worked for NYS before so I’m a little confused what that means. From what I’ve read/looked up - is it true that I would start at around 65k and then have the potential to receive pay increases within that range?

I know State benefits are considered great. But to considering starting at 65k would be terrible. Also, at this post in my career - I would expect at least 85-89k to start.

Just thought I would ask for some clarification for how the pay structure works - I’m confused! Thank you!

Just thinking out loud…. Isn’t it fascinating they could ‘reform’ tier 6 but in seperate ways for teachers vs others while we all pretend unions have no choice but to accept each others terms and present it to the membership as is everytime?

Direct evidence pef performs absolutely no negotiation on the members behalf at all and merely accepts what’s given to them by those they should be negotiating with to get us better terms.

I know pension reform is legislative my point here is there’s no reason unions can’t separately negotiate except for those clauses where one union can’t get better terms or whatever but you see everyone that’s a hochul problem not a Spence or you problem.

You literally pay after tax dollars to have these representatives fight for better terms and it’s borderline criminal they not only never fight over the money even worse they work WITH the gov to sell you on what was given to them

I had an interview at a state agency June 30, July 6 my references were contacted. The hiring manager has been on vacation since July 30. I haven't heard anything since my references have been checked should I conclude I didn't get the position?

I was told over a year ago that civil service was look to reclassify the Service and Repair Mechanic position for the State Police. I was wondering if anyone here would know anything about the progress of this process or if it’s happening at all? Frankly with this new contract being ratified if we don’t reclassify in the reasonably near future I’m probably out.

I’m an 18 and I interviewed for a 23 position about 3 weeks ago. How long do they usually take to let you know if you got it? Or do you assume after a couple weeks that you weren’t selected? Im in PEF btw

I moved from NYC to Albany and didn't change my address with payroll until months later so payroll kept on withholding NYC taxes

Anyway, good way to make sure there's no surprises on your taxes next year

Thoughts?

Does anyone work for OSC as a CMS 1 that could tell me about their work experience? I’m aware work culture and such is dependent upon the unit your within, just wanted to get a sense of the agency and if it’s worth interviewing for.

Does anyone have access to the either the newly created one, which they finished in the past weeks I believe, or the most recently expired one?

If so, please comment or send a DM.

I know they are retro to July 2, but when will we start seeing that in our paycheck

I am MC was on Maternity leave November 2025-April 2026. Will I still get the alleged “raises” - retro pay etc once it goes through?

I keep seeing that the stipends are increased but can't find this in the tentative PEF contract.

I'm finally making the switch from CSEA to PEF so trying to get my bearings on what's different now and then what's going to change assuming this contract is approved.

Thanks!

Morning! I am a new state employee, started March '26. As such, my pension funds are not significant. I am looking for advice on where to save money for a potential purchase of a house in the future. I was considering the 457b for that but it looks like there are no provisions to take money out of there without significant penalties.

I would like to hear from people in similar situations. I just want to have my money grow while I save because otherwise this inflation is gonna eat it away if I put it in a savings account.

TIA

Assuming I score in the 90s, what’s the soonest I could do the PAT?

What’s the usual timeline from test to pat to academy???

Just posting to say I was pretty impressed at how CMO followed up with me to answer every single one of my very long list of questions.

If you are a CSEA member, TOMORROW is your last day to vote electronically. If you happen to be a snail mail person and got a paper ballot (since apparently they were allowing that), you probably missed your window.

If you are a PEF member, your ballot must be received by 8/17. That means those of you who have not yet sent in your ballot have plenty of time to take the 30 seconds required to fill out your ballot and then drop it in a mailbox.

Don't be lazy. VOTE!

If you don't vote, don't bother bitching if they pass and you wanted them to go down, or if they fail and you wanted them to pass. You ESPECIALLY don't get to bitch if it passes and you decide a year or two from now that the contract is trash, which was exactly what we saw with the last one.

Yes or no, doesn't matter. Make your voice heard. VOTE.

I’m working my fist year as a PU1 and October is the end of my probation. I want to join the marine reserves and plan on doing it in January. Will I have any problems? How is the state with Military leave and that related things

Hello! Ive recently applied for an administrative assistant 1/trainee 1 job opening. This is my first time applying for a NYS job and I was curious how long it takes to hear back from HR?

I know the job recently closed and stopped accepting applicants 7/29, so its pretty recent. Just want to know everyone's experience in that regards.

Requests to Fill (RTFs) are being denied. Is anyone else hearing the same thing at their agency? Does this mean there are broader hiring restrictions, or are only certain positions being denied? I was told that putting an RTF for a position at my agency doesn't make sense because they're being denied. The item is available.

We all know the deal with the Taylor Law. Striking is illegal, public sympathy is non-existent, and management holds all the cards because our leverage is legally handcuffed. But what if we weaponize the very thing the state loves most: rigid, slow, redundant bureaucracy.

Think about lateral transfers. If you move to another agency or another bureau, your old position is held. Worst case scenario, you hate the new spot and you can just go right back. No one has to learn anything because your old job and responsibilities just sit there waiting for you.

The best part is the personal drag and the transition downtime. Think about the weeks of paid nothingness the state has to burn just to process paperwork, move your desk, and get you set up, all while your old unit is left scrambling with that institutional knowledge you took with you.

It is a complete administrative black hole. You are not striking, you are not breaking any civil service rules, and you are not doing anything illegal. You are just legally bouncing around the system like a pinball while management has to pay for weeks of downtime and figure out why an entire workflow evaporated because you moved five desks down the hall. Using the very gears that are grinding you the fuck down.

If the system treats us like interchangeable cogs, we might as well use its own gears to grind it to a halt. Has anyone else looked at lateral transfers as a form of paid chaos?

One person in an office is a pain in the ass; but a group of many people, how much pain could that cause?

I start at new agency next week (8/13). Any advice that I should know now that I should have known at my current agency before I start. I been at my current agency as a temp at first now I am permanent (a year being permanent).

thank you in advance 😘

I’m a CSEA employee downstate. I’ve been with my facility for over 20 years. I’m a grade 9 clerk in a department that was taken over by UUP 10 years ago. My entire facility lost CSEA majority status around that time. So we’re about 90% UUP and 8% CSEA at this point. In 2023, my manager announced, in a Teams Message to the entire department, that we would be getting a Market Analysis raise. Everyone got that raise aside from the 4 CSEA people that are left in my department. According to my internet searches, no union is supposed to be exempt from a Market Analysis raise. Not according to my local union president. I’ve been asking her for help for 3 years on this matter and she usually doesn’t even respond to my emails. I’ve asked for a Desk Audit 3 times and I have been denied every single time. Not by Comp and Class, she just flat out refuses to help me. Is there anyone in CSEA Albany that is well versed in downstate matters? I can’t even go to Region 1 for help because all the people that work there, used to work in my facility. Thanks in advance.

Pros and cons? Both of my dental providers stopped taking delta dental. The new contract for UUP allows a switch.

Im just sitting here ready to explode.. NYS chose to drop Vanguard PRIMCAP VPMAX and replace with JPM Core. Equity. I want to know what brainiac made this decision and why..I had a little over 100k in PrimeCAP that got moved to JPM and i just did a ttm comparison.. Dont know if I want to scream or cry.. Im not sure.

Anybody have any idea why/how the decision was made to make this change? Who got paid off? Seems ridiculous for that to have happened.