![](https://www.witf.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/josh-shapiro-philadelphia-1-aug-2022-1-1280x853.jpg)
At a campaign stop with union supporters on Aug. 18, 2022, then-Pa. Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro criticized his opponent's stance on labor unions.
Cory Sharber / WHYY
At a campaign stop with union supporters on Aug. 18, 2022, then-Pa. Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro criticized his opponent's stance on labor unions.
Cory Sharber / WHYY
Cory Sharber / WHYY
At a campaign stop with union supporters on Aug. 18, 2022, then-Pa. Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro criticized his opponent's stance on labor unions.
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Members of two large Pennsylvania state employee unions this month ratified proposed four-year contracts with Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration, with the cost of salaries and benefits projected to rise by more than 20%.
One agreement covers about 10,000 members of the Service Employees International Union Local 668 and was ratified last week. Earlier this month, about 27,000 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 13 ratified another agreement. The Independent Fiscal Office, a legislative agency, estimated that the AFSCME contract will increase salaries and benefits by almost $1.2 billion in the deal’s fourth year, or roughly 21%.
The terms of the contracts are identical, according to Shapiro’s administration.
The contracts deliver pay raises of 20.25% over the four years, including 5% right away. Compounded over the four years, salaries will increase by 22%.
Employee health care contributions will increase from 5% to 6% of salary over the life of the contract, although members can halve the contribution by participating in a wellness program.
The agreements come after inflation spiked in 2021.
SEIU and AFSCME members are coming off a four-year contract that expired July 1 after delivering raises of 16.75% over the contract’s life.
Employees across state government are represented by unions, including nurses, state troopers, corrections officers and social services caseworkers. Shapiro’s administration has said talks continue with 13 other labor unions representing state employees.
Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don’t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your back. Each weekday morning, host Tim Lambert will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth.
The days of journalism’s one-way street of simply producing stories for the public have long been over. Now, it’s time to find better ways to interact with you and ensure we meet your high standards of what a credible media organization should be.