Brendan J. Lyons reports in the Times Union that New York this week ratified a five-year contract with the Civil Service Employees Association that will provide two percent raises for the first two years of the agreement and three percent raise annually for the remaining three years. Workers will also receive one-time bonuses of $3,000 and "changes in longevity as a result of changes in the health insurance program that will encourage in-network employee utilization and help control health insurance costs," according to Gov. Kathy Hochul's office. The agreement was approved by more than 80 percent of the union's 52,000 members in four executive branch bargaining units. and it lasts through March 2026. "The passage of this contract demonstrates that CSEA members appreciate that they are valued, and their work is properly recognized by the governor and our employers," CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan said in a statement on Aug. 4. Read more about this story in the Times Union.