By a count of 27,718 to 11,645, members of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) ratified a revised four-year agreement with the state that averts significant layoffs.

The union, the state's second-largest public employee bargaining unit, said the ratification of the new agreement saves the jobs of 3,496 PEF members and preserves the services members provide.

The agreement preserves the pay scale, the employment and the careers of PEF members. It maintains increments and salary-grade parity, longevity payments and co-pays for doctor visits at their current levels. It calls for no salary increases for years 2011, 2012 and 2013. A salary increase of 2 percent is included for 2014.

The new contract increases the share members will pay of their health insurance premiums, but includes changes to the productivity enhancement program which will allow members more of a chance to use vacation time to offset health insurance costs. The new contract includes reimbursement for nine furlough days, payable at the end of the agreement.

PEF President Ken Brynien said that more than 75 percent of the membership voted on the agreement.

The union at first turned down a similar agreement, contrary to the leadership's recommendation, with the threat of layoffs of nearly 3,500 members firmly wielded by Governor Andrew Cuomo. The governor held off on the layoffs to give the union another chance to approve a contract that would prevent the layoffs.

"Although this was a difficult decision for our members, it demonstrates they are willing to do their part to put New York state on a stable financial footing, as all New Yorkers should, and are helping to resolve a fiscal crisis for which they were not responsible," Brynien said.

"This agreement preserves our members' jobs and the services they provide. During this economic downturn, the state's citizens are more dependent on these vital services than ever, in the wake of the flooding earlier this year.

PEF is the state's second-largest state-employee union, representing 55,000 professional, scientific and technical employees and other public and private