A DEmocrat moving in the right direction.

The new pattern

Last week, Gov. Cuomo reached an no- raise contract settlement with Council 82 -- a small union representing about 1,100 university and park cops and forest rangers -- that could establish a pattern for upcoming negotiations with larger public-employee unions.

The contract includes not just a freeze on base pay, but also on longevity step increments that -- through the Triborough amendment to the Taylor Law -- grant many employees automatic hikes, even when a contract has expired.

It also calls for a major increase in employee contributions to health-insurance premiums -- from 10 percent to 20 percent for individual coverage, and from 25 percent to 35 percent for families.

Other concessions in health, sick pay and overtime benefits produce significant short- and long-term savings.

Needless to say, the pact gave leaders of the state's largest public-sector unions hives.

The Civil Service Employees Association and the Public Employees Federation not only rejected the notion that the deal set a benchmark, but also appear poised to attempt to convince Council 82's rank-and-file members to vote down the new contract.

Foolish idea.

Cuomo's just-enacted budget slices some $450 million from the funds used to pay state employees. The cash can be made up through union contract concessions, a la Council 82, or it can come from cuts in state employment.

If other unions agree to similar concessions as Council 82 did, the state will get close to that figure.

If other unions don't accept that framework -- well, Cuomo is talking about some 10,000 state layoffs.

A functionally bankrupt state -- that would be New York right now -- doesn't have many options.

But an emboldened governor does.

The big-union leadership can play ball -- or their members can pay the price.