Public Employee Press

Zoo and Aquarium workers win new contract

Workers at the Wildlife Conservation Society (the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium), voted overwhelmingly Aug. 24 to ratify a new contract that increases their opportunities for overtime pay and sets up a procedure in case layoffs occur again.

Local 1501 President Robert Herkommer called the pact's detailed rules for layoff notification, seniority and bumping an important advance to prevent the WCS from handling layoffs poorly as it did in 2009.

The 2011-2013 contract cuts the time workers must put in before receiving extra pay as acting supervisors to seven workdays from 14. It calls for voluntary overtime to be offered in seniority order, ensuring fairer distribution of the opportunity for extra money, and allows all eligible workers - not just Keepers - to have weekends off as a part of their regular workweek.

The pact includes a $1,000 differential for workers assigned to pest control, and provides 3 percent wage increases in 2011, 2012 and 2013 for workers in the guest services bargaining unit, who are not covered by DC 37's economic agreement.

The agreement also modifies the grievance procedure so cases can be resolved more quickly.

The bargaining committee included Herkommer, Vice President Jeremy Sanders, Treasurer Marcy Wartell-Brown, White Collar Division Director Michael Riggio, Council Rep Wendell Reid and Assistant Director Heath Madom of the Research and Negotiations Dept.