Prevailing rate workers and CUNY employees will soon receive the pay increases due under new contracts they have recently ratified.

The contracts basically mirror the pattern established earlier this year by the economic pact for most DC 37 members. That agreement called for two 4 percent raises and another 1 percent for various forms of additional compensation at the end of the 27-month contract.

Prevailing rate workers represented by locals 376, 924, 1087 and 2906 will receive their rate increases and retroactive pay on Nov. 9. For Sewage Treatment Workers represented by Local 1320, the pay increases will be effective Nov. 2 and the retroactive pay will be provided Nov. 9.

The contracts for most prevailing rate workers run from April 1, 2000, to June 30, 2002. An exception is marine workers represented by Local 2906, whose contract runs from Oct. 3, 1999, to Jan. 2, 2002.

As PEP went to press, the City University of New York had not yet set the date for the raises and retroactive pay. DC 37 was pressing the university system to make the payments as soon as possible.

The 8,000 CUNY workers covered by the new contract include members of Locals 384, 2054, 1407, 2627, 375, 1597, 1797 and 983. Their contracts call for 4 percent pay increases April 1, 2000, and April 1, 2001, plus the extra 1 percent in additional compensation.

The CUNY and prevailing rate contracts include a job-security provision, a $200 annual welfare fund rate increase and pension gains and health benefit improvements won by DC 37 in 2000 and 2001.

Members at CUNY approved the pact 3,206 to 23 in a mail-ballot vote conducted by the independent American Arbitration Association, which announced the count Aug. 29.

Local 1157, which represents Supervising Highway Repairers, rejected its proposed contract, triggering a survey by the City Comptroller to determine pay increases based on the market rate for similar workers.

The contracts for prevailing rate workers in locals 376, 924, 1087 and 2906 call for a 4.054 percent raise on the first day of the pact and 4.065 percent on the first day of the 13th month.

Local 1320’s negotiating team opted for a slightly different payment schedule, and the local is applying its additional compensation fund toward an annuity plan.

“These agreements significantly improve wages and provide job security. They represent a substantial achievement for DC 37 members who work at CUNY and in prevailing rate titles,” said DC 37 Administrator Lee Saunders.