Public Employee Press

4% raises in two-year pact

“Significant victory” — Members to vote on proposed contract providing wage security during deepening economic crisis. Delegates call for YES vote.

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

After a year of negotiations, DC 37 and the city reached an agreement Oct. 30 on wage increases totaling 8.26 percent in a proposed two-year contract for 100,000 members.

A handshake between District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts and New York City Labor Commissioner James F. Hanley cemented the proposed agreement, which gives members a 4percent raise retroactive to March 3, 2008, and a compounded 4 percent hike as of March 3, 2009.

“Two four percent increases over two years during a deepening economic crisis represent a significant victory for our members,” said Roberts, who ­announced the settlement at City Hall Nov.3 in a joint news conference with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.“We have achieved sound, livable wage increases and protected our benefits — with no changes in health coverage and pensions.” (Examples of pay increases below.)

Effective on the pact’s last day, March 2, 2010, the wage hikes will be applied to additions to gross pay, such as assignment differentials, longevity increments and uniform allowances — raising the overall value to 8.26 percent. The agreement also increases Recurring Increment Payments by the amounts of the pay raises and continues all other terms of the previous contract. (See contract summary.)

Delegates back pact; members to vote
The DC 37 Negotiating Committee, made up of the union’s 56 local presidents and led by Ms. Roberts, voted overwhelmingly for the contract on Oct.30. In a special meeting Nov.6, the Delegates Council, DC 37’s highest governing body, voted to recommend it to the membership. A ratification vote by union members is required for the proposed contract to become final (for details, click here).

As PEP went to press, union leaders were urging the city to pay the 2008 raise and retroactive amounts as soon as possible after the ratification vote.

The proposed contract covers the period from March 3, 2008, through March 2, 2010. It affects working DC 37 members at mayoral agencies, the Health and Hospitals Corp., the Housing Authority, cultural institutions and libraries.

Not covered are agency fee payers; state and prevailing rate employees; workers at the Emergency Medical Service, City University, School Construction Authority, NY Law School, Institute of Ecosystem Studies, One Source and Renaissance/Charter Schools; and employees in the titles of Fire Protection Inspector and Associate FPI and TBTA Maintainer titles.

Bleak economic picture
The negotiations began in October 2007, when the city’s fiscal picture was far brighter, but concluded amid an expanding economic crisis, with Wall Street in chaos, business profits falling, consumer spending shrinking and layoffs sweeping the private sector. Growing deficits face the city and state governments, the mayor has ordered city agencies to cut their budgets by 7.5 percent in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 and looming state cutbacks are expected to hit the city hard.

“If we thought there would be a better offer tomorrow, we would wait,” said Dennis Sullivan, director of DC 37’s Research and Negotiations Dept. “But we have to focus on the fiscal reality, and four and four over two years in this economy is a good deal for our members,” Sullivan said.