Public Employee Press

Local 1320 reaches deal on pay, benefits

The restorations won by Local 1320 entitle workers to be paid again for time off for bereavement, jury duty, civil service exams, court appearances, and veterans and volunteer firefighter conventions.

By GREGORY N. HEIRES

Local 1320 and the city reached a tentative agreement that calls for sewage treatment workers to receive a 19.41 percent compounded wage hike over nine years.

Both sides worked out the deal in a marathon, 15-hour bargaining session on Oct. 26 at DC 37 headquarters in Manhattan. The agreement runs from June 29, 2008, to Oct. 30, 2017.

"We are happy to have resolved this long-standing contract battle with the city, because our members have gone too long without a pay increase," Local 1320 President Jim Tucciarelli said.

The workers have not received a raise for eight years, because of former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's refusal to move forward with a previous round of bargaining that provided for two 4 percent increases from 2008 to 2010.

When Bill de Blasio was sworn in as mayor in 2013, all of the unionized municipal employees were working under expired contracts.

Fighting for economic justice

Before the handshake at the conclusion of negotiations, Tucciarelli referred to the frustration of members, who have waited since 2007 to get a fair wage increase. He noted that the agreement guarantees the workers will receive the full value of what they are owed from the last round of bargaining.

DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido praised the members of the rank-and-file bargaining committee for their work and dedication to win an agreement for their coworkers.

"We want to be out there fighting for a new contract when we get to the next round of bargaining," Garrido told the committee. "This contract took too long. As you know, justice delayed is justice denied."

If approved by the Local 1320's 750 members, this agreement will provide Sewage Treatment Workers with lump-sum payments for back pay. Their hourly rate will reach $41.76 by the end of 2016.

Sr. Sewage Treatment Workers will also receive lump-sum payments. Their pay would increase to $46.01 an hour.

Members will vote on the agreement through a mail-ballot process overseen by an independent monitor. Local 1320 briefed members about the deal on Nov. 2.

Contract gains

The economic pact generally mirrors the nine year pattern set by the teachers union's latest contract with the city in 2014.

Besides wages, Local 1320's accord also deals with other key issues for the Sewage Treatment Workers. The pact restores previous unpopular contract modifications. Restorations are infrequently achieved in contract talks between municipal unions and the city.

The restorations won by Local 1320 entitle workers to be paid again for time off for bereavement, jury duty, civil service exams, court appearances, and veterans and volunteer firefighter conventions.

The local was able to achieve these restorations and additional gains by extending the term of the contract by four months and two days.

The additional achievements include extending value of the pay increases and lump-sum payments to the survivors of 23 members who passed away since 2008. Workers promoted to Stationary Engineer Electric positions during the term of the agreement will also be covered.

In late summer, Tucciarelli, with the support of the local's negotiating committee, put pressure on the city to settle.

He had the support of Garrido and DC 37 Research and Negotiations Dept.'s Associate Director David Paskin, who coordinated negotiations with Tucciarelli, as well as Associate General Counsel Steven Sykes from the DC 37 General Counsel's Office. Assistant Director Maria Elena Cortez, Information Specialist Angela Hazel and Confidential Secretary Ellen M. Medwid of the Research and Negotiations Dept. provided technical and other assistance.

In the weeks preceding the settlement, Garrido and Paskin communicated regularly with city officials, including Labor Commissioner Bob Linn, to create a framework to conclude negotiations.