Public Employee Press

Bargaining News
Pre-tax transit benefit expands to suburbs

Transit benefit expansion eyed for January

Early in 2010, transportation systems outside city limits will be included in the contractual transit benefit, which lets city employees make pretax payroll deductions toward their commuting costs.

The union’s 2005-2008 economic agreement called for extending the benefit beyond the subways and buses within the five boroughs, but the city dragged its feet and DC 37 went to arbitration to force the city to implement the change.

The benefit will now expand to include the Metro-North, Long Island and PATH railroads, New York Waterway ferries and commuter buses outside the city.

To administer the new benefit, the city selected the national WageWorks firm, which runs programs such as transit, dependent care and medical savings accounts. The maximum monthly pre-tax deduction for the new benefit will be $230. In addition, the improved benefit will let employees deduct an additional $230 per month for parking at a public transportation hub.

City workers will pay a modest fee for the new card, which will cover transportation services outside the city. As PEP went to press, the union was planning to discuss the fee with city representatives.

The city will continue to offer the annual Premium Metro Card, which lets employees make pretax payroll reductions for unlimited subway and bus rides in the city, without an administrative fee.


Hearings set on Locksmith and Laborer wages

The independent Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings initiated hearings Oct. 30 on the Comptroller’s recommended wages for Laborers, which are based on a survey of private-sector blue-collar employees who do comparable work.

The Local 924 members exercised their right as prevailing-rate workers to have their wages set through a complicated process overseen by the Comptroller, but the city is contesting the Comptroller’s recommendation. If the administrative law judge overseeing the hearings upholds the Comptroller’s findings, the decision will set the parameters for wage negotiations between the union and the city’s Office of Labor Relations. Otherwise, the matter may wind up in court.

In January, OATH will begin to consider the Comptroller’s recommendation on wage increases for Locksmiths in Local 1087.


Sewage Treatment Workers hope the end is near

The Comptroller recently issued a summary of its wage and benefits proposal for Sewage Treatment Workers and Sr. STWs, an important step toward resolving Local 1320’s prolonged salary battle.

Local 1320 members have gone without a raise since 2002. In 2005, they opted to have their raises determined through the Comptroller’s survey process.

The Comptroller’s Office was to issue its “final determination,” on the pay rates after allowing two weeks for the union and the city to comment on the Oct. 20 summary.

In September, Administrative Law Judge Alessandra F. Zorgniotti backed the Comptroller’s recommendation that the compensation of STWs and Sr. STWs match that of Consolidated Edison A-level Operating Mechanics and Plant Operators.