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Public
Employee Press OTB workers bet
on pact Union presses for protections in bankruptcy
By DIANE S. WILLIAMS
Members of
Off-Track Betting Employees Local 2021 voted overwhelmingly Jan. 6 to ratify an
agreement between the union and New York City OTB that saves pensions, benefits
and jobs as the corporation reorganizes under Chapter 9 of the federal bankruptcy
law.
Ratification of this agreement is one of the first steps in
OTBs reorganization, said Local 2021 President Lenny Allen. Our
union is the only major stakeholder to have an agreement of this kind with OTB.
Using
a PowerPoint presentation, Allen and DC 37 Research and Negotiations Director
Dennis Sullivan explained the memorandum of agreement between the union and the
cash-strapped NYC OTB. The special meeting at union headquarters also included
a question-and-answer session with members in attendance.
The agreement
includes payment of the two 4 percent wage hikes DC 37 had negotiated in its last
economic contract, retroactive to March 2008 and March 2009. The ratified pact
includes a retirement incentive, which will require legislation from Albany, and
a voluntary severance program for employees that will allow participants to collect
lump sum amounts based on seniority, receive unemployment insurance and obtain
health coverage through COBRA.
The
contract maintains a staff of 412 Local 2021 members during the term of the agreement,
even as OTB plans to reduce the number of branches it operates while reorganizing.
The agreement runs from Dec. 2, 2009 to two years after OTB completes the bond
sale portion of its reorganization plan.
The union took painstaking
measures to preserve all health, pension and welfare fund benefits, and employment
for the members, said Sullivan. Layoffs will be the last option as
we go forward.
Day-to-day operations at OTB will continue uninterrupted.
The plan includes workforce reductions across the board including management
based on seniority.
The agreement
consolidates the titles of Betting Clerk, Restaurant Hotel Betting Clerk, and
Telephone Betting Clerk into Wagering Representatives, and broadbands OTB clerical
titles as Clerical Associates levels 1 thru 4. While the contract eliminates premium
time for work on Sundays, it provides a pensionable salary differential for OTB
employees required to work on Sundays.
We reached the best deal possible.
This is a sound agreement that may not make everyone happy, but protects our members
under the current difficult circumstances, Sullivan said.
In September,
Gov. Paterson issued an executive order permitting NYC OTB, a state agency, to
file for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 9 to stave off creditors while it
reorganizes. NYC OTB currently operates 62 betting parlors and restaurants in
the five boroughs, but carries a deficit of $225 million.
As part of the
process, OTB will present the ratified union agreement for a judges approval.
OTBs reorganization plan is also contingent on the sale of $250 million
in NYC OTB bonds and new state legislation to recalibrate the racing handle distribution
formula and other considerations involving the New York State Racing Association,
upstate horse breeders and leased property owners.
Union
is major stakeholder
To protect the interests of Local
2021 members and to ensure that they have a voice at the table, the union is seeking
a seat on the Creditors Committee, said DC 37 General Counsel Mary OConnell.
Allen
led the meeting with Sullivan, Associate Research and Negotiations Director Evelyn
Seinfeld and Sr. Analyst David Moog, OConnell and Senior Assistant General
Counsel Steven Sykes, White Collar Division Director Mike Riggio, Assistant Director
Chris Wilgenkamp and Council Rep Wendell Reid, Local 2021 Vice President Paulette
Sher and executive board members. Political Director Wanda Williams is working
with lawmakers on legislation to protect OTB employees.
We worked
for two months and reached this agreement just two hours before OTB went to bankruptcy
court, said Allen. Without this agreement, our members stood to lose
everything. Now that its ratified, we can move forward and continue to fight
for whats best for the members.
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