In a new working conditions contract, Local 1482 won substantial gains for current members and the right to represent additional Brooklyn Public Library employees. Union leaders and library officials signed the three-year pact Feb. 7 at the Central Library at Grand Army Plaza.

Highlights of the contract include the right to a bonus day, monthly MetroCards provided through a pre-tax payroll deduction, greater opportunities for promotions, improved language on scheduling, and two floating holidays instead of the automatic Lincoln's birthday and Election Day holidays.

Notable improvements also include winter jackets for all Maintainers and Custodial Assistants, and increases of $1.50 in the meal allowance and 5 cents per mile in the mileage allowance. The contract calls for labor management committees to review scheduling practices and reassignments and a committee to review the use of video display terminals and ergonomic issues.

The agreement permits the union to represent employees in the Connecting Library and School Projects (CLASP), literacy and other publicly funded grant programs that exceed 18 months. New titles in the local union include Computer Aide, Computer Service Technician, Computer Associate (technical support), Custodians Levels III and IV, Assistant Purchasing Agent, Purchasing Agent I and II, and Media Services Technician Level II.

The bargaining committee was led by Local 1482 President Marlene Rosenberg and included Judith Susser, vice president (librarians); Alice Ellerbe, former vice president (clerical); Robert Wright, vice president (blue collar); Eileen Muller, treasurer; Elizabeth White, recording secretary and Sandra Michaud, clerical rep.

DC 37 staffers Evelyn Seinfeld, associate director of research and negotiations, and Rep Audrey D. McConney worked closely with the committee.

Members overwhelmingly approved the contract in March 2001, through a mail ballot vote overseen by the American Arbitration Association. Library and union negotiators needed the intervening period to draft new contract language, because this was the first time in several years that the working conditions pact included major changes.

Salaries are covered in a separate economic agreement, which currently runs from April 1, 2000 to June 30, 2002. Ms. Rosenberg, Ms. Seinfeld, the Local 1482 Bargaining Committee and former DC 37 Administrator Lee Saunders represented the union at the signing. The Library's executive director, Martin Gomez, headed management's team at the event.