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Public Employee Press
City presents its demands to union
The city has proposed a three-year economic agreement with
the union including an initial wage increase and further raises funded
in part through cost-savings initiatives.
At a Feb. 7 negotiating session, city Labor Commissioner James F. Hanley
presented the Citys bargaining proposals, which include modifications
in the funding of health insurance and pensions.
Its a good sign that we are talking about concrete wage increases
this early in the negotiations, because it suggests that the city is willing
to come to an agreement as quickly as possible, said DC 37 Executive
Director Lillian Roberts.
But members must keep in mind that these are the citys initial
proposals, and it is only after extensive discussion that we reach an
agreement, she added.
Bloomberg has also proposed to set aside $1 billion of this years
record $3.2 billion surplus and another $1 billion next year toward meeting
the citys future retiree health care obligations.
During the three sessions so far in the current round of bargaining, union
negotiators have stressed that the citys strong fiscal health should
allow for an economic agreement with a decent wage package.
After the DC 37 Negotiating Committee, which is made up of DC 37s
56 local presidents, discussed the management proposals, Sullivan addressed
the city negotiators: It is clear that some of your proposals must
be considered by the Municipal Labor Committee. However, we will analyze
the remainder of your proposals and respond at future bargaining sessions.
Discussions between DC 37 and the city continued Feb. 21 as this edition
of PEP went to press.
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