Public Employee Press

Finger-imaging workers approve contract

Finger-imaging workers employed by a state contractor approved a new contract that provides for modest wage increases, a cash-out of a vacation day and limited layoff protections.

On Oct. 17, a group of Automated Finger Imaging Systems Operators voted 9-1 in favor of the three-year contract, which lasts from Aug. 6, 2012, to Aug. 6, 2015.

The pact provides for an 11.68 percent wage increase over the three years, increasing the pay of the low-wage workers from $9.95 per hour retroactive to Aug. 6 to $10.61 on Aug. 6, 2014.

The agreement is the second contract negotiated by DC 37 for the operators, who are employed by Empire Consulting Solutions, which is responsible for registering recipients of food stamps and other state public assistance.

The union organized the low-wage workers, who in some instances ironically receive public assistance themselves, in 2010. The AFIS operators are among a few private-sector workers, including employees at New York Law School, who are also members of Local 154, represented by DC 37.

"When we started negotiations for the first contract, these workers were only making $8 an hour, and we have now managed to get their pay to more than $10.50," Local 154 President Juan Fernandez said. "But we recognize that there is still a long road ahead of us. We have to move forward to see how we can improve these members' livelihood."

With the two contracts, the union has helped the workers gain raises, limited due-process rights, six vacation days and six annual leave days, Fernandez noted.

A job security provision requires Empire Consulting Solutions to follow specific layoff procedures if changes in food stamp requirements lead to staff cuts. The employer must make every effort to provide the union with two weeks' notice of layoffs, recognize seniority when laying off employees, offer "floater" (on-call and part-time) positions to senior workers and keep a call-back list.

The contract also calls for the employer to work with DC 37 to determine how the workers can be covered by the Affordable Care Act. The parties agree to re-open the contract by October 2013 to discuss ACA provisions scheduled to go into effect in January 2014.

The bargaining committee members included Fernandez, Sr. Assistant Director Moira Dolan of the DC 37 Research and Negotiations Dept., AFIS Operator Terry Jones, and Director Nola Brooker, Assistant Director Eddie Gates and Rep Marianela Santana of the DC 37 Professional Division.