With major municipal union contracts expiring as the city faces a $4.8 billion budget gap, labor leaders and activists got together March 4 and 5 to discuss strategy.

Representatives from many DC 37 locals and other public sector unions in the city attended the Municipal Labor Committee conference in Rye Brook, N.Y. to analyze the mayor's proposed budget-balancing plan and consider the collective bargaining climate for 2002.

The two-day session had originally been scheduled for September 2001. MLC Chair and United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten opened the conference by putting the coming negotiations in the context of the Sept. 11 tragedy.

"It was public sector workers who answered the city's call that tragic day, and we have done everything possible since then for the recovery," she said.

Ms. Weingarten introduced Lillian Roberts, DC 37's new top leader, to the gathering and said, "Municipal workers and government are seen differently now. As a workforce we feel stronger and more unified. Our members will look very carefully at whether others are sacrificing before they agree to any givebacks."

In panel discussions, Labor Relations Commissioner James Hanley and Budget Director Mark Page valiantly presented management's side. They were answered by an array of unionists and economists. MLC Executive Secretary Theresa Sirabella of the DC 37 Research and Negotiations Dept. coordinated the annual conference.

Economist James Parrott of the Fiscal Policy Institute said that most of the economic gains from 1989-'99 had gone to the wealthiest 20 percent of the population, but that low and moderate income families had suffered the brunt of the recent job losses. He blamed "overzealous tax cuts" for the current budget gap and called on the city and state to "think of reversing these economic missteps."

Among his gap-closing proposals was bringing the city an additional $500 million of revenue by restoring the commuter tax that the state Legislature canceled in 1999.

"When the mayor says, 'I want your cooperation,' he means 'I want your wages and benefits,' " cautioned economist Alan Brawer, who pointed out that suburbanites who work in New York City would have little trouble paying the 85-cent-a-day commuter tax. Lawrence Lukens of Local 299 agreed, saying, "It's time to make corporations and commuters pay their fair share of the tax burden."

President Patrick Bahnken described Local 2507's efforts to save city funds by battling privatization of ambulance services, and Larry Hendel of Local 375 said he believes that ending contracting out could save enough to close the budget gap.

Many participants agreed that the mayor should ask Gov. Pataki and the Legislature to restore the commuter tax. "People from the suburbs who work in New York City benefit from our services. They should pay a fair share of the costs," said Local 1930 President Ray Markey.