By GREGORY N. HEIRES

More than 100,000 ballots went into the mail April 27, and union members began voting on the 9 percent pay increases, job security and other benefits of DC 37’s new proposed economic contract.

The vote got under way quickly after the DC 37 Delegates voted overwhelmingly April 19 to recommend that members vote ‘yes’ to ratify the proposed agreement. The union’s Negotiating Committee, made up of the presidents of all DC 37 locals, endorsed the 2000-2002 pact by a near unanimous vote on April 11.

An outside monitor is conducting the secret mail ballot, as the DC 37 Constitution requires. The American Arbitration Association — a respected, experienced, impartial authority — sent out the ballots and will receive and tally the votes.

Deadline: 9 a.m. May 14

Ballots are due by 9 a.m. on May 14, and the count will begin immediately.

“Every member’s vote will be counted properly,” said DC 37 Administrator Lee Saunders.

After thorough discussion, the delegates approved the proposed pact by a voice vote. Delegates spoke for and against the agreement after a presentation by Mr. Saunders and Deputy Administrator Dennis Sullivan, who heads the Research and Negotiations Dept.

“I stand here tonight with joy in my heart,” said James Butler, president of Hospital Employees Local 420. He particularly praised the improved job security provision and the total pay hike, which is above the rate of inflation.

“This contract is superb, the best we ever had,” said Butler, who cut his teeth as a unionist in the 1960s.

“The achievement is breathtaking,” said Ray Markey, president of New York Public Library Guild Local 1930. “There are no zeroes,” he said. “There are no givebacks. It’s money in our pockets.”

“This was a hell of a job,” said Cliff Koppelman, president of Court, County and Department of Probation Employees Local 1070. “The local presidents, who were a part of this bargaining from beginning to end, really came together for the best interests of the members,” he said. “DC 37 is back!”

The proposed contract (summary, page 4) covers workers in mayoral agencies, the Health and Hospitals Corp., Board of Education, the Transit Authority, the Housing Authority, the Off-Track Betting Corp. and the libraries and cultural institutions.

Raises total over 9%
The 27-month agreement provides for a total wage gain of more than 9 percent.

The pay hikes include two compounded 4 percent increases plus 1 percent additional compensation. For almost all members, the first 4 percent is retroactive to April 1, 2000, the second 4 percent is ?retroactive to April 1, 2001, and the 1 percent is effective June 30, 2001. Each of the union’s bargaining units — groups of workers with similar jobs — will decide how to allocate the extra 1 percent.

No layoffs
The pact includes a job security and redeployment provision that covers mayoral agencies, HHC, the HA, the TA, OTB and the Board of Education. The no-layoff protection includes full-time employees, part-timers who work 20 or more hours a week, full-time per diem workers and school-based Health Dept. workers.

The tentative agreement recognizes the city’s right to grant additional compensation for outstanding performance, and requires the city to inform the union when it plans such increases.

At the Delegates Council, Social Service Employees Union Local 371 President Charles Ensley spoke against the contract because of his concern about this provision. He cited the city’s decision to give merit increases to more than 600 workers at the Administration for Children’s Services as an ominous sign of what may be in store for DC 37.

Veronica Montgomery-Costa, president of Board of Education Employees Local 372, also said that the merit pay issue troubled her. But she said it was the only negative aspect of the agreement.

“The contract should be sent to the members so they can decide, because everything else in it is very good,” Ms. Montgomery-Costa said.

Joan Reed, president of New York College Assistants Local 2054, said the contract recognizes the dignity of workers and provides a decent pay hike. Workers at the CUNY are not covered by the pact, but the university system historically follows the pattern of DC 37’s general wage pact.

Leonard Allen, president of Off-Track Betting Employees Local 2021, said he was getting positive feedback on the contract. “The day after we settled, I received several phone calls from members,” he said. “Basically, they wanted to know when were they going to get the money.”

Donald Afflick, president of Transit Authority Employees Local 1655, introduced the motion asking delegates to recommend a “yes” vote on the contract.

Addressing the Delegates Council, Mr. Saunders said, “The bottom line was that our members said they needed better pay, job security, protected benefits and pension improvements. DC 37 listened to the membership.” The wage pact comes on top of one of the richest packages of ?benefit and pension gains ever won by the union. “The proposed contract adds a fair and equitable pay increase and no layoffs. Now it’s up to the members. It’s their decision,” he said.