PEP, May 2009: Local 983 unit approves 8 percent pact, Comptroller issues favorable wage finding for Laborers

High Pressure Plant Tenders unanimously approve contract

High Pressure Plant Tenders in Local 983 have overwhelmingly approved a two-year contract that provides two wage increases of 4 percent each.

The new pact matches the provisions of the economic agreement reached last year for about 100,000 DC 37 workers. The HPPTs voted 102-0 in favor of the agreement March 27 in a vote tabulated by the independent American Arbitration Association.

The contract calls for a 4 percent increase retroactive to July 1, 2008, and a second 4 percent increase on July 1, 2009. With compounding, the wage increases total 8.16 percent. The contract also calls for an additional 0.1 percent to be allocated — under an agreement between management and the HPPTs’ bargaining committee — for recurring benefits at the end of the pact.

Local 983 Vice President Tony George said the agreement was a good deal in light of the country’s dismal economic climate, noting that the increases will total about $5,000 for individual workers.

“It’s a good contract, the vote reflects our economic times, and members look forward to getting the increase,” Local 983 President Mark Rosenthal said.

DC 37 is working with management to speed payment of the first increase, said Assistant Director David Paskin of the
DC 37 Research and Negotiations Dept., who led the local bargaining team.

Laborers get favorable wage study from comptroller

The Office of the Comptroller recently issued a finding that the union says will help achieve decent pay increases for Laborers in Local 924. The Comptroller’s Office informed the city and the union of its preliminary determination on March 18.

The Laborers have worked without a contract for nearly seven years.

Under state labor law, public employees in “prevailing-rate” titles can have their wages set through a complicated survey process overseen by the comptroller. A few years ago, Local 924 members voted to go through this process, in which the Comptroller’s Office determines their pay by comparing their wage rate with other workers who perform similar tasks.

“We view the preliminary determination as favorable and we are happy to have reached this new stage in the process,” said Local 924 President Kyle Simmons. “We are not going to take less than we deserve under the prevailing-rate law.”

As PEP went to press, the union was scheduled to meet with city negotiators April 29 to discuss the preliminary determination. If the city declines to negotiate with the union based on the Comptroller’s finding, the dispute will go before the independent Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings; ultimately, it could wind up in court.

The drawn-out survey process has been frustrating for members, and many have taken on second jobs to keep their heads above water, said Simmons. On the positive side, the contract dispute and the accompanying financial squeeze has strengthened the solidarity of the workers, whom Simmons praised for helping the local accumulate important information about their jobs.

“We are getting heavy turnouts at our meetings, and everyone is on the same page. We’re united,” Simmons said.