A vote of confidence in your contract and your union

When 97 percent of the union members who vote on a contract say “yes,” that means a lot. The 57,906 members of DC 37 who delivered that impressive vote on our new economic agreement made a powerful statement about the contract and about the union itself.

More than half of the members covered by the pact took the trouble to send in their ballots. According to the independent agencies that have experience conducting contract voting, that is well above average. And a 97 percent ‘yes’ vote on a contract is virtually unprecedented.

The vote says members believe it’s a great contract, with more than 9 percent in wage gains, plus the reduced pension deductions that push the overall increase above 12 percent for the majority of our members.

It shows that members appreciate the importance of the pay increases and job security protection for themselves and for their families — especially when the economy seems to be on a downslope. And it says they applaud the broad pattern we established in the last year — tremendous achievements on pensions, benefits and pay for the hard-working women and men of District Council 37.

The high level of participation in the voting tells the story of the kind of union we are building, with members marching in demonstrations to strengthen the union’s hand, answering surveys on their needs and sending their views to the negotiating table through local leaders, union meetings and the new Bargaining Caucus.

And the 97 percent vote in favor of the contract shows that this union listens to its members. Your Negotiating Committee rejected the city’s efforts to divide one local from another, and they stood strong until they could bring back a contract that the 125,000 municipal employees in DC 37 could be proud of.

Union democracy in action
The high rate of voting also demonstrated the success of our open and democratic ratification process, which gave members full information on the proposed contract through meetings at worksites and union headquarters, community associations, phonebanks, Web sites, fliers and the Public Employee Press.

People voted because they believed the process would be fair. This is the first economic agreement we have ratified under the new provision in the DC 37 Constitution that calls for an independent outside monitor to conduct the vote. We assured every member that their votes would be counted properly. With the help of the American Arbitration Association, we kept that pledge.

We gave the membership back its voice, first in the negotiating process and then in deciding whether to ratify the proposed contract.

Confidence and strength to build on
The vote on the new contract is also a huge vote of confidence in the new District Council 37. The vote has strengthened this union and its ability to deliver for members in the future.

For that, sisters and brothers, I thank every member who voted.

We will need that confidence and that strength as we face the continuing challenges of protecting our jobs from privatization and getting vital funds for public health and education. We will need even more membership involvement as we work to elect political leaders who will make this city better for working people and our communities.

The tremendous spirit of participation you have shown puts this union in a powerful position to succeed in these struggles for social and economic justice.