PEP, June 2009: Library workers boot outside contractor

Members of New York Public Library Guild Local 1930 approved a new working conditions contract in April that restores paid breaks and a shift differential for Librarians and Specialists.

The 20-minute break and the shift differential were lost in the 2001 special agreement the local voted for that provided 8 percent raises for Librarians.

Like the Local 374 pact (see below), the Local 1930 contract preserves a bonus day, includes a new policy on workplace temperature, and triggers two 4 percent raises. It eliminates a $600 education differential for new privately paid Librarians.

The bargaining team included President Carol Thomas, Secretary Jean Peterson, Treasurer Nina Manning, Executive Board member Lillian Cohen, and Vice Presidents
Louise Stamp, Deborah Allman, Hank Sambach, Asa Rubenstein and Anthony Wyche, as well as DC 37 Rep Lisa Riccio and Assistant Research and Negotiations Director Barbara Terrelonge.

New Local 374 pact cancels cleaning contract at library

Local 374 members recently voted overwhelmingly to approve a new working-conditions contract that calls for the New York Public Library to cancel a contract with a private cleaning service and offer its workers union jobs.

The agreement, which lasts from March 3, 2008, to March 2, 2010, triggered the implementation of the two 4 percent wage hikes of DC 37’s 2008 economic agreement for the Local 374 members.

Local President Cuthbert Dickenson said he was particularly pleased with the provision that calls for the “maturation,” or automatic promotion, of workers in the Camera Operator title series to Sr. Camera Operator after 10 years on the job. Once they hit their tenth anniversary, the members involved will get $7,000 raises, Dickenson said.

The agreement preserves the bonus day workers have traditionally received between Thanksgiving and New Year’s and revises the policy for letting members out of work early if the indoor temperature gets too high in the summer or too low in the winter.

The union used the contract as a weapon against privatization by negotiating the provision canceling the maintenance contract with ABM/One Source at the Bronx Library Center. The local represents about 55 custodial workers. As PEP went to press, the seven ABM/One Source workers had until May 22 to inform the NYPL that they wished to stay and join Local 374. NYPL implemented the raises on May 22 and will pay the retroactive amounts on June 5.

The Local 374 bargaining team included Dickenson, NYPL Chapter Chair Joseph Reece, Treasurer Lloyd King, Shop Steward Premnaugh Singh, and DC 37 staffers including Assistant White Collar Division Director Chris Wilgenkamp, Rep Phyllis McLean, Terrelonge and Sr. Assistant General Counsel Steven Sykes.

Study calls for substantial raise for Radio Mechanics

The independent Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings has upheld a preliminary determination by the city comptroller that calls for the city to bring the pay of Radio Repair Mechanics into line with private-sector workers who do similar work.

In April, OATH Administrative Law Judge Faye Lewis upheld the comptroller’s study. DC 37 General Counsel Mary J. O’Connell and Sr. Assistant General Counsel Steven Sykes represented the union.

A new final determination mirroring the current study would require the city to pay the RRMs wages and benefits comparable to ABC television Maintenance Engineers in Nabet-CWA Local 16. The comptroller, with the support of DC 37, took the case to OATH because in negotiations with the union the city failed to consider the preliminary determination seriously.

The union and city are awaiting the final determination to reinitiate talks. If they are unable to use it as a blueprint for a settlement, the wage dispute will wind up in court. The 125 Radio Repair Mechanics in Prevailing Rate Employees Local 1087 have worked without a contract since 2002.

Local President Manuel A. Roman Jr. expressed his appreciation to rank-and-filers for being patient and continuing to provide rock-solid support for the local in the contract battle.

Besides Roman, Executive Board member Derrick Caldwell, Trustee Mike Beck, Shop Steward Jon Wilston, Trustee Leon Simmons and member Steve Gelblat serve on the local’s bargaining team, with advice from Director Dennis Sullivan and Sr. Assistant Director David Paskin of the Research and Negotiations Dept.