Public Employee Press

Laborers fight to restore benefits

In a fight for economic justice, Local 924 and DC 37 are campaigning to restore City Laborers' benefits - including paid holidays, sick days and vacation - that former Mayor Michael Bloomberg unilaterally rescinded after the union's 10-year court battle forced the city to raise the Laborers' pay to rates that prevail in the private sector.

"It's a case of he gave with one hand and snatched away our longstanding contractual benefits with the other," L. 924 President Kyle Simmons said. "We are asking Mayor de Blasio to consider addressing this injustice."

Simmons' campaign includes meetings with New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer and letters to the mayor. He said, "Previous comptrollers, including Bill Thompson and John Liu, worked closely with us to restore back wages the city owed us. We are hoping Stringer will put this issue to rest permanently."

The union is pressing the new administration to restore the 12 paid holidays, 10 vacation days, seven sick days, four bereavement days, pay for jury duty and recurring annuities for the Local 924 members.

Simmons also faults the city's $10.82 per hour charge to current workers for the cost of retirees' health benefits for burdening working Laborers with the full cost of retiree health care and refusing to use an actuarial method to determine the cost.

"It's fuzzy math," he said.

The union has filed a Labor Law complaint with the comptroller's office over the city's failure to properly implement former New York City Comptroller John Liu's decision on the Laborers' compensation, said DC 37 Associate General Counsel Steve Sykes.

"We are being unfairly denied contractual wages and supplement benefits," Simmons said. "We are asking for a good faith restoration of our benefits. We are willing to work with the mayor on this and even to wait until the other union contracts are settled, if necessary. But if not, we are prepared to go to court."