Getting Their Piece of the Big Apple
New York City
After vigorous discussion, the D.C. 37 rank and file voted "yes" on a five-year contract giving them wage and benefit increases totaling 13.3 percent.
But more important was the three-year guarantee of job security. Said Exec. Director Stanley Hill, "If you don't have a job, nothing else matters."
Hill, who is also an AFSCME International vice president, announced that New York City municipal workers had ratified the contract covering 125,000 members by a 20,114 to 14,527 vote—at a February 8 press conference at union headquarters. Later in the day, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani joined Hill in a City Hall press conference to announce the agreement.
Hill said afterwards, "We went into this round of bargaining with three key goals in mind: job security, protection of our hard-won benefits and obtaining the best raises possible given the fiscal condition of the city. With this contract, we have achieved our goals."
Employees working for the Health and Hospitals Corporation and the Housing Authority have a commitment from the city that layoffs would be a "last resort" after all other means of retention have been exhausted—including retraining, redeployment, severance and early retirement incentives. D.C. 37 is committed to continue the fight against privatization and the sale of hospitals.
This contract is remarkable in light of the partial federal shutdown and budget cuts in New York State—both of which have slowed the normal flow of funds to New York City. At the time of the contract ratification, many of the city's vendors were on notice that the city would be paying its bills as much as 30 days late.
"When the terms of the contract were explained accurately to the rank and file, support was always there," said Hill. "D.C. 37 members know this is a difficult moment for the city. This is a good contract in tough times."
D.C. 37 Contract Highlights
- Wage rates will increase 11.13 percent over five years.
- An annuity cash payment of $2 per day is established for some employees.
- Contributions to the Welfare Fund will increase.
- Strong layoff protection runs through June 30, 1998.
- Individual bargaining units will receive an additional lump sum based on their total payroll.
