Contract Victories
With the 2004 collective-bargaining season nearing an end, several AFSCME affiliates have reported solid results.
In New York, nearly 200,000 members from DC 37 and the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/AFSCME Local 1000 negotiated separate contracts. In the Big Apple, 120,000 city employees — members of DC 37 — reached a three-year agreement that calls for a $1,000 lump-sum payment, a 3 percent raise retroactive to July 1, 2003, a 2 percent hike in 2004, and an extra 1 percent toward additional salary or improved benefits based on productivity.
More than 75,000 state employees hammered out a four-year deal. Highlights for the CSEA members include: an up-front $800 lump-sum payment and these pay increases: 2.5 percent last April, 2.75 percent in 2005, 3 percent in 2006 and another lump sum in 2007.
In Illinois, 37,000 Council 31 members won a four-year contract with the state that contains a minimum 13 percent pay raise and keeps health care costs in check (no increases in the first year). The pact also boosts parental leave to four weeks and expands family-leave provisions.
In Connecticut, more than 16,000 Council 4 members settled on four-year contracts with the state. Five thousand corrections officers ratified an agreement that pays 9 percent over the life of the contract — 3 percent raises in 2005, '06 and '07. The COs also got increases in their annual tuition-reimbursement fund: from $50,000 to $55,000 in July 2005 and to $60,000 the following year. In addition, three separate units of clerical, judicial, and social- and human-service (SHS) employees signed off on deals that add up to a minimum of 8.5 percent through 2005. The SHS group raised its tuition-reimbursement fund retroactively — from $133,000 to $160,000 a year beginning July 1, 2003, and to $200,000 beginning this past July.
In New Mexico, 7,500 Council 18 members okayed a two-year agreement. The state employees received, on average, a 3.65 percent pay hike last January, and will get 2 percent in 2005. In addition, the state will contribute 80 percent toward workers' health care insurance costs.
In Maryland, 3,000 Council 92 members working for the state university at College Park struck a three-year deal that calls for a 4.1 percent raise in July, with a wage re-opener for the remaining two years. The contract also provides tuition for staff, expands leave benefits, and maintains the current health and pension plans.
In Missouri, a unit of 1,800 crafts and maintenance workers — Council 72 members — ratified their first contract. The state employees won pay increases of 6 percent or more. They also secured better medical coverage, an improved grievance procedure and seniority protections.
