'Unborn' Take Pay Hit: Jail Captains' Pact: 17% Hike, 54 Mos.

'Unborn' Take Pay Hit
Jail Captains' Pact: 17% Hike, 54 Mos.

By REUVEN BLAU

After months of acrimonious negotiations, the Correction Captains' Association and the city June 29 announced a tentative contract that provides 17 percent in raises over four years and 6-1/2 months, partly financed by concessions that include requiring newly hired Captains to work an additional six tours a year while stretching their salary scale.

PETER D. MERINGOLO: A negotiating ordeal. "I'm glad it's over," CCA President Peter D. Meringolo said during a phone interview. The agreement, which still must be ratified by the union's 870 Captains, is similar in its wage terms to other uniformed contracts negotiated this round of bargaining.

Breakdown of Raises

Under the accord, upon ratification the correction supervisors will receive a 5percent hike retroactive to the first day of the contract, July 1, 2003. They'll get another 5-percent hike retroactive to July 1, 2004. The last two years of the tentative contract provide a 3-percent raise effective Nov. 11, 2005, and a 3.15 percent increase effective Nov. 11, 2006.

Also, effective Nov. 11, 2007 the city annuity fund contributions will be increased by $389 for all Captains.

JAMES F. HANLEY: Tough bargainer. To finance those raises, however, Captains promoted on or after June 1, 2006 would endure a stretched-out pay schedule. That extended pay structure includes minimal increases in the first five years for the new officers before they receive a $13,290 raise and reach maximum pay after the sixth year. They will also be required to work an additional six tours a year, up from the prior three extra tours.

Captains currently hit top pay after five years in the rank, but if this contract is ratified, post-June 1 promotees would instead reach the new maximum pay of $81,174 after six years.

Hogtied by PBA Pact

As many other uniformed union presidents have this round of bargaining, Mr. Meringolo bemoaned the situation his union was placed in by the attrition-based pattern set this round of bargaining by the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association's arbitration award issued last summer. "I hope we never have to bargain like this again," he remarked.

A significant portion of the wage hikes for the PBA was offset by the reduction in the pay scale for future hires. But because savings to the city are greater under the PBA deal due to the higher attrition rate among cops, the Bloomberg administration demanded additional savings from the CCA and other smaller unions to even out its costs. "That's a lot to overcome," Mr. Meringolo said.

The tentative deal's two 5-percent raises equal those won by the PBA. The thirdand fourth-year raises are consistent with those won during that period by the uniformed unions that have agreed to lengthen their contracts in return for additional raises without more concessions.

Assurance No Good

The CCA, along with the city's other uniformed unions, delayed negotiating until PERB issued the PBA award, hoping that accord would set a favorable pattern. "In part, because the PBA assured all the uniform unions they would not sell the future hires," Mr. Meringolo said in a note to members. "We all know what happened." The contract talks between Labor Commissioner James F. Hanley and Mr. Meringolo were particularly heated. A war of words erupted after Mr. Meringolo charged the city was failing to supply values for various concessions the union offered.

Notably, there was no press conference or release from City Hall announcing last week's agreement. But Mr. Meringolo asserted that tempers have since mellowed. "We've cordially exchanged nice words with each other," the union president said. "I said things, he said things. Jim and I are beyond that; my relationship with Jim Hanley is back where it's always been."

Says City Softened

In March, the CCA petitioned the PERB to declare an impasse after contending that city negotiators were unfairly demanding the union give back specific overtime and staffing rights. In response, the Office of Collective Bargaining appointed mediator Susan Panepento to assist the stalled negotiations. "This proved to be a wise move," Mr. Meringolo said in a memo on the union's Web site.

According to Mr. Meringolo, the city then withdrew its demand that the union create an annual 48-hour overtime bank without direct compensation. He said city negotiators also stopped demanding that as part of the new contract, the union disavow an arbitration decision - known as the Wittenberg stipulation - that requires the department to specifically staff security-sensitive areas in jails.

But in order to match the 4.24 percent in savings the PBA generated under its attrition-based award, the CCA had to make other concessions, including a modified annual leave scale for new Captains. Under the proposed deal, Captains will receive 16 vacation days during their first year on the job. In subsequent years, that increases to 17 days off, 18 days for the following three years, 20 days in the sixth year, and the maximum 27 days after the seventh year.

In addition, officers promoted to Captain will receive Correction Officer pay during their five-week training. Upon ratification, Captains will also be required to use a pass day or annual leave day to qualify at the department's firearms range.

The CCA also agreed to "vacation smoothing," which means all Captain vacation picks will be based on seniority by tour, not overall seniority. If the deal is ratified, a Captain at the top base salary step stands to receive $20,483 in back pay, according to the CCA. "I tried to inflict the least amount of pain on the people already here," Mr. Meringolo said. "This was the best deal under the circumstances."