'A Positive Step'

Members Rejoice Over DC 37 Deal

By HOWARD MEGDAL

Across the broad spectrum of city workers that make up District Council 37's membership, reaction was almost uniformly positive to the contract providing a 9.42-percent raise over 32 months, the right to live in six suburban counties, and no givebacks.

LILLIAN ROBERTS: Wins members' plaudits.

"So far, from what I've heard, it's a pretty good contract," Child Welfare Supervisor Paul Frankel, a 36-year veteran of the Administration for Children's Services and member of Local 371, said in a July 21 interview. "No givebacks was one of the better things about it, and the raise was timely."

'Everyone Is Excited'

Caseworker Eliza Kum said that "everyone in the office is excited about this. The raises are great."

A Case Manager, who asked that her name not be used, sounded a more somber note, however.

"It's just not good enough," she said in an interview outside of ACS's 150 William St. offices. "It barely brings us up to cost-of-living." She did say that she would vote for the deal, however.

Such reservations were unusual, with the proposed deal leaving some members of other unions envious.

"I wish I was with DC 37 - they got raises and we didn't," said Donna Bilak, a Principal Administrative Associate and member of Communications Workers of America Local 1180. "The mere fact of the raises is huge - I'm still waiting on a one percent for productivity."

The city's Off-Track Betting Corp. employees, represented by DC 37's Local 2021, praised the contract as well.

"I think it's a positive step," said Robert K. Lee, an OTB custodian at 25 Park Place. "The increase this year and next year is great - but I'm really looking forward to the retroactive pay." He said he's planning to buy an air conditioner for his Chinatown apartment with the money.

Just up the block at the New York Public Library's New Amsterdam branch, Supervising Librarian Melissa Scheurer of Local 1930 said the benefits of this pact far exceeded the last one negotiated in April 2004, which gave members only a six-percent raise over three years and imposed sharp salary and benefit cuts for new employees during their first two years on the job.

A Much Better Deal

"Everybody's happy to be getting this raise," she said. "I was not happy about the reduced pay and benefits last time around. This time, there's no concessions, basically."

She said of the relaxed residency requirements, "Considering it's so expensive [to live in the city], in that respect, it's considerate."

Frank Brathwaite, an Office Aide 3 at the branch, was effusive in his praise for both the deal and DC 37 leader Lillian Roberts. "I think it's very good," he said. "You can want more, but DC 37 had a history of just being adequate. It's better than nothing, and it's better than going to arbitration."

Mr. Brathwaite watched the press conference announcing the deal on television, and referred to Ms. Roberts as "an African-American version of Ronald Reagan."

'Seems to Have Wisdom'

"She's older, but she seems to have wisdom. She's not like a lot of people, always rushing to get things done already, harassing you. But she's able to work with people."

Mr. Brathwaite's engagement in the contract process was not shared by everyone. The tentative agreement came as news to Michael Conyers, who works as a Courier at ACS.

"I haven't heard a thing about it," he said in surprise when asked for a reaction. Mr. Conyers aside, everyone asked said they would be voting for the contract. As one cashier at OTB who refused to be identified said of the contract's passage, "If it were a horse? Sure, I'd bet on it."