Givebacks for 'Unborn'
Jail Capts. Ratify Deal With 17% Hike

By REUVEN BLAU

PETER D. MERINGOLO: Pleased by strong okay.

Members of the Correction Captains' Association voted overwhelmingly to ratify a four-year, 6-1/2-month contract with the city that will give them a 17-percent wage increase funded in part by requiring newly hired Captains to work an additional six tours a year while stretching their salary scale.

Approximately 94 percent of the union's 850 members voted in favor of the new deal. The final tally by the Election Services Corporation showed 496 for and 33 against.

'Most Money, Least Pain'

"The overwhelming support for the contract showed that I was correct that the members wanted their money," said CCA President Peter D. Meringolo. "And I'm glad I produced that for them with the least amount of pain."

The veteran union leader called this round of bargaining, which was shaped by the pattern set by the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association arbitration award issued last summer, the most challenging negotiation he's ever worked on.

"The only winner in this type of bargaining is the City of New York, and it's wrong," he asserted. "The major lesson here is we really need to form a coalition. History has proved that whenever we formed a coalition, there has never been a giveback."

According to Mr. Meringolo, the city withdrew its demand that the union create an annual 48-hour overtime bank without direct compensation after the Office of Collective Bargaining appointed mediator Susan Panepento to help move along the stalled talks.

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.

Key Terms

The agreement is similar in its wage terms to other uniformed contracts negotiated this round of bargaining. Under the accord, supervisors will receive a 5-percent hike retroactive to the first day of the contract, July 1, 2003. They'll get another 5percent 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's annuity fund contribution will be increased by $389 for all Captains. To finance those raises, however, Captains promoted on or after June 1, 2006 will 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.

Get 'Max' At 6 Years

Captains used to hit top pay after five years in the rank, but post-June 1 promotees will instead reach the new maximum pay of $81,174 after six years.

In order to match the 4.24 percent in savings the PBA generated under its attritionbased 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. Under the new deal, Captains at the top salary step will receive $20,483 in back pay, according to the CCA.