Two-Thirds in Favor:
Delegates Endorse DC 37 Wage Deal

By HOWARD MEGDAL

District Council 37's delegates July 25 voted by a nearly two-to-one margin to recommend that the union's rank-and-file approve the contract agreement reached with the city last month.

LILLIAN ROBERTS: 'We have delivered.'

If the deal is ratified, members would receive a 9.42-percent raise over 32 months, a $40 million contribution to the union's Health and Security Fund, the right to live in six counties outside of the city, and no givebacks on issues such as pensions or starting salaries.

Ballots Due Aug. 25

Members will have the chance to vote on the proposed pact by mail. Ballots will be sent to members on Aug. 4, and must be received by the American Arbitration Association no later than 9 a.m. on Aug. 25.

"I listened hard to what the members wanted and we have delivered," DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts said in a statement following the delegate meeting. "I urge them to vote 'Yes' and to return their ballots as soon as possible. This contract gives members a 5.15 percent raise upon ratification and another 4 percent raise [in] six months. There will be an infusion of $40 million into our welfare fund, and the residency requirement will be eased - something this union has fought over 20 years to achieve."

Local 371 President Charles Ensley, however, criticized the pact for "failing to keep up with inflation." He said that the last DC 37 agreement from 2004, which provided just a six-percent raise over three years and saddled those hired after June 30 of that year with fewer leave days, lower differential pay and a 15-percent cut in salary for their first two years on the job, devalued the most recent deal.

"[The proposal] is being represented as having no givebacks," Mr. Ensley said in a July 26 phone interview. "I think it is sad that the labor movement celebrates no givebacks. The previous contract had givebacks that we're continuing to give. Those givebacks are still in place. If they wanted to be accurate, they'd say there are no additional givebacks."

Referring to the residency victory as "icing," Mr. Ensley said the deal fell short of the 2001 pact then-Administrator Lee Saunders reached with the city for a 9-percent raise over 27 months.

"Two contracts ago, under less-favorable economic conditions, Lee Saunders negotiated two four-percent raises. Economic conditions are not likely to be better than this. If not now, when?" he said.

But Ms. Roberts said her members would be thrilled to receive their raises, and would get them in a timely manner.

Promises Swift Payment

"The city has promised to move forward on the raises as soon as our members have voted and the contract ratification process is completed," she said.

Both Ms. Roberts and Mr. Ensley were convinced that members would ratify the deal. Mr. Ensley pointed out that the 2004 agreement received 89-percent support.

"But I am voting against it," the Local 371 leader said. "I will encourage my rank-and-file members to vote against it. Members should step back and take a look - every editorial board in the city praised the deal. That should tell the members something."