New York, NY

Roberts Granted 'Secret' $35G Hike by DC 37; $25G Bump for Uddin At Tail End of Exec Board Meeting By MEREDITH KOLODNER       District Council 37's executive board has voted - without prior notice - to raise the salaries of Executive Director Lillian Roberts and Treasurer Maf Misbah Uddin retroactively to reflect the wage increases granted to the union's in-house staff. The raises, back-dated to 2004, puts Ms. Roberts'... More ... PBA Calls Clause Of UFA Contract Illegal; Objects to Reopener By REUVEN BLAU       The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association April 28 became the second uniformed union to file an improper labor practice charge against the recent Firefighter contract agreement. The PBA contends that the Uniformed Firefighters' Association reopener clause violates state bargaining rules that prohibit... More ... Flushing Pool Might Privatize Lifeguards; Olympic-Sized Facility By REUVEN BLAU       The Parks Department is considering privatizing 80 fulltime Lifeguard and pool maintenance positions at its newly designed Olympic-sized pool in Flushing Meadow Park, Queens, which is scheduled to open in October. "We are really right now just taking in the different proposals," said Parks spokesw... More ... 'Justice' to Sue On Firefighter Testing Bias; City Notes Improved Minority Recruiting In Its Defense By RICHARD STEIER       The U.S. Department of Justice intends to sue the Fire Department for allegedly discriminating against black and Latino candidates in its hiring process, based on an investigation that examined two previous Firefighter tests and their results. More ... Training Center for Court Staff; Based in Crown Heights By REUVEN BLAU       The Spitzer administration has earmarked $33 million to renovate three long-abandoned church buildings in Crown Heights to create a new Court Officer training center, which will include a 40-room dormitory, a new command center, and a 600-seat auditorium. More ... Suspend Track Work Following 2nd Staff Death By RICHARD STEIER       The second death of a Track Worker struck by a train in less than a week has prompted New York City Transit to suspend nonessential track repair work while employees receive renewed instruction in safety procedures. Veteran Track Worker Marvin Franklin, 55, was fatally struck by a Queens-bound G t... More ... CSA Head: Bonuses Paid Out on Merit; Favoritism No Concern By MEREDITH KOLODNER       The leader of the Principals' union argued last week that the $25,000 merit-pay provision of his union's tentative contract agreement did not open the door to favoritism or break down traditional labor equity standards. More ... Unions Like City's Long-Term Plan; But Mixed on 'Driver Tax' By MEREDITH KOLODNER       Labor leaders embraced central features of Mayor Bloomberg's PlaNYC, announced last week to address population growth and pollution over the next 25 years, but sounded a cautionary note on the proposal to charge fees to drivers who enter Manhattan during peak hours. More ... 'Friendly Fire' Kills Trooper in Shootout; Suspect Also Slain By REUVEN BLAU       State Trooper David C. Brinkerhoff was accidentally fatally shot by a colleague April 25 during a gun battle inside a farmhouse in the Catskills with a suspect who had shot a trooper during a traffic stop the day before. According to authorities, the incident occurred after four Troopers confronte... More ... Judicial Raises Still Tied to Lawmakers'; Despite Spitzer Stance By REUVEN BLAU       The State Senate April 27 unanimously backed legislation to increase judicial pay and legislators' salaries. Sources indicated last week that the State Assembly was gearing up to introduce a similar bill, which would suggest the State Legislature would have more than enough votes to override a pos... More ... City Won't Pick Up New Day-Care Tab; To Upgrade Staff Benefits By MEREDITH KOLODNER       City officials have denied all responsibility for honoring an arbitration ruling that found workers in city-funded day-care centers had illegally been denied union wages and rights, even as they moved to expand the very program that caused the violation. More ... Budget Aids Parks, EMS, Traffic Staff; Surplus Now $4.4B By MEREDITH KOLODNER       Mayor Bloomberg proposed a $59-billion budget last week that includes $1.25 billion in tax cuts and improvements to the city's infrastructure, and uses part of the current $4.4-billion surplus to pay down a projected deficit in future years. About $700 million in city agency savings from this year... More ... Tap Arbitrator In Captains' Dispute Worked on Merger By REUVEN BLAU       Veteran arbitrator Robert L. Douglas was named April 23 to chair the arbitration panel that will decide the contract of the Captains' Endowment Association. Mr. Douglas, who is based in Woodmere, served as the mediator for the stalled Teacher contract talks in 2002. "I look forward to working with... More ... Blackboard Muddle In Middle Schools; Staff Feels Growing Pains By MEREDITH KOLODNER       Educators and parents at a Brooklyn community forum last week painted a bleak picture of the segregation, overcrowding and poor learning conditions in their neighborhoods' struggling middle schools. More ... Can Sue City Over SanWorker's Death; Claim Negligence By RICHARD STEIER       The family of a Sanitation Worker killed by a hit-and-run driver seven years ago may proceed with a lawsuit charging that the city's negligence was a contributing factor, a Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice has ruled. More ... Ethics in City Gov't Seminar Set May 16       The 13th annual seminar on Ethics in New York City Government will be held May 16 at New York Law School, 47 Worth St. in lower Manhattan. Shortly after the program begins at 8 a.m., Mayor Bloomberg will give the keynote speech. Seminars will be held beginning at 9 a.m. on topics including misuse ... More ... Nassau COs Rally on Contract Want Right to Arbitration By REUVEN BLAU       Close to 300 Nassau County Correction Officers rallied April 26 in front of the county legislative office building, seeking to persuade lawmakers to grant the union the right to binding arbitration. More ... Local 420 Head Gets North Star Fund Award       District Council 37 Local 420 President Carmen Charles received the inaugural North Star Fund Award at a gala ceremony last week. The award honors individuals who are "committed to social change in the service of equality, economic justice and peace." The North Star Fund also gave the award to one... More ... CSA BALLOTS OUT       Ballots for the tentative deal between the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators and the city were mailed to Principals, Assistant Principals and education Supervisors on April 26. The ballots must be returned by 9 a.m. on May 16, and the counting will begin at 10 a.m. More ... FOR THE RECORD       The Sergeants' Benevolent Association last week chided Mayor Bloomberg to run the city with the same principles used to turn his business into a billion-dollar enterprise, arguing that cops who drove down crime 70 percent should be rewarded just like corporate employees who increased profits. More ... Please click here for our Copyright Notice.