Sanit Supervisors Get 17% Raise Under Pact

By REUVEN BLAU

The union representing Sanitation Department supervisors has agreed to a contract that provides 17 percent in raises over 57 months, plus $580 annual annuity increases and the creation of a supplemental retirement fund.

JOSEPH MANNION: An early collection.

'Excited' by Early Deal

Joseph Mannion, president of Sanitation Officers' Association Local 444 of the Service Employees' International Union, said the deal was remarkable because it came almost two months in advance of the expiration of the current contract.

"I was very happy to negotiate this contract on time," he said during a Sept. 24 phone interview. "Our current contract doesn't end until Nov. 12. This is the first time in the union's known history that we've been able to negotiate a contract on time, and we are very excited about that."

The proposed agreement, which still must be ratified by Local 444's 1,100 first-line supervisors and other ranking officers, would run from Nov. 13, 2007 through July 1, 2012. The deal is consistent in its cost to the Bloomberg administration with other uniformed union settlements reached over the past several months.

Under the tentative contract, all Sanitation Supervisors and Superintendents would receive 4-percent hikes on Nov. 13 this year and on Nov. 13, 2008, which is consistent with the pattern established in March by the Uniformed Firefighters Association.

The contract's last two years - a slightly extended version of the Sergeants Benevolent Association's contract settled in July - include 4-percent raises effective May 2, 2010 and May 2, 2011.

Delay Funded Key Gains

Local 444 used the five-month and 19-day delay in raises at the end of the second year of the pact to help fund added annuity boosts, welfare-fund raises, and an additional paid holiday, and to create a supplemental annuity fund. The union also extended the pact two months at the end of the fourth raise effective in May 2, 2011.

Local 444 used that savings for the city to eliminate one salary pay step for all its members.

Under the tentative agreement, the basic maximum salary for Superintendents - minus longevity and other benefits - would rise to $109,622 after three years on the job, effective May 2, 2011, according to the union. It currently takes four years to reach top pay for that title. In addition, the top pay for Supervisors would rise to $91,180 after five years, instead of the present six-year pay progression.

Effective Nov. 13, 2009, the city's contribution to the Annuity Fund would increase by $1,044 per year per employee, the Office of Labor Relations said. The additional contribution would be increased by any future across-the board wage hikes, according to the city.

Extra Annuity Payment

In addition, effective Dec. 13, 2008, there would be a one-time lump-sum payment in the amount of $2,150 to the annuity fund on behalf of each employee at basic maximum salary as of that date, city officials said.

Under the proposed deal, the city also agreed to provide supplemental benefits to union members who retire after 20 years of service.

Effective Feb. 13, 2010, the city would contribute $580.34 per active employee to the Supplemental Annuity Fund. In the future, the annual lump-sum amount to be contributed would be adjusted by any negotiated across-the board wage increases, city officials said.The retirement fund, which was first negotiated by the Lieutenants Benevolent Association in 2006, is similar to the Variable Supplements Fund Police Officers and Firefighters already receive, but it does not require legislative approval and is not guaranteed.

Get MLK Holiday

The union also worked with city negotiators to increase the starting pay for new promotees and to gain Martin Luther King Day as a paid holiday, which was negotiated by the Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association in July. In addition, the accord includes an unspecified 1.48-percent increase effective June 2, 2011 as well as an additional 0.81 percent in funds effective May 2, 2012. Some of that money would be used to upgrade the salary steps on the Local 444 pay scale.

Under the agreement, the city would also establish and pay a special assignment differential to certain positions in the bargaining unit, a provision first negotiated by the UFA in March.

Local 444 was one of the few uniformed unions that preserved starting pay for new promotees during the last round of bargaining. The union used a favorable court decision - which ordered the city to pay its members millions of dollars extra because it failed to assign managers to supervise cleaning crews in violation of the group's contract - to finance a significant portion of its last contract.

In contrast, many other uniformed unions reduced starting pay to generate the 4.24 percent in savings to match the attrition-based pattern set by the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association arbitration award issued in June 2005.