Under 54-Month Deal
Jail Captains Win Four 4% Raises

By REUVEN BLAU

The Correction Captains Association last week reached a 54-month contract that will provide members with four 4-percent raises, with longevity pay included, which brings pay for veteran supervisors above $100,000.

A MAKEUP DEAL: Correction Captains Association President Ronald Whitfield is pleased that he was able to win his members 17 percent in raises and other benefit gains while redressing 'what we believe were some of the inequities that we had to endure in the last round of bargaining for our newly promoted Captains.'

The new agreement, which also eliminates one salary step for all its members, is consistent in its cost to the city with other uniformed union settlements reached over the past several months. The proposed contract - from Dec. 16, 2007 through June 30 - must still be ratified by the CCA's 830 members.

'Addressed Inequities'

"I'm pleased that we were able to negotiate what we believe was a very good contract," said CCA President Ronald Whitfield during an Oct. 19 phone interview. "We were able to address what we believe were some of the inequities that we had to endure in the last round of bargaining for our newly promoted Captains."

The CCA was forced to have new Captains work an additional six tours a year while stretching their salary scale in order to match the 5-percent raises won by the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association during the last round of bargaining.

Based on the new agreement, all Captains would receive 4-percent hikes on Dec. 16 this year and on Dec. 16, 2008, which is generally 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 this summer - include 4-percent raises effective May 1, 2010 and May 1, 2011.

Delay Funded Benefits

The CCA used the six-and-a-half month delay in the final two raises to help fund added annuity boosts, welfare-fund raises, and longevity increases. The union also used that stretch to eliminate one salary step for all its members. Under the proposed deal, all Captains would reach maximum pay after five years - a year earlier than at present - effective March 16, 2010.

At the end of the contract, the basic maximum salary - minus longevity bonuses and other benefits - would be $94,962, Mr. Whitfield said. That pay rises to $103,000 for veteran supervisors when all the additional benefits are included.

Assuming the pact is ratified, the starting salary for Captains promoted after June 1, 2006 would rise to $67,429, up from the current $64,836. That increase would be effective Dec. 15 this year.

Based on the tentative agreement, there is a two-tiered system, one pay schedule for Correction Captains promoted prior to June 1, 2006 and another for supervisors named on or after that date. The newer supervisors would earn less until they reach five years of service. At that time, the maximum pay for both groups would be the same.

Other Gains

The tentative CCA agreement includes several other benefits. The city's contribution to the welfare fund would be increased by $50 per year on behalf of active members and retirees, effective June 1, 2011 and May 1, 2012.

In addition, over the term of the contract the longevity schedule would be increased by $1,139 on each step of the experience ladder.

The city would also remit a $1,000 one-time lump-sum payment to the annuity fund for each employee effective Dec. 16, 2009, according to the Office of Labor Relations. Starting June 1, 2011, the city's pro-rated annual contribution to the fund would be increased by $261 per year for each employee.

Correction Captains would also no longer be required to use a pass day or one annual leave day to qualify at the firearms range, effective Dec. 16, 2009.

Discontinue Added Tours

Effective June 1, 2011, each Captain promoted on or after June 1, 2006 would be required to work fewer additional tours, rescinding the concession which was used as a funding mechanism in the prior contract. That concession and other givebacks were used to match the 4.24 percent in savings the PBA generated under its attrition-based award.

The CCA's proposed contract also restored part of the night-shift differential payment for new supervisors. Under the agreement, effective June 1, 2011 the current provision paying 55 percent of the night differential, instead of the full payment, would apply only during a Captain's first five years in the title instead of the present six years.

The tentative deal also improved the annual leave schedule effective June 1, 2011 for supervisors promoted on or after June 1, 2006. In addition, upon ratification the department will establish a special assignment category.

"This is the first time that we were able to achieve a contract before the expiration of our current contract, which expires on Dec. 15, 2007," Mr. Whitfield noted. "We are pleased with the results and look forward to this contract being ratified."