Four 4% Pay Hikes
Wardens Agree To 'Uniformed' Pattern

By REUVEN BLAU

The union representing high-ranking Correction Department supervisors last week reached a 52-month contract that will provide members with four 4-percent raises, offer a one-time $5,000 annuity fund increase, $1,605 in longevity hikes, and eliminate a salary step to maximum pay.

SID SCHWARTZBAUM: Something for everyone.

The proposed contract, which would run from March 1, 2008 to June 30, 2012, is consistent in its cost to the city with other uniformed union settlements reached over the past several months.

Some Will Exceed $150G

The tentative agreement must still be ratified by members of the Assistant Deputy Wardens/Deputy Wardens Association, which represents 150 top supervisory and administrative uniformed personnel.

By the end of the deal, with longevity pay and other bonuses included, the top pay for Assistant Deputy Wardens would be $125,000 and $154,000 for Deputy Wardens.

Under the tentative contract for jail second- and third-line supervisors, all union members would receive 4-percent hikes effective March 1, 2008 and March 1, 2009, which is similar to the pattern established last March by the Uniformed Firefighters Association.

The contract's last two years - a slightly extended version of the Sergeants Benevolent Association's agreement settled in July - include 4-percent raises effective July 1, 2010 and July 1, 2011.

Delay Funds Benefits

ADW/Deputy Wardens Association President Sidney Schwartzbaum used the four-month delay in the final two raises to help fund added annuity boosts, welfare-fund raises, and longevity increases.

Mr. Schwartzbaum said that he worked hard to negotiate a deal that included added benefits for members regardless of their job tenure. "This contract represents a proverbial smorgasbord where everybody gets a little to eat," he remarked.

The union also used that money to reduce a salary step in the pay schedule for all members.

Under the proposed deal, all ADWs would reach maximum pay after three years - a year earlier than at present - effective Dec. 31, 2009 for supervisors promoted between July 1, 2006 and July 31, 2008.

Pending ratification, effective April 1, 2009 all Deputy Wardens promoted after July 1, 2006 would reach basic top pay after three years' service instead of the current four.

Based on the agreement, the maximum salary for ADWs would rise to $109,002, up from the current $93,176. That increase, which does not include holiday pay, longevity bonuses, and night differential hikes, would be effective July 1, 2011. In addition, the top base pay for Deputy Wardens would jump to $142,097, up from the present $121,465.

Welfare Fund Hikes

The proposed contract includes several other benefits. The city's contribution to the welfare fund would be increased by $200 per year on behalf of retirees, effective April 1, 2009. On Aug. 1, 2011, each active member would get an ongoing $75 extra per year.

In addition, effective March 1, 2009 the supervisors in the five-, 10-, and 15-year levels in the longevity schedule would get a $405 increase. Also on that date, 20-year veterans would receive a $905 longevity increase.

In addition, the longevity schedule for all union members would be raised by $700 on each step of the schedule effective Aug. 1, 2011.

The contract also includes a one-time $5,000 lump-sum payment to the annuity fund per employee effective April 1, 2009. There would also be a one-time $500 payment per employee into the Legal Support Fund.

Mr. Schwartzbaum was previously forced to stretch the salary scale for new supervisors in order to match the 5-percent raises won by the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association during the last round of bargaining.

Rescheduling Savings

The union also agreed to allow the Correction Department to reschedule its members twice a year with 24-hours' notice without paying overtime to help the city reduce overtime costs.

Mr. Schwartzbaum's proposed contract looked to rescind some of those concessions. Effective July 1, 2008, the "overtime bank" for ADWs would begin to be reduced for supervisors after their third year of service. After six years, the bank would be eliminated altogether for ADWs.

Also effective July 1, 2008, a $100 daily differential would be established for any Deputy Warden who serves as "Acting Warden" during the regular Warden's scheduled absence.

In addition, effective April 1, 2009 the salary schedule would be restored after three years - a year earlier than at present - for union members who had to work additional tours under the current contract.

The union still has .12 percent in available unit value effective June 1, 2010 and .70 available Aug. 1, 2011, Mr. Schwartzbaum pointed out.

"The union can choose to utilize those values to increase vacation time, uniformed allowance, longevity, annuity, or a further reduction in the overtime bank," he said. "I'm sure that there will be much discussion amongst the delegates and membership regarding the utilization of these available funds."