Local 237 Ratifies 4% Annual Raises By 10-1 Margin

Teamsters Local 237 members overwhelmingly ratified its new contract with the city Oct. 10, with more than 90 percent voting in favor of a deal that provides two 4-percent raises and a quarter point of special compensation over two years and 13 days.

GREGORY FLOYD: Members confirm assessment.

The contract, which was the first for a civilian-employee union in this round of bargaining, was touted as a possible trend-setter by the Mayor when it was officially announced Sept. 16 at City Hall. Since then, the United Probation Officers Association has reached a similar agreement with the city. District Council 37 remains in negotiations in hopes of obtaining better terms.

9,000 Members Covered

The official ratification vote totals, according to Local 237 President Gregory Floyd, were 3,050 votes in favor and 306 opposed. Roughly 9,000 of the local's 24,000 members are covered by the contract.

The accord matches the wage increases accepted by several uniformed unions, most recently the Uniformed Firefighters Association, but falls short on the additional compensation provided in other areas. Local 237 will fund that .25 percent through an additional 13 days on the deal and a shift of payment dates within the union. The UFA received 1.59 percent in special compensation funds.

Local 237 President Gregory Floyd said the agreement was "the best contract we've had in 10 years."

In a phone interview, Mr. Floyd said there were a number of reasons for the high percentage of yes votes. "I think it was a combination of the rate of inflation, which is projected at 3.2 percent this year, and also there were no givebacks, and then the economy," he said. Projections of 3.2 percent inflation for the coming fiscal year and 5.4 percent over the span of the contract came from Allen Brawer at the Policy Research Group.