COBA Pact Grants 11.5% Hike Counting Re-Opener; Freeze Starting Pay Until Dec. 2011:

The Correction Officers' Benevolent Association has reached a tentative contract agreement with the city granting an 11.5-percent hike in salary under a two-year deal, but starting pay will not increase until after the contract expires.

NORMAN SEABROOK: Time, terms right to settle.

"I'm satisfied with the results," said COBA President Norman Seabrook. "I think the membership has and will show a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for this contract."

Two 4% Hikes Plus Re-Opener

The new agreement, which runs from Nov. 1, 2009 to Oct. 31, 2011, grants a four-percent hike on the first day of the contract and another four-percent hike on Nov. 1, 2010. There is also an additional 3.5-percent raise retroactive to Sept. 1, 2008 resulting from a re-opener clause in the 2005-2007 contract that offers parity with a Patrolmen's Benevolent Association arbitration award from May.

By the end of the contract, maximum salary will have risen more than $8,000, to $76,488. "It is very important that I give members something that can lighten the burden in this tough economic climate," said Mr. Seabrook in a phone interview Oct. 31.

"Part of keeping New York the safest big city in America is keeping violence in our jails low," said Mayor Bloomberg in a statement. "Our Correction Officers stand tall in a challenging environment every day and through their dedication and commitment we have achieved historic lows in jail violence."

Mr. Seabrook acknowledged the fiscal crisis was an incentive for the union to reach terms on the contract sooner rather than later. "Of course, you always have to look at the parameters," he said. "One of them being the economic climate in the country. For me, to wait to see how the world turns could be detrimental."

Concessions for Future Hires

COBA funded the new increases through a modified salary schedule under which Correction Officers hired beginning Jan. 1, 2009 will reach basic maximum salary after 5-1/2 years rather than five, reversing a gain the union made last September. The contract also calls for a reduction of three annual leave days per year for the first five years of service for those hired on or after Jan. 1, 2009.

Starting salary, which is currently $35,000, will rise to $39,755 on Dec. 1, 2011 for Correction Officers hired after Jan. 1, 2009. Mr. Seabrook said he did not consider the freezing of starting pay during the interim to be a concession.

"It's not a giveback because those people are not here," he said. "With the economy the way it is, I can't guarantee the city is going to hire anyone." He said he had no fears of this hurting recruitment.

Mr. Seabrook also restored a $464 per year city contribution to the annuity fund that was relinquished under a previous deal, as well as reinstating a $50 annual city contribution to the Civil Legal Representation Fund for all covered employees. Effective Dec. 1, 2010, the longevity schedule will be increased by $506 at each step, and the city's annual contribution to the COBA Welfare Fund on behalf of each active member and retiree will be increased by $100 per year.