Doctors Employed By HHC, City Agencies Get Two 4% Hikes

The Doctors Council Oct. 29 reached a deal on behalf of 1,250 Attending Physicians employed by the Health and Hospitals Corporation and city agencies that grants them two 4-percent wage increases plus .25 percent in additional compensation over two years.

Dr. BARRY LIEBOWITZ: Deal benefits patient care.

The deal is consistent with an early agreement reached by Teamsters Local 237 that Mayor Bloomberg previously said established the bargaining pattern for civilian-employee unions. The first wage hike is retroactive to March 15 of this year, while the second one takes effect next March 15. The extra compensation will not be paid until Sept. 13, 2010, roughly six months after the pact expires, and can be used for matters other than boosts in salary provided both sides agree.

'Helps Retain and Recruit'

Doctors Council President Barry Liebowitz said in a statement, "Ultimately, in a contract that is designed to retain and recruit doctors to the city's hospital system, as this contract does, it is patient care that comes out the biggest winner."

Those covered include employee at Kings County, Bellevue and Seaview Hospitals; the Morrisania, Gouverneur, Belvis, East New York, Sydenham and Renaissance Diagnostic and Treatment Centers; the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the Human Resources Administration, and the Police, Fire, Sanitation, Correction and Health Departments.

Other doctors the union represents at city hospitals covered by affiliation agreements are governed by contracts negotiated with those affiliates.