Despite Grumbles, DC 37 Contract Deal Advances; Ballots Out This Week

District Council 37's delegates Nov. 6 ratified its new contract with the Bloomberg administration, paving the way for a membership vote on the deal, which offers two four-percent raises, along with a tenth of a point in special compensation, over two years.

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow A NECESSARY DEAL: With District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts to his right, Mayor Bloomberg expresses a shared sentiment: that while neither side was completely comfortable with their wage accord, both were convinced it was an essential step to moving ahead as the city battles an economic crisis.

The delegates, representing the presidents of each of the union's 56 locals, voted "overwhelmingly" to accept the agreement upon the urging of Executive Director Lillian Roberts, according to a DC 37 press release. Ballots will be sent out to members Nov. 13, and are due back on Dec. 8.

'Sound Economic Package'

Three days before the committee vote, Ms. Roberts gathered with local leaders to announce the contract with Mayor Bloomberg, calling the accord "a sound economic package and, given the current economic climate ... a good deal for the hard-working members of DC 37."

But the general mood within DC 37 was that while members would be happy to finally get raises, the union could have gotten more out of the city had Teamsters Local 237 not quickly locked down a deal in mid-September that provided very little in special compensation which set a pattern for civilian union bargaining.

During the press conference, Ms. Roberts stressed the percentage raises her members were getting, the same ones afforded to members of uniformed unions. "We have achieved sound, livable wage increases for our members and protected our benefits, with no changes in our health coverage and pension plans," she said.

She also expressed her relief at having the contract, which expired in March 2008, finally wrapped up, especially as the city tightens its belt in lean economic times. "This gives our members the clarity and economic certainty for the future that they deserve at a time of deepening economic crisis," she said. "DC 37 has always been a responsible union. We clearly understand the practical reality of bargaining in difficult fiscal times."

Mayor's Eye on Benefit Savings

"We look forward to working cooperatively with District Council 37 — and the entire Municipal Labor Committee — on efforts to identify potential savings in areas such as the City's health insurance program and pension systems," the Mayor said. "We remain open to suggestions that DC 37 may recommend in any other areas such as bringing contracted work back in-house."

When asked by reporters if the city could afford the raises to a union with 125,000 members given its economic condition, Mr. Bloomberg said that the contract was essential.

"I don't think that we can't afford it, is the way that I would phrase it," he said. "It's more difficult to come up with the four and four now, but ... I don't think that we can continue to take the city forward while finding ways to do more with less without [DC 37's] co-operation."

But the Mayor also speculated on possible layoffs in DC 37's future, with rumors that city agencies were drawing up layoff lists in case of a further economic downturn. "If the economy were to literally melt down, I don't think anybody thinks that anything could be off the table. We would have a calamitous problem," he said. "Any agency that doesn't think in those terms, the Commissioner isn't doing a good job."