Sewage Workers Say City Offers Raw Deal on Pay; Seven Years Without Raise

Sewage Treatment Workers staged a fiery rally on the steps of City Hall Nov. 12 to protest the lack of a pay raise during the past seven years, creating a growing gap with blue-collar workers in the private sector.

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow TELLS CITY TO FLUSH OFFER: Sewage Treatment Workers Local 1320 President James J. Tucciarelli says the Bloomberg administration is 'dead wrong' to ignore findings by the City Comptroller's Office that his members deserve a substantial raise to put them on par with their private-sector counterparts.

'Unconscionable' Delay

"We work 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, we process 1.3 billion gallons of raw sewage a day; it'd be out on the street if we weren't doing our job," District Council 37 Local 1320 President James J. Tucciarelli told his members. "Seven years, it's unconscionable."

The Sewage Treatment Workers are seeking a pay increase through a process involving Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. The Comptroller under Section 220 of the state Labor Law establishes new pay rates for city trades titles by conducting surveys that compare their pay with that of other prevailing rate employees with similar duties. That rate is then used to establish parameters for contract talks with the city.

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow FEELING NEGLECTED: Sewage Treatment Workers believe that both the public and City Hall don't appreciate the work they do to keep the city's water supply clean.

Mr. Thompson has found that Local 1320 members make significantly less than mechanics in the private sector, but the city is refusing to adopt his findings as a framework for discussions and is insisting that the local agree to the same raises as other DC 37 locals, which have been rejected by the membership.

"We're not asking for an exorbitant raise," Mr. Tucciarelli said. "We want equal pay for the work that's being performed by private contractors side-by-side with us. In some cases, they're making double what we're making. It's unheard of to come into this skill trade, with three years' journeyman status, which is what the city requires, and get paid $15.01 an hour. That is ridiculous. That is dead wrong."

Other high-profile DC 37 leaders were at the rally, including Executive Director Lillian Roberts, who said, "You're special, you're special to New Yorkers, you're special to this union, and we're going to be there for you."

Local 372 President Veronica Montgomery-Costa added, "When one local is hurting, we're all hurting. We're family, and when one member of your family is hurting, we all stand together. You have to provide for your families, and we understand that. You deserve an adequate increase. We want to make sure that you have a living wage that you can be proud of." Most of DC 37's local leadership crowded onto the stage by the rally's end in a show of solidarity.

CLC Leader: 'Delay a Disgrace'

AFL-CIO New York City Central Labor Council Executive Director Ed Ott also lent his voice to the cause. "There isn't a business in this city, including the Mayor's own, that would wait seven years to get paid for services rendered. The level of disrespect involved in making hard-working people wait seven years for their money is a disgrace," he railed. "The business community of this nation has taken this country to the brink of ruin. And yet nobody gets credit who does the real work that keeps this great city running every day."

"Believe me, I heard you up in my office," City Councilman Robert Jackson of Manhattan told the roaring crowd. "Quite frankly, if you're paying contractors more than you're paying city employees, then something's wrong with that formula. Why the hell should you work for something less than somebody who has not put in years of service?"

Councilman John Liu of Queens added, "Study after study has shown that we have the champagne of municipal waters. And that's because you are the best!" He pledged his support on the issue in the Council, saying he was shocked that the city couldn't find the money to pay Sewage Treatment Workers. "The city shows that we need those double-digit increases in the water rates three years in a row. And the money has not gone to the system, and it has not gone to workers who make the system work," he said.

The Paper Bag Players

Workers at the rally said that they felt ignored by the city. One group wore paper bags over their heads with "Unknown Civil Servant" written on them to emphasize their plight. Anthony Suo remarked, "You ask anybody, when they flush the toilet, where does it go? Nobody knows. We keep the waterways clean, we keep the city healthy; there'd be waste flowing down Broadway if it wasn't for us. They know The Finest, they know The Bravest, but they don't know The Cleanest. That's what we are."

Another Local 1320 member said that the union had been ignored by the city for far longer than seven years. "We've gotten eight dollars and thirty-six cents over 20 years as our complete raise. Is that fair for a cost of living?" asked Paul Ferino.

In his closing remarks to his members, Mr. Tucciarelli said that he remembered better days. "It's wrong that you guys have to work two and three jobs just to provide the basic necessities for your family ... there used to be a day when you guys worked second and third jobs to pay for luxuries, like taking the family down to Disney World. You can't pay your bills on it now — how many of our guys are losing their houses right now?" he asked.

He pointed out that the city was employing people without any experience and paying them far more than Sewage Treatment Workers. "The DEP has put out a contract to clear up the weeds around the benches in our parks. It's for homeland security. And do not take this the wrong way, but they have hired physically and mentally challenged people," he said. "God bless them, they all deserve the right to work, but they have zero experience, and they're operating weed-whackers at $24 an hour, when we're making $15.01. That's wrong!"