DC 37 Rank and File Vote 98% in Favor Of Wage Contract

The members of District Council 37 voted 98 percent in favor of ratifying their new wage contract in ballots tallied Dec. 9.

The contract, which covers the period of March 3, 2008 to March 2, 2010, provides two four-percent pay hikes plus a tenth of a percent in special compensation to provide an overall compounded raise of 8.26 percent over 24 months. It was tentatively agreed upon Oct. 30, with ballots mailed out on Nov. 13.

'Listened to Members' Needs'

There were 103,506 ballots mailed, with roughly half returned: 50,886 for the contract and 872 against it. Previously, the union delegates had voted strongly in favor of the accord, and 54 of 56 local presidents voted yes, with the two naysayers being Local 436's Judith Arroyo and Local 371's Faye Moore.

"We listened to our members' needs and clearly their overwhelming vote in support of this contract indicates that we met them," said Ms. Roberts in a statement.

She added, "The union is now pressing the city to make payment as soon as possible."

Typically raises are implemented in employee paychecks 4-6 weeks after a contract is ratified.