NYPD Captains Get 3.5% Increase In Maximum Salary
By TOMMY HALLISSEY
The Captains Endowment Association board July 23 voted unanimously to approve a reopener deal with the city that grants 3.5 percent in raises for its members at maximum salary to match other recent union awards.

ROY T. RICHTER: Upgrades top pay.

Matching PBA

The raise matches the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association's May wage hike of 4.5 and 5 percent granted in arbitration. The CEA's previous contract called for raises of 3 and 3.15 percent. Under the new deal, salaries will rise an additional 1.5 percent and 1.85 percent over two years, and compounding will increase the value to 3.5 percent. The salary increase is retroactive to Jan. 31, 2008. Those who don't yet have the experience in the rank to qualify for top pay will get the increase when they achieve that tenure.

Roy Richter, president of the Captains Endowment Association, said he had been in detailed negotiations with the city for several weeks. "There was a good sharing of ideas back and forth," said Mr. Richter.

The CEA deal still must be ratified by the rank-and-file.

Basic maximum salary for Captains will rise to $130,312. Some veteran uniformed officers will lose four days off a year. For Captains promoted prior to July 1, 1990, quarterly leave days will be eliminated. For those promoted prior to Sept. 1, 2007, the second salary step is increased from $104,192 to $104,792. For Captains promoted after Sept. 1, 2007, the first salary step is increased from $101,655 to $104,175. All three changes take effect on Sept. 1, 2008.

Like all other uniformed employees, the Captains were asked to create savings to the city to match what the PBA gave back under its arbitration award, which hit future cops hardest. The CEA deal calls for members to work one extra day a year. "In order to get the increase Captains, Deputy Inspectors, Inspectors, Deputy Chiefs, Surgeons, Police Surgeons, Deputy Chief Surgeons and Chief Surgeons shared equally to come up with the cost savings for the city," Mr. Richter said.

There will also be a $325 annuity fund reduction effective Sept. 1, 2008. Scheduled annuity fund increases will be downgraded to $65 from $168 effective Mar. 1, 2009. On May 1, 2011, the increase, which had been scheduled to be $380, will instead be $432. The Captains contract runs through 2012.

Originally, the savings incentive plan was scheduled to begin March 1, 2009 with a $168 contribution. Now, effective May 1, 2011 the plan will start with a city contribution of $380.

Because the CEA applied the raise only to maximum salary, it was able to make significantly lesser contributions than the PBA, which got raises for all members regardless of experience.

The Captains' re-opener falls in line with the Lieutenants Benevolent Association deal reached a month ago. The Lieutenants Benevolent Association won a 3.5-percent raise, retroactive to Oct. 8, 2006, to make up the difference created by the PBA arbitration award.