Local 246 Members Ratify 2-Year Pacts With 4% Annual Hikes

JOSEPH COLANGELO: An enthusiastic response.

Service Employees International Union Local 246 members have ratified nine contracts with the city that will grant workers 8.26-percent raises over 24 months, the union announced Dec. 22.

The contracts promise a 4-percent raise in the first year and 4 percent compounded for the second year. The contracts also include a .1-percent increase on the last day of each agreement that can go towards benefits other than wages. The contracts cover Auto Mechanics, Auto Service Workers, Rubber Tire Repairers, Carriage Upholsterers, Door Stop Maintainers, Sheetmetal Workers, Tractor Operators, Motor Grader Operators and Sign Painters/Letterers.

Union Head 'Pleased'

"Considering how long we've had to negotiate with the city in the past, and how long our members have been forced to wait to get what they are truly entitled to, I'm very pleased with the results of these contract terms, as was our membership that voted so overwhelmingly to approve the deals," Local 246 President Joseph Colangelo said in a statement.

Local 246 represents workers in nearly all city agencies. Its largest group of members are Auto Mechanics, the majority of whom work in the Department of Sanitation. Many Auto Mechanics also work in the Fire Department, Police Department and the Department of Environmental Protection.

The nearly 1,550 members ratified the wage pacts by more than 95 percent, Mr. Colangelo said. Local 246 differs from most city unions in that it bargains contracts for each job title rather than settling one master agreement with the city.

'A Relief for Members'

Mr. Colangelo added, "We've all experienced many rough months with the bleak economic crisis. Knowing we have our contracts in place is a relief for the membership and the union."

The agreement for Auto Mechanics runs from May 31, 2008 to May 30, 2010; for Auto Service Workers it runs from Aug. 7, 2008 to Aug. 6, 2010; for Rubber Tire Repairers, Carriage Upholsterers and Door Stop Maintainers it runs from March 16, 2008 to March 15, 2010; for Sheetmetal Workers, from Oct. 17, 2008 to Oct. 16, 2010; for Tractor Operators and Motor Grader Operators, from June 3, 2007 to June 2, 2009; and for Sign Painters/Letterers, from March 25, 2008 to March 24, 2010.