Public Employee Press

City presents its demands to union

The city has proposed a three-year economic agreement with the union including an initial wage increase and further raises funded in part through cost-savings initiatives.

At a Feb. 7 negotiating session, city Labor Commissioner James F. Hanley presented the City’s bargaining proposals, which include modifications in the funding of health insurance and pensions.

“It’s a good sign that we are talking about concrete wage increases this early in the negotiations, because it suggests that the city is willing to come to an agreement as quickly as possible,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts.

“But members must keep in mind that these are the city’s initial proposals, and it is only after extensive discussion that we reach an agreement,” she added.

Bloomberg has also proposed to set aside $1 billion of this year’s record $3.2 billion surplus and another $1 billion next year toward meeting the city’s future retiree health care obligations.

During the three sessions so far in the current round of bargaining, union negotiators have stressed that the city’s strong fiscal health should allow for an economic agreement with a decent wage package.

After the DC 37 Negotiating Committee, which is made up of DC 37’s 56 local presidents, discussed the management proposals, Sullivan addressed the city negotiators: “It is clear that some of your proposals must be considered by the Municipal Labor Committee. However, we will analyze the remainder of your proposals and respond at future bargaining sessions.”

Discussions between DC 37 and the city continued Feb. 21 as this edition of PEP went to press.