DC 37 and the City agree on contract

"We achieved a contract that provides a sound and significant raise, a major infusion of funding into our welfare fund and the easing of residency requirements," says DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts

• Highlights of DC 37 Economic Agreement (PDF)*
• DC 37 Fact Sheet on Residency Requirements (PDF)*

District Council 37, the city's largest public employee union, reached a tentative agreement on July 12 with the City of New York on a new 32-month-2-day wage pact that provides a total of over 10% in wage increases and other benefits, and eases the residency requirements for covered city workers. The agreement covers the period from July 1, 2005 through March 2, 2008.

"We have achieved significant raises for our members, a major infusion of funding for our welfare fund, as well as the easing of the residency requirement," said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, who chaired the union's bargaining committee. "This gives our members the clarity and economic certainty for the future that they require. The lifting of the residency requirement is an historic breakthrough. By getting the City to agree to support legislation that would ease the residency requirements to allow our members to reside in suburban counties of Nassau, Westchester, Suffolk, Orange, Rockland and Putnam counties, we have achieved a goal this union has been seeking for over 20 years.

"I am pleased that we have achieved all this for our hardworking, dedicated workers without givebacks or changes to pension plans or health care coverage."

Among the highlights of the 32-month-2-day contract are:

• 3.15% increase on base salary on July 1, 2005
• 2% compounded increase on Aug. 1, 2006
• 4% compounded increase on Feb. 1, 2007
• Residency requirement to be expanded to include Nassau, Westchester, Suffolk, Orange, Rockland and Putnam counties.
• The City will increase its contribution to the DC 37 welfare fund.

The ratification process for the contract began with the July 12 vote by the DC 37 bargaining committee, made up of the union's 56 local presidents. The contract will then be submitted to a special meeting of the Council's delegate body later this month for a recommendation to the locals on whether to accept or reject the pact. Finally, the American Arbitration Association will conduct a mail ballot of the membership covered by the contract.

District Council 37 represents 121,000 members in more than 1,000 job titles from 56 local unions.

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