October 06, 2008
Unions get raises amid financial turmoil
Having agreed to 4 percent raises for New York City police and other unions, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has raised expectations of a generous pattern deal for unions still negotiating contracts--despite the Wall Street meltdown that's punching a big hole in the city's revenues.
On September 16 -- the day after the fall of Lehman Brothers began a serious new phase of the financial crisis on Wall Street -- Bloomberg announced a tentative contract with Teamsters Local 237, calling for annual 4 percent raises over two years plus an additional 0.25 percent in "additional compensation" to be partially funded "internally" by the union.
Other unions, the Chief reports (link available to subscribers only), initially were "lukewarm" about the Teamsters deal. District Council 37 and the city are in contract negotiations. The United Federation of Teachers contract expires next year.
Earlier, members of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association (PBA) ratified a contract providing annual 4 percent raises for four years retroactive to August 1, 2006. The Chief reports (link available to subscribers only):
Notably absent from the contract were givebacks to the city, as Mr. Lynch instead sought to restore benefits that were lost as part of his two previous arbitration.
(snip)
With longevity, holiday pay, night-shift differential and uniform allowance, total average compensation for cops at top pay will reach approximately $94,000.
Meanwhile, the Spitzer and Paterson administrations have reached generous salary increases with state worker unions including the Civil Service Employees Association, United University Professions, Public Employees Federation and the Police Benevolent Association.
Those contracts call for roughly 14 percent in base pay hikes over four years--3 percent annual raises for three years and 4 percent in the fourth year.
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