After months of controversy, representatives of the city finally agreed on Dec. 5 to offer Local 327 members a new contract with the same pay and benefit increases previously negotiated with other city unions. The tentative 27-month pact calls for 4 percent pay hikes in the first and second years, increases in contributions to the health and welfare plans, and reductions and improvements in our pension funds.

The following day, at a meeting at the Housing Authority offices, union negotiators were told by the HA bargainers that they were looking forward to settling their contract with Local 237 by Christmas.
Members of the Local’s executive board and the union’s Citywide Division bargaining team gave unanimous approval to the proposed contract at the meeting held at Local headquarters Dec. 5. Ballots and letters explaining the terms of the new agreement were mailed to members within days after the agreement was reached.

President Carl Haynes commended the union’s negotiating team, who refused to agree to a new contract unless it included job security for every member.
“The city refused to treat us fairly because of Mayor Giuliani’s insistence that we abandon our hospital police members,” Haynes asserted. “But our negotiators recognized that if we deserted the hospital police, anyone’s job could be in jeopardy, and they stuck it out. We demonstrated unity and that is what unionism is all about.”

City Labor Relations Commissioner James Hanley wasted no time at the bargaining session in explaining the city’s willingness, at long last, to offer Local 237 the same contract terms as had already been approved by other municipal unions. He gave no explanation, however, for the city’s surprise change in attitude.

The contract, which will cover the period from Jan. 1, 2000, until March 31, 2002, provides for wage and welfare benefits that will amount to more than 9 percent overall. It also assures job security for every member of Local 237.
Hanley said if the city’s pact is ratified quickly enough, members could see their new salary increases in checks they receive Jan. 18; the retroactive pay that has been accruing since Jan. 1, 2000, is expected to arrive two weeks later.

“We said all along that the issue in dispute was the essential need for job security, which we achieved,” said Secretary-Treasurer Nick Mancuso, chief negotiator for the Local. “Once we had that we were satisfied that the city, in the aftermath and devastation of Sept. 11, would not pursue the privatization of our uniformed officers, whose mission is to protect life and property.”

Ballot Deadlines

The ballots seeking members’ acceptance or rejection of the proposed contract must be returned by Dec. 27 to be counted by Dec. 28.
In addition to previously approved health benefits, Mancuso noted that the contract also calls for Welfare Fund increases of $200 per member, a reduction of employee pension contribution of up to 4 percent for Tiers 3, and 4 after 10 years of service. This boosts take-home pay by 3 percent, retroactive to Oct. 1, 2000. The agreement also calls for up to two years’ extra pension credit for Tier 1 and 2 plans, and other benefits.