Local 237 reached a tentative contract agreement with the New York City Housing Authority June 9 when the union’s Executive Board and the negotiating committee overwhelmingly endorsed the settlement and recommended it for approval by member vote.

President Carl Haynes spoke to the negotiating committee at a meeting held June 10 at the union. He praised committee members for their patience and support as the union battled the Housing Authority on several issues including the proposed wage reductions for new hires and proposed changes to the five-day work-week.


Local 237 and Housing Authority officials convene in the Maggie Feinstein Conference Room after announcing the contract settlement. From left, Director of Housing Division Edmund Kane; HA Director of Personnel Dale Kutzbach; President Carl Haynes; HA Chairman Tino Hernandez; HA General Manager Douglas Apple; Trustee Ruben Torres; HA Chief of Staff Natalie Rivers and Secretary-Treasurer Gregory Floyd.


“It’s been a long and difficult contract negotiation, but we knew we had to stand firm for a fair contract that maintains our benefits and does not sacrifice our members down the road,” Haynes said. He added that he believes the contract is fair in “providing both wage and benefit gains with minimum modifications of entry level compensation.”

Haynes also emphasized that Housing’s shrinking budget over the past several years “is legitimate.” He asserted that, “The Bush administration’s attack on working families and the poor found a target in the New York City Housing Authority. Local 237, with the support of our International Teamsters Union and the AFL-CIO, worked with the Housing Authority to fight Washington for the restoration of some of the millions of dollars slashed from the agency’s budget.”

New York City Housing Authority Chairman Tino Hernandez and several agency officials were on hand to thank the negotiating committee for their support during hard times. “It’s a great day for labor and management as we reach a settlement,” said Hernandez, adding that the union helped him deal with “steep cuts by the Bush administration.”

Reviewing highlights of the settlement, Haynes drew applause when he noted “We have a unified union.” The negotiating committee backed the president’s efforts to maintain the integrity of wages and benefits for all members, including new hires, to prevent a future situation where, as Haynes said, “that group you screwed today will become the majority of the members in 10 years. This would divide our union. We cannot afford to have a two-tiered union.”

President Haynes also assured members that proposed changes to the five-day work-week are off the table. “It’s written in stone: The five-day work-week is here to stay.”

Allen Brawer, the union’s financial analyst, explained the details of the settlement, which is similar to the Citywide contract and achieves the union’s two main goals: (1) to get Citywide’s basic contract, and (2) to avoid hurting new people.

For average Local 237 members who earned $30,000 a year at the end of the last contract, this agreement will provide an additional base pay of $1,440 annually. Following ratification of the contract by member votes July 7, the lump sum and two wage increases will be paid retroactively in August. The average Local 237 member will receive the $1,000 signing bonus and about $2,340 in back pay (calculated through the end of June 2005 and not including any premium pay such as overtime). Also retroactively for last year, $75 will be deposited on the member’s behalf in the annuity fund.

A unanimous show of hands by the negotiating committee confirmed their readiness to start working on the next contract, tentatively scheduled to begin in November. Haynes noted that at that point, the union would work hard to address major problems such as low staffing and equipment. “We believe if you want to shrink the staff, you have to shrink responsibilities,” he said.

The Housing negotiating team included 50 rank-and-file members representing many different titles within the Housing Authority, President Haynes, Housing Director Edmund Kane, Citywide Director and Secretary-Treasurer Gregory Floyd, Attorneys Basil Paterson and Barry Peek of the law firm Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, PC, and Allen Brawer of the firm Policy Research.

Details of the Contract $1,000 lump sum payment upon ratification. 3 percent wage increase effective as of July 1, 2003. 1.75 percent wage increase effective as of July 1, 2004. General wage increases will be applied to some allowances, increments, and differentials (not including the longevity differential) but the total amount is not to exceed 0.11 percent of prior payroll. Annuity Fund Increase An increase of $75 is effective as of July 1, 2004. Compensation Changes for Employees Hired After July 1, 2005 The hiring rate will be 13 percent less than the “incumbent minimum;” currently it is 7.16 percent less. Second year rate will be 12.45 percent less than the “incumbent rate.” Third year and all following year rates will not be reduced. Creation of Labor-Management Committees to Meet Regularly On: Family-related matters. Safety in the workplace. Productivity Increase A possible 1 percent wage increase funded by mutually agreed upon productivity measures.