Lengthy contract negotiations ended Mar. 16 when 72 percent of Local 237 maintenance workers employed by New York City and the Housing Authority voted to ratify a contract that provides for a compounded 10.2 percent overall increase and covers 51 months, from Oct. 1, 2001, through Jan. 12, 2006.

Of the total 1,492 ballots mailed out to all maintenance workers, 1,019 were returned and 1,003 were counted by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) at their offices in Midtown Manhattan. Several Local 237 officials and members were on hand to observe the count, including Trustee Ruben Torres; Deputy Director Prevailing Wage Division Donald Arnold; and Business Agent Randy Klein.

Maintenance workers' ballots are counted at the American Arbitration Association offices in midtown Manhattan.

Maintenance workers ratified the contract by a vote of 721 to 281, approving wage increases of 3 percent, 1 percent, 2.60 percent and 3.25 percent, partially funded through productivity savings, including lower starting salary for new workers, the loss of paid bereavement and jury duty days, and contract extensions. Members also chose to convert their $1,000 bonus lump sum into an annual rate increase worth 0.25 percent.

Members employed by the city and the Housing Authority for the entire length of the contract will receive estimated retroactive wages of more than $8,500. Overtime worked during this period will be calculated on an individual basis and will be added to these amounts. “The ratification shows that most of the maintenance workers recognized that they have a good solid contract,” said Local 237 President Carl Haynes. “They should be proud of themselves and the members of their bargaining committee for working hard to come up with creative strategies to avoid the ‘givebacks’ that the city imposed on many other unions,” Haynes added.

“It was time to get a settlement,” said Nelson Flores, a maintenance worker and shop steward with six years service at the Department of Juvenile Justice, who observed the ballot count. “We had bargained for so long and ultimately it was left up to the membership, and the membership has spoken.”