The prospects of securing a new contract for Local 237 Citywide and Housing divisions sooner rather than later grew brighter following the meeting, Feb. 19, of the union’s negotiating committee with the city’s Labor Relations Commissioner James Hanley.

Local 237 Secretary-Treasurer Gregory Floyd, who, along with Local 237 President Carl Haynes led the contingent, called the meeting “productive,” and announced that the union’s peace officers, with the exception of HHC, Housing and CUNY police titles, will now be able to negotiate a contract separately from the union’s civilian members. “It is only the beginning of the process,” Floyd said, “but the fact that the city has agreed to allow us to bargain separately for our uniformed forces is a major step forward for the union and a boost for our peace officers.”

Haynes said even though Local 237’s peace officers in non-mayoral agencies will not be included this time around in the new bargaining group because the City Council law does not cover the Health and Hospitals Corporation, CUNY and NYCHA public safety officers, “the union is moving expeditiously to secure a similar law from the State Legislature, which has jurisdiction over these other members.”

He added that negotiations will continue, and the union will seek a contract similar to the one the city settled with the teachers union for the civilian citywide and housing division members.


Housing Authority

In other matters, the New York City Housing Authority, which is facing a huge cut in federal subsidies, said it plans to cut overtime to workers by one hour to save $4.5 million a year and avoid having to take further actions.

President Haynes, who called the action preferable to layoffs, said the loss amounted to losing one hour on Saturday and Sunday once a month.

“Our first obligation is to save jobs,” Haynes said. “We can’t forget that the Housing Authority has seen its budget reduced 40 percent over the past five years, and we’re fortunate we have not had people laid off as a result of these cuts.”

He added that while overtime has become an important part of the paycheck as members struggle to keep up with the cost of living in the city, it is not mandated by union contract and is offered solely at the discretion of the employer. “The fact of the matter is the Housing Authority cannot spend what they don’t have. If something has to be cut, overtime has to be the first.”