US (Washington Insider Magazine) – NYPD, Corrections, Fire and Sanitation employees who are represented by their unions reached a tentative agreement to receive annual increases for five years, between 3.25% and 4%, while advocates of legal aid organizations demand the Mayor that also invest resources in them
After intense negotiations with the City of New York, more than 32,000 workers from the Big Apple’s four uniformed personnel agencies reached a tentative agreement to receive a substantial salary increase, with which they will see increases in their salaries in a period of five years. Members of unions covered by the agreement will receive compounded, retroactive wage increases of 3.25% the first year, 3.25% the second year, 3.50% the third year, 3.50% the fourth year and 4.00% the fifth year.
This was announced this Thursday by the mayor, Eric Adams, at the headquarters of the Municipal Administration, where he was together with the commissioner of the Office of Labor Relations (OLR), Renee Campion, and members of the Coalition of Uniformed Officers Unions (UOC ), which represents 11 unions from the NYPD, the Fire Department, the Sanitation agency and the Department of Corrections, who described the tentative contract, which must now be ratified, as recognition of the work they do for the City of NY.
“As a former union member and retired with the rank of captain in the New York City Police Department, I am proud to have reached this important agreement with the Uniformed Officers Coalition,” said Mayor Adams. “The men and women who work tirelessly to keep our city clean and safe deserve a fair wage, and this settlement is a concrete demonstration of our gratitude for their efforts.”
Renee Campion, Commissioner of the Office of Labor Relations (OLR), said that the agreement underscores the Mayor’s commitment to “invest in the city’s most valuable resource: our people.”
Benny Boscio, president of COBA (Union of City Prison Officers) assured that the agreement with the City will alleviate the serious crisis that uniformed workers have faced in recent years.
“This economic package is a significant investment in both the future of our workforce and the future of our prisons,” said the union leader. “We look forward to continuing our productive conversations in our unit bargaining sessions and negotiating the best possible contract for the boldest in New York City.”
Keechant L. Sewell, the outgoing commissioner of the NYPD, mentioned that the increases for employees of uniformed agencies such as the police are more than deserved.
“This new and significant agreement is good news for our uniformed investigators, supervisors and executives, who work around the clock to ensure public safety in every neighborhood in New York City,” said the official, who submitted her resignation to the charge a couple of days ago. “Her work of hers has helped us achieve continued crime reductions, both last year and this year, including double-digit decreases in shootings, shooting victims, and homicides. The city is fortunate to have these truly dedicated public servants, and I am proud that this agreement reflects a recognition of their continued contributions to our common good.”
The Commissioner of the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), Laura Kavanagh, joined the comments of support for the increases achieved and assured that they are necessary.
“The men and women of the FDNY are in danger and keeping our city safe is not possible without them. A group of dedicated public servants, consistently operate without hesitation and demonstrate courage at all times, so this agreement is recognition of that hard work and dedication.”
And although the tentative increase was welcomed by other sectors that are part of the security and legal system of the Big Apple, the call is not to leave vital groups aside and they asked the Mayor to demonstrate his support through investments in budget.
“While we appreciate that Mayor Adams has recognized the importance and significant role advocates play in serving the public, this must come with increased funding in the fiscal year 2024 budget,” said Tina Luongo, senior counsel for Criminal Defense Practice of the Legal Aid Society. “Law enforcement members are not the only players in the criminal legal system, and the City has a moral and legal obligation to ensure that public defender organizations, which employ thousands of union employees throughout New York, are also fully funded.
The advocate noted that due to years of stagnant investment, Legal Aid and other local advocate offices face enormous attrition and staffing challenges, threatening the collective ability to continue to zealously represent low-income New Yorkers accused of a crime.
When one side of the system is fully funded and the other neglected, it’s our clients, New Yorkers from communities of color, who have the most to lose,” the attorney warned. “A budget is a ‘values’ document, and if the Mayor really values the work we do by constitutional mandate, the next city budget should provide the resources we need and have long sought.”
The total cost of the deal through 2027 is estimated to be approximately $4 billion, money the City says is fully covered by funds set aside in the fiscal year 2024 executive budget.
This article is originally published on eldiariony.com