DC 37 and City reach tentative agreement on two-year contract

On November 3, District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts (center) and DC 37 local presidents joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg and administration officials at City Hall to announce a two-year tentative agreement. The contract provides a total of 8.26% in wage hikes for 100,000 city employees represented by the union and covers the period from March 3, 2008 through March 2, 2010.

It includes a 4 % increase on base salary retroactive to March 3, 2008, a 4 % compounded increase on March 3, 2009 and on the last day of the contract the general wage increases will be applied to such items as assignment differentials, uniform allowances, longevity and service increments for an overall value of 8.26%.

Roberts called it "a sound economic package" and added that in "the current economic climate, it is a good deal for the hard-working members of DC 37. " She also said it was "an acknowledgement of the value of the services provided by DC 37's hard-working members and the fact that these services are vital to the quality of life in New York City and must be maintained."

District Council 37 with 125,000 members and 50,000 retirees is the largest public employee union in New York City.