Dear Sisters and Brothers,

The Union and the City met for three days: Wednesday, June 25, Monday, June 30, and Tuesday, July 1, 2014, and engaged in intense contract negotiations. Late Tuesday night, a tentative agreement was reached. 53 Local Presidents, including myself, participated in these negotiations. Being the voice of our Local 375 members, I made many attempts to change the 1%, 1%, 1% to at least a 2%, 2%, 2% for the first 3 years (2011, 2012, 2013) to improve the proposal, but this is a democratic process. In the end, the outcome is as follows:

- The proposal is for a period of 88 months from March 3, 2010 to July 2, 2017.

There will be a ratification bonus of $1,000 for everyone who is on the payroll at the time of ratification.

- The total wage increases compounded will be 10.41% distributed as follows:

• September 3, 2011: 1%

• September 3, 2012: 1% compounded

• September 3, 2013: 1% compounded

• September 3, 2014: 1.5% compounded

• September 3, 2015: 2.5% compounded

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

On May 1, 2014, the United Federation of teachers and the Department of Education announced that they have come to a tentative agreement on a contract. The proposed contract includes 18% in raises: retroactive payments of 4% & 4% for two years, from November 1 2009 to October 31 2011 and 10% over 7 years as follows: 1% starting May 1, 2013; 1% starting May 1, 2014;1% starting May 1, 2015; 1.5% starting May 1, 2016; 2.5% starting May 1, 2017; 3% starting May 1, 2018. UFT members will also receive a ratification bonus of $1,000 pensionable. The retroactive money will be distributed in increments over a 5-year period starting October 1, 2015 and ending October 1, 2020.There will be significant Health care savings expected for fiscal years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, without any adverse impact on the healthcare benefits to the members.
     One very significant aspect of this negotiation is the fact that members are guaranteed not to pay towards their healthcare coverage, at least until 2018 when there will be a new round of bargaining. Also important, there will be additional money in the welfare funds for prescription drugs coverage, or improvement in the dental, podiatry or optical plan. Maintaining the healthcare benefits for the members and their families without additional costs to them is a big relief and a significant achievement. Not every union has achieved that, for example, the TWU members must now pay 2% of their salary towards their healthcare coverage, State workers pay a significant percentage of their healthcare expenses. For those of you who are familiar with healthcare costs, you know how important it is to maintain the healthcare benefits.
     With the UFT contract now settled and the pattern established, we can expect our own contract with the City to be settled soon. 

Greetings Sisters & Brothers:

I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to join me in this discussion on the most critical issues facing our Local today.

Our meeting today marks the beginning of a series of discussions on the issues facing public sector workers in the City. Top of the list on the agenda is the issue of privatization.  Work that can be done more efficiently and economically by civil servants has been farmed out to private contractors for far too long.  City Hall and the unions must find a way to reverse the practice of farming out and bring the work back to the City’s unionized workforce.

The one-in-three rule which allows managers to selectively exclude some workers from civil service appointments and promotions must be repealed and replaced with a commitment to hire workers based upon their merit and fitness for the position as determined by their score on the relevant civil service exam.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the public sector workers of this city have gone far too long without a contract.  City Hall must sit down with the leaders of labor and commit to a contract that provides those who serve this city with a salary that is fair and allows these workers and their families to enjoy the benefits that this city has to offer.

Again, I thank you for coming today and I look forward to working with you to tackle these important issues. (Please click here for full Booklet)

In Solidarity.
Claude Fort, P.E.
President, Local 375

Sisters and Brothers

News from AFSCME
"Our union is under a highly coordinated and heavily funded attack by those who believe workers should have no right to collective bargaining or a contract. They are stripping our members of their basic rights in places like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana. In the Harris v. Quinn case now before the Supreme Court, they seek to effectively outlaw collective bargaining for public employees. It is an unprecedented, relentless effort to steal union members' voices, power and financial security." Those were the words of AFSCME President Lee Saunders in a message to all AFSCME members.

Organizing Campaign
Sisters and Brothers we are asking you to join us in a campaign to get agency fee payers, non-members to sign the union card to become full members before the Supreme Court ruling comes out in June. We as a union and you as public workers have a lot to lose. Losing this case would seriously damage the Union and its ability to defend, protect and fight for you and your benefits could be seriously affected. Let's stand together to fight back. Let's organize to get all agency fee payers become full members. Let's unite for a stronger community, a stronger and larger middle class, a better society and a better life not only for us and our families, but for every worker in this City and every worker in every City in this country, and for every worker everywhere.

Contract

Please Click on the link to open the document

Grievance Wins
Our Union has won more than one million dollars in grievances and promotions for our members over the past 13 months.  Last week, we won salary increases for two members at DDC in the amount of $9,200.00 plus backpay in the amount of $30,000.00 for each. Thanks to the improved working relationship between the union and Transit management, we won nearly eighty (80) promotions at the NYC Transit in addition to 150 new hires.

Contract
Contract talks have started with the Municipal Labor Committee (MLC). DC 37 will meet with the City representatives within a month to talk about raises and other aspects of the contract. We stand firm  for a decent raise for our members, full retroactive raises for the past four years  and no givebacks.

Dear Sisters and Brothers of Local 375,

Local 375 is in the process of petitioning the New York City Office of Collective Bargaining to add the following Managerial level I titles to our bargaining unit:

Administrative Architect, Level 1
Administrative City Planner
Administrative Construction Project Manager, Level I
Administrative Housing Development Specialist, Level I
Administrative (Buildings), Level 1
Administrative (Electrical), Level 1
Administrative Landmarks Preservationist, Level 1
Administrative Landscape Architect, Level
Administrative Management Auditor, Level 1

Attached please, find for your information (CLICK HERE), a copy of the application and course description for the Professional Development Hours (PDH) workshops to be offered during June 16, 2014 through July 21, 2014. This application will be published in the District Council 37 website (www.dc37.net/benefits/education/offerings/engineers.html).

For any further information contact me at 212-815-1698or dmedina@dc37.net .

Dear Sisters and Brothers of Local 375,

On Wednesday February 12, 2014, Mayor De Blasio will unveil his preliminary budget for the fiscal year 2014-2015. Three hundred thousand (300,000) City workers without a contract for years are waiting to see what he will put in the budget for collective bargaining. The teachers 'union is asking for $3.4 billion  to cover retroactive payments that include the last 4%, 4% they did not receive when other unions got their raises in 2009.

As the 152 unions without a contract are getting ready for these serious talks, we must take a firm stand that, although we understand the challenge the new mayor is facing, it is not our fault if the City has to spend billions of dollars to settle overdue contracts. We will be realistic in our demands, but we will not compromise on a decent contract with retroactive pay for the past four years and without any givebacks. I will keep you informed as this process develops. Thank you for your patience and continuous support.
In solidarity!
Claude Fort, P.E., President - Local 375

On Monday February 10, 2014, Mayor De Blasio delivered his first
State of the City address. Click here to read his message.