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District, unions strike early labor deal
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WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The District government and 9,000 of its employees have reached an agreement on a four-year, $118 million contract that includes a 15 percent pay increase, Metro subsidies and a contribution toward affordable housing initiatives.
The collective bargaining agreement with seven major unions covers employees at roughly 27 District agencies working in professional, technical, clerical, administrative, trade and craft positions. It will take effect Oct. 1, once the existing contract expires, and last through fiscal 2010.
“We’re managing costs, but we’re also helping our employees while the cost of living continues to increase,” said Mayor Anthony Williams, who announced the deal during his weekly press briefing.
The deal was “hard fought,” said City Administrator Robert Bobb, whose office led the eight months of negotiations.
“It does fit within our budget, and it offers our employees other benefits that are crucial to their quality of life,” Bobb said.
The contract includes a 3 percent pay increase effective Oct. 1, followed by raises of 3.25 percent and 4 percent during the next three years. The District agreed to provide $25 per month to each employee as a mass transit subsidy and to contribute a quarter percent of all base wages toward affordable housing initiatives.
Also, most employees will now have the option of a defined-benefit pension plan, which would guarantee a monthly salary after retirement.
George Johnson, the unions’ chief negotiator, praised Williams for forging a strong bond with labor groups. Such early agreement on the deal is rare, Johnson said.
“It wasn’t an easy run,” he said. “We sat there many a night, many a long hour during this battle. But in the end nobody went away a loser.”
The District opens talks with its unions a year and a half before a contract is slated to expire, a city negotiator said. All existing agreements are up to date, though talks with firefighters and city attorneys will start again soon.
mneibauer@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
2:13 PM MST on Thu., May. 10, 2007 re: "County workers union rejects pension changes"
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5:24 AM MST on Wed., May. 9, 2007
re: "County workers union rejects pension changes"
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6:36 AM MST on Fri., May. 4, 2007
re: "Union rejects health care offer"
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Examiner Reader said:
I am not sure where Ms. Malarkey is getting her information from, There is no "Law requiring governments to prefund retirement benefits." There is however GASB which is an accounting standard that has governments accounting for and paying for other post employment benefits, ie. health care, so they will be able to maintain their AAA bond ratings. Within GASB there is no mention of pensions. I sure do wish that reporters would verify their facts prior to printing such information. It should also be noted that this article depicts the union memebers in a positive light, which is good, but recent artcles about the BCFPE appeared to show the union as the "BAD GUYS". Thank you Ms. Malarkey for your true and honest information. Not.
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Examiner Reader said:
finaly, a union that has sence to protect their members rather than line the pockets of a few. Thank You ASCME How many of the members of the other Unions voted to ratify because they were strong armed . Every employee out there should be writing to their Councilman right now and letting them know how this retirement proposal affects their family .and demand that the portion affecting prior and existing employees be removed..not approved, whether you voted to ratify or not.
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Examiner Reader said:
I am a little confused by Johnny Olzewski's comment --- The future action hings on the FPE vote? There are 6 unions in Baltimore County, why does the future of all employees depend on this one vote? The contract was ratified by a vote of 152 to 146! Since the majority of the members (corrections and 911) were given a two step upgrade, those numbers say a lot. 146 people were willing to give up the upgrades to protect their benefits. And what about the other 1300 employees represented by this union, many who are on the low end of the pay scale and can not afford to join for the right to vote. These changes affect them also. Remember councilman, you are in an elected position. These are not just employees, they are tax payers!
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