MORE APPLE UNIONS SET TO SAY: ME, TOO!

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05222008/news/regionalnews/more_apple_unions_set_to_say__me__too__112023.htm

By DAVID SEIFMAN, City Hall Bureau Chief

May 22, 2008 -- At least half a dozen uniformed-workers unions are weighing whether to reopen their contracts to try to match the raises awarded by an arbitrator to the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, officials said yesterday.

The detectives union said it intends to invoke the reopener clause in its contract to "recapture the difference" between the 3 percent and 3.15 percent raises they settled for and the 4.5 percent and 5 percent raises won by the PBA for Aug. 1, 2004 to July 31, 2006.



The detectives union said it intends to invoke the reopener clause in its contract to "recapture the difference" between the 3 percent and 3.15 percent raises they settled for and the 4.5 percent and 5 percent raises won by the PBA for Aug. 1, 2004 to July 31, 2006.

But the police raises came with significant givebacks that the other unions are reluctant to accept, especially the surrender of 10 vacation days each year for five years for cops hired after July 1.

With the givebacks, city officials put the value of the PBA deal at 7.41 percent, or 1.16 percent more than other unions received.

"I don't believe in giving up anything that other union presidents and the work force fought for," said Harry Nespoli, president of the sanitation workers union.

"Ten vacation days for new employees for five years, that's a lot of vacation days ."

FULL story at link.