By Bob Hennelly 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration and a coalition of 11 unions representing more than 32,000 uniformed officers have reached a tentative contract deal that raises pay 3.25 percent in the first two years, 3.50 percent in the third and fourth year, with a 4 percent bump in the fifth and final year.

“And this agreement underscores how important our uniformed officers are to our city’s success — they are the bedrock that this city is built on — that we must be safe — the perquisite to our prosperity — as I have said over and over again — is public safety and justice,” Mayor Adams told reporters at the June 16 press briefing. “This is a great deal for workers and fair to city taxpayers.”

With this pact that covers the FDNY, NYPD, Corrections and the Department of Sanitation, Mayor Adams has deals with unions that represent three-quarters of city municipal workers, a significant accomplishment ten days before voters have their last chance to pick their municipal candidates. 

In legislative primaries when turnout is usually low, unions can play a pivotal role in marshaling turnout and Mayor Adams has not been bashful about weighing in on intra-party contests.

The tentative agreement aligns with the economic pattern established under the Police Benevolent Association settlement in April, and tracks the agreements with District Council 37 in February and the United Federation of Teachers earlier this week.

The covered unions were the Detectives Endowment Association (DEA), the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), the Lieutenants Benevolent Association (LBA), the Captains Endowment Association (CEA), the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA), the Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA), the Correction Officers Benevolent Association (COBA), the Correction Captains Association (CCA), the Assistant Deputy Wardens (ADW), the Sanitation Officers Association (SOA), and the Uniformed Sanitation Chiefs Association (USCA).

 The $4 billion deal runs through Fiscal Year 2027 and falls within what the Adams administration set aside in its Labor Reserve in its Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget. Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion told reporters that .21 percent of the economic benefit of the contract will go “to address retention and recruitment issues” when OLR sits down individually with the unions to resolve non-economic issues.

“I will say members are very happy with the speed with which we reached an

agreement on the economic portions of the contract,” Andy Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, told Work-Bites.  “It is clear to us that Eric Adams understands what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck as a former member of the uniform services.” 

He added that the union “hoped that we can continue to see eye to eye in the unit bargaining phase on multiple health and safety issues we plan on bringing up, like being more proactive about mitigating the long-term cancer risks we face.”

“The UFOA is proud of the work our uniform coalition put in to reach this agreement,” said Jim McCarthy, president, Uniformed Officers Association, in a statement. “The FDNY fire officers will have increases in their current wages and are assured raises in the next few years. We look forward to continuing with our unit bargaining and improving the benefits of our active and retired members.”

McCarthy told Work-Bites that his union is still negotiating issues surrounding training and compensation for when his members have to participate in active terrorist events that require wearing bullet proof gear.

“We want our members to be trained to the proficiency standards not just as awareness level—it’s a brand-new skill that’s not firefighting—involving new military style equipment,” McCarthy said. The UFOA leader said the union also was hoping to get a differential rate to compensate for the additional risk but said “right now, the city is offering zero."

 “The era of defunding and dismantling our essential workforce is over,” said Benny Boscio, president, Corrections Officers Benevolent Association. “The COBA executive board and I extend our deepest gratitude to Mayor Adams and his administration for understanding the gravity of the crisis we have faced for the past several years and addressing our concerns with a significant wage increase that reflects the tremendous sacrifices we have made and continue to make in keeping New York City safe.”

“The Detectives’ Endowment Association has been at the bargaining table tirelessly on behalf of our members for months because we know how much these highly skilled men and women are worth,” said Paul DiGiacomo, president of the Detectives Endowment Association. “This salary increase proves that Mayor Adams and his administration realize how important NYPD detectives are to New York City. For that, the union is grateful.”

During the City Hall press conference Mayor Adams was asked about the city’s negotiations with the unions that represent FDNY EMS, DC 37 Local 2507 and DC 36 Local 3621, who have been trying for years to attain pay parity with their firefighter co-workers. Both unions have sued the city for employment discrimination alleging that their members, who are primarily women and people of color, are paid significantly less than firefighters that are mostly male and white. 

Adams stepped away from the podium and had Campion respond. “We will be bargaining with them, and I look forward to those conversations,” she said.

Back in June 2021, at a lower Manhattan rally amidst the pandemic when the EMS union endorsed Mayor Adams, he said EMS deserved “more than a hand clap at 7:00 p.m. They need pay equity.”  

The Mayor racking up of settled contracts for active workers comes as his administration continues to try and strip municipal retirees of their traditional Medicare coverage and force them into a privatized, profit-driven program run by insurance industry giant Aetna. 

The New York City Organization of Public Service Employees has filed a class-action lawsuit and is seeking a preliminary injunction in New York State Supreme Court to put the brakes on the administration’s plans.

This upcoming week, City Council Member Charles Barron is expected to introduce proposed legislation aimed at protecting and preserving traditional Medicare coverage for municipal retirees. Co-sponsors so far, include Council Members Lynn Schulman and Inna Vernikov.

Municipal retirees and their supporters will hold a noontime rally outside City Hall in support of Council Member Barron’s introduction on Thursday, June 22 at Broadway and Park Place.