 |
 |
Hello, this is Robert Zink, the recording secretary for the NYC PBA with our latest contract update. We concluded our third mediation session today at PERB. The following recaps those sessions and the next steps in our efforts to get us a fair contract. While we approached the mediation seriously, with the hopes of reaching a negotiated agreement, the city did not move off its position that the PBA accept 3%, 3.15% over the first two years of an agreement, consistent with settlements voluntarily agreed to by other police unions. The city was willing to discuss the possibility of a four- year agreement, but did not offer a specific percentage increase for years 3 and 4. For our part, we did not reject outright the concept of a four-year deal. However, we laid out two interests that we needed to be addressed in order to consider a four-year deal:
Not surprisingly in light of past practices, the city was unwilling to offer any alternatives to get us to a market rate. They insisted that a deal be pattern conforming and made no effort to address our competitive pay issues. As a result, the PERB mediator has concluded that nothing further can be accomplished in mediation. The mediator will communicate his conclusion to PERB. Therefore, it appears we are on our way to the PBA’s fifth arbitration in six rounds. While we have said repeatedly that the best way to get a contract is at the table, we will not voluntarily agree to a deal that will put us further behind our competitors in other local police jurisdictions. The PERB arbitration process will play out over future months. We will keep you updated as we go through that process. Thank you for calling the NYC PBA hotline. This is Robert Zink. |
October
20, 2006
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |