Many decades ago the Delegate Assembly determined contract bargaining demands at monthly meetings, delegates would step to the microphone and move to add a demand, an up or down vote, the list of demands was long, very long.
A delegate asked, “Al, if we get everything, how much would it cost?”
Shanker stepped back from the mike, after a few seconds responded,” About a gold ball the size of Earth.”
The Public Employees Relations Board, (PERB), aka the Taylor Law regulates collective bargaining in New York State, two principles are “ability to pay” and “pattern bargaining,” unions under the same management, all NYC employees, the pattern is the same financial package. In the recently approved NYC budget 1.2% was set aside for negotiations.
Mamdani’s task will begin this summer, months before a contract with the city’s largest public sector union expires in November. That negotiation will then kick off the bargaining process with roughly 100 labor organizations that negotiate individually with the city.
While each union has its own work rules and specialized needs, the city employs a process known as pattern bargaining to avoid repetitive haggling over compensation: Whatever raise is negotiated with the first union in the cycle — typically a sizeable outfit like DC 37, which represents 90,000 city workers — that pay hike is applied to the rest, with a separate track for uniformed agencies.
The timing, though, makes it impossible for Mamdani to reflect the cost of these negotiations in his upcoming spending plan. He is required by law to pass the budget months before horse trading begins. The cost will then be added to the city’s ledger once the pattern is established, likely some time in the upcoming fiscal year barring extensive delays.
To partially offset the expected hit without weakening its bargaining position, the city has put aside enough money to cover a 1.25 percent annual pay hike. Actual increases will undoubtedly be higher.
Can the UFT craft a settlement that exceeds the pattern?
In 2005 after a lengthy period without a contract a controversial contract was approved by the membership (68%), a 15% raise in exchange for a two day a week extension of the school day for tutoring and professional development, the raise was well beyond the pattern for the other unions.
Contract negotiations are a craft and an art,
Shanker, Weingarten and Mulgrew understand building relationships, building coalitions is essential for unions to move forward, to serve the interests of the membership.
In June 2022, in the waning days of the legislative session, called “the big ugly,” hundreds of bills introduced by leadership were passed without debate, among the bills was the Class Size Reduction Bill. The bill will cost more than a billion dollars. Mayor Adams demanded the governor veto the bill. Governor Hochul’s lead in the November election was eroding, Hochul signed the bill and NYSUT endorsed her.
“Negotiating” class size means the cost of the additional staff comes out of the negotiated salary package, not viable, the implementation of Class Size Reduction Law is the responsibility of the city to implement and fund.
It was brilliant, an example of the vital importance of building relationships, especially among the key players. A sponsoring legislator was a parent with kids in public schools.
By agreeing to delaying the full implementation of the law, with teachers of oversize classes receiving stipends, the city saves a billion dollars and the UFT earns a “to be paid credit,” maybe in the upcoming contract negotiations.
In the last legislative session after a lengthy delay in approving the budget the Fix Tier 6 legislation was included in the budget, over the vigorous opposition of school districts across the state who have to pay for the “fix,” the legislative leadership pushed a reluctant governor.
I’m sure “…in the room where it happens” Mulgrew and legislative leaders agreed on “this” or “that.”
You might say, it shouldn’t be like that, everything should be above board, totally visible, you’re right; however in the real world relationships matter, and if you can’t live in the real world of politics, you should move aside. Deal Making is the currency of politics.
Local laws across the state prohibit “affordable housing,” claiming affordable housing would reduce the value of surrounding real estate. Hochul tried, without success, to pass a state law to override local housing codes. Bloomberg gave her five million to pay for ads across the state in exchange for eliminating the charter school cap in New York City. The legislature refused to pass the zoning code law and refused to eliminate the cap, it would have resulted in 100 new charter schools, about 5,000 fewer public school teachers. The legislature refused to fold, the budget was delayed weeks.
Why did the legislative leaders refuse the governor’s demands?
The UFT position is to endorse incumbents who have good labor/education voting records. UFT candidate endorsements meant more than Bloomberg’s hostility to the UFT, he blames us for thwarting his presidential ambitions. He never polled more than 3% and spent 100M of his own money. Hubris!
A number of DSA candidates this year ran against UFT endorsed incumbents, and won. By endorsing the incumbents, we expect them to support us. and we repay the incumbent’s support at the polls. If the DSA primary winners prevail in November, and support labor/ education in the legislature they will merit our support in the next election.
One of the opposition caucuses is creating an election platform, It would cost “a gold ball the size of Earth” and may result in a backlash that would significantly reduce pension and/or health benefits.
When I’ve asked opposition caucus folks how they’re going to achieve these demands I was told, “Prepare for a strike,” and “Threaten to oppose key legislators at the polls,”
alienating the folks who pass laws is not a viable strategy.
The opposition wants retirees to be able to vote on TRS trustee elections, currently only “contributors,” active members of the TRS can vote, this would involve passing a local law changing the administrative code and risk amendments to the law that might jeopardize pensions, is it worth the risk?
The NYS Constitution requires a question on the ballot every twenty years: whether to hold constitutional convention? If the question passes in the following year representatives would be elected across the state. The UFT has vociferously opposed the question due to one clause in the constitution, “Public employee pensions shall not be diminished or impaired.” Preventing the passage of harmful legislation can be more important than passing legislation.
I belong to Unity, a political caucus within the Union, think of it as a political party. We meet, discuss issues, the same as the political parties in the Congress and in Albany and support the decision made within our caucus, our political party.
In the Congress and Albany some bills are bi-partisan, supported by Republicans and Democrats, unfortunately the opposition parties in the UFT have chosen the negative pathway, throwing bricks instead of building with bricks.
Mulgrew and his staff deserve praise: dedicated, caring, committed to improving the day to day life of our members regardless of their caucus membership. Whether in 52 Broadway, a borough office or in Albany the “best and the brightest” represent us, kudos.
Ed in the Apple: Blogging on the Intersection of Education and Politics Title 