New York, NY – April 29, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The New York City District Council of Carpenters’ Delegate Body ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement Thursday that provides a 16.6% wage and benefit increase over the life of the contract.
“Passing this agreement helps stabilize the unionized construction industry after a long and arduous process,” said Michael Bilello, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the New York City District Council of Carpenters. “This contract will increase pay and benefits as well as grow the type of jobs New Yorkers need.”
Under the new agreement between the District Council (DC) and the Association of Wall, Ceiling & Carpentry Industries of New York (Wall & Ceiling Association), the largest employer association in the DC., members will see a $6.93 per hour increase in their wage and benefit package within the first three months of implementation and another $7.20 per hour bump within the next three years.
In 2012, the Wall & Ceiling Association provided approximately 5.8 million work hours for members. Those hours are projected to increase due to the negotiated terms and conditions ratified in the new contract. The wage and benefit package will also rise to $99.16 per hour on July 1, 2016, which is the beginning of the final year of the contract. That’s nearly a 17% increase from its current level of $85.03 an hour.
In addition, through increased hourly contributions, the ratified agreement will safe-guard the District Council’s Health and Welfare funds, which are vital to active and retired members and their dependents. The Delegate Body had earlier voted to allocate the first $2.59 of the impending raises to the District Council Welfare Fund for medical and hospitalization coverage.
The new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was approved Thursday night by a Delegate Body roll call vote of 48-34. Besides the significant wage and benefit increases, the CBA provides for more favorable staffing provisions for members of the New York City District Council and for enforcement provisions to insure compliance with the terms and conditions and to prevent corruption. The Delegates also established a standing rule by which CBAs will be ratified by a roll call vote going forward. As ordered, the results of Thursday’s ratification were forwarded to Federal District Court Judge Richard M. Berman for final approval.
“We are looking forward to growing the industry and increasing good jobs for the hard working members of the New York City District Council and Wall & Ceiling contractors,” said Bilello.
With more than 20,000 members in eight locals, the New York City & Vicinity District Council of Carpenters is one of the largest, most powerful trade unions in the construction industry.
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Kwame Abasi Patterson
Director of Communications | NYC District Council
O (212) 366-7326 | C (646) 465-1841
395 Hudson Street | New York, NY 10014
Kpatterson (at) nycdistrictcouncil (dot) org |
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