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To the editor:
Mayor Adams and DC 37 recently reached a tentative agreement for a 65-month contract raising wages 16.21 percent. Sounds good, no? Well, a quick search of the Department of Labor statistics page shows that from June 1 through Jan. 1 inflation increased by a cumulative 10.1 percent. That's only for the first few months of a retroactive 65-month contract period.
Unless there's a LOT of value hidden away in the details of the contract, inflation would have to be limited to 1 percent per year for the remainder of the contract for DC 37 members just to break even.
That isn't happening. Inflation for January was .5 percent. Mortgage rates are 6.5 percent today. And on, and on.
Even if inflation were tamed to a more limited 3 percent — and it's far from certain even that will be achieved — for the next four years, it would still leave DC 37 members' more than 7.5 percent behind where they were at the start of the contract.
Far be it for a member of one union to tell members of another what works for them, but there's zero percent chance that those numbers "will provide the economic framework for the city’s labor negotiations" with certain other unions, except as an example of how not to negotiate a contract.
Josh Lomask
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I understand everyone wants more to live a better life but what I see DC 37 got a fair contract with no give backs and no crazy back and forth arguments that usually settle for the same or less: I know the past proves to hold that the city would have delayed and forcast near zeros and contract negotiations barely start. Previous contracts weren’t even close to what I see here. So I think reality needs to sink in and grab something fair not great but far better than zeros and / or givebacks!!
Wednesday, March 1, 2023 Report this
Joel Frank
Yes, the world is round and the worker never keeps up with inflation. This is great for management but is detrimental to the worker. Wages should be indexed to inflation!
Social Security recipients received an 8.7 percent increase for 2023 because inflation increased by 8.7 percent during 2022. In November retirees will know what their inflation adjusted Social Security check will be for 2024. This is how you keep up with inflation-----as the world turns.
Thursday, March 2, 2023 Report this