Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced a tentative settlement by the Day Care Council of New York with District Council 1707, Local 205, AFSCME, subject to ratification by the union membership, on an overall collective bargaining agreement covering approximately 7,000 Employees at 346 day care centers located throughout the City. The agreement includes a 14% wage increase over the 63 months of the contract. The last contract between the Day Care Council of New York and Local 205 expired December 31, 2000. The new contract covers all Teachers, Cooks, Custodians, Office Workers, Teaching Assistants and Caseworkers working in these Centers for the sixty-three month period from January 1, 2001 through March 31, 2006. 

“The members of Local 205 provide an invaluable service to the people of New York,” said Mayor Bloomberg.  “There are few jobs more important than taking care of New York’s most precious resource – our children.  These hard working men and women deserve our heart felt thanks and respect for the invaluable service they provide to working parents across the City.  We applaud the Day Care Council and Local 205 for having reached an agreement today that will more adequately compensate these employees for their tremendous efforts in continuing to improve the quality of day care services to the children and families of New York City.”     

The principal features of the Agreement include:

• A 9% general wage increase effective January 1, 2005;
• A one-time $1,000 lump sum cash payment per employee upon ratification;
• A 3% general wage increase effective January 1, 2005;  
• A 2% general wage increase effective April 1, 2005, which will be funded by productivity improvements and other operational savings;
• Productivity savings include an 11% reduction in the starting salary, a 3-day per year reduction in sick leave and a 2-day per year reduction in annual leave for new hires.

“We wish to thank Mayor Bloomberg for persevering in finding an outcome that recognizes the fact that day care employees are deserving of fair and equitable wages and benefits,” said Raglan George, Executive Director of D.C. 1707.  “It took a very long time to reach this agreement, but at long last we have a meaningful economic package.”

“District Council 1707 has shown remarkable appreciation for the City’s commitment to be fiscally prudent in funding contracted services by reaching this agreement with the Day Care Council,” said Mayor Bloomberg.  “This agreement provides fair treatment and compensation for 1707’s members while remaining within the funding parameters necessary for the long-term fiscal health of the City.  I want to thank Deputy Mayor Marc V. Shaw, Labor Commissioner James F. Hanley, Pamela S. Silverblatt and their team, Mark Page, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and his staff, Administration for Children Services Commissioner John B. Mattingly, the leadership of the Day Care Council of New York, Lee Saunders, Executive Assistant to the President of AFSCME and the leadership of District Council 1707 for all of their efforts in reaching this Agreement.”