Release #408-98

Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958
Curt Ritter (212) 788-2971

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today announced that a tentative settlement has been reached between the City and with the 1,400-member Lieutenants Benevolent Association (LBA). Subject to ratification, the agreement will be retroactive to August 1, 1995 and will expire November 30, 2000.

If ratified, the 64-month contract will provide a wage rate increase of 3 percent effective August 1, 1997, a 3 percent increase on November 1,1998 and a 6 percent increase on October 1, 1999. For lieutenants promoted on or after November 1,1998, the increases shall be 3 percent, 1.35 percent and 6 percent. It also provides for elimination of a step in the salary schedule, Welfare Fund increases, longevity increases, annuity increases and a series of lump sum payments to the Annuity Fund.

There are no wage increases for the first twenty-four months of the contract. Contract language concerning the "48 hour rule," which grants lieutenants 48 hours before they can be interrogated, will be deleted. The agreement follows the uniformed pattern for this round of bargaining, and monies set aside in the City's labor reserves funded the package.

"This agreement reflects the City's steadfast commitment to fiscal prudence," said Mayor Giuliani. "I would like to congratulate Deputy Mayor Randy Levine, Police Commissioner Safir, and Labor Commissioner James F. Hanley and his staff at the Office of Labor Relations, hard work on this agreement which allowed us to move into new areas once thought unattainable."

The settlement is consistent with the pattern established in all earlier uniformed and civilian settlements with the unions in this round of bargaining including the SBA, DEA, PBA, the UFOA, the UFA, COBA and USA, the municipal coalition of unions and the UFT. It reflects the City's ability and desire to adequately compensate its uniformed force workers for the critical and vital services that they perform.

The terms of the agreement include no wage increases for the first 24 month period of the agreement, and:

• a 3% rate increase effective August 1, 1997,

• a 3% rate increase effective November 1, 1998, except for Lieutenants promoted after November 1,1998, who shall receive a 1.35% increase,

• a 6% rate increase effective October 1, 1999,

• elimination of a step of the salary schedule for Lieutenants promoted on or after July 1, 1990, which enables them to reach maximum salary one year earlier,

• an increase of $1,245 total to the current levels of longevity to be given in four scheduled increments,

• increases to the annuity fluid of $253.17 per annum ($.97/day) effective August 1, 2000 and $300.15 per annum ($1.15) effective October 1, 2000,

• an Increase of $75 to the welfare fund for active and retired employees effective August 1, 2000, and

• five scheduled lump sum payments to tile annuity fund of $204, $134, $93, $54, and $37.