Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced that the Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) Impasse Panel has awarded a 10% wage increase to the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association.  The award is consistent with the City's pattern for collective bargaining.The additional increases over the pattern established by the City and other unions are funded through cost-savings and productivity.  The award covers a two-year period from August 1, 2002 through July 31, 2004.

"Our Police Officers provide exemplary services under extraordinary conditions and have made New York the safest big city in America," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "Today's decision contains the necessary cost-savings and productivity to give our Police Officers the increases they deserve.  It has been this administration's goal to have a more flexible, efficient and better paid workforce and this award furthers that goal. Because of this decision, we will provide better service to the public through more efficient deployment of our Police Officers.  This will reduce overtime costs and generate the cost savings necessary to pay our Police Officers more."

The principal features of the award include:

• The 10% increase is funded through 3.2% from the City-wide collective bargaining pattern, 5.5% from cost savings and productivity and an historic uniform differential;
  
  
• A 5% increase on August 1, 2002, the first day of the contract, and another 5% increase compounded on August 1, 2003, the first day of the 13th month of the contract, except as provided for newly hired employees;
  
  
• A new salary schedule for new hires;
  
  
• A new hiring rate for Police Academy Cadets;
  
  
• Elimination of the Yearly Personal Leave Day for all employees;
  
  
• An increase in rescheduling days to 15.  Rescheduling days allow the Police Department optimal flexibility to reschedule employees without the payment of pre or post-tour overtime.

"This award maintains the City's commitment to attain fiscally responsible settlements that provide value to the taxpayers and the Union's desire to achieve fair treatment and compensation for their members," concluded Mayor Bloomberg.  "I would like to thank the members of the Board for their service to New York, and commend the Office of Labor Relations and Management and Budget for their diligence and commitment to our City."