Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced that a tentative contract settlement has been reached with the Lieutenants Benevolent Association (LBA) on a collective bargaining agreement covering the twenty-six (26) month period from September 1, 2007 through October 31, 2009. The agreement provides a total compounded wage increase of 8.16%. The agreement, which is subject to ratification, covers over 1,600 supervisors in the Police Department. This contract settlement contains the same economic parameters as other settlements reached with the uniformed forces for the comparable time period, and it includes a two-month contract extension.

“The city’s current prosperity results in no small measure from the record reductions in crime that our police lieutenants have helped secure,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “They deserve our gratitude – and more. I’m pleased to announce that we have reached a tentative new contract settlement that will provide well-deserved pay increases for more than 1,600 members of the Lieutenants’ Benevolent Association. The LBA showed that with resourcefulness and hard work, a good collective bargaining agreement can be negotiated the old-fashioned way – across the bargaining table.”

“Congratulations to Mayor Bloomberg, Commissioner Hanley and LBA President Garvey on reaching this important accord,” said Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly. “We rely on our lieutenants to make the Police Department work as well as it does. That’s true of administrative lieutenants in station houses across the city, as it is of lieutenant Commanders of Detective Squads who each day direct our investigative efforts with outstanding results. Lieutenants help run our successful Operation Impact program. They play pivotal roles in every command and program from counter terrorism to community affairs. Our lieutenants deserve every increase and benefit achieved in this contract.” 

“The unique provisions of this contract clearly demonstrate the value of crafting one’s destiny at the bargaining table, and not relying on an independent arbitrator who knows nothing about the needs of our members,” said LBA President Anthony Garvey. “The infusion of money into the savings incentive plan that is part of this agreement is an example of this.”

The principal features of the settlement are:

• 4%, compounded, effective September 1, 2007
• 4%, compounded, effective September 1, 2008

At the end of this contract, a Lieutenant’s basic maximum salary will be $100,779.  With longevity pay, maximum salary will exceed $109,500. Those Lieutenants who receive special assignment pay, such as Supervisors of Detective Squads, will receive salary, including longevity pay, of $119,606. The wage increases, uniform differential and additional compensation fund combine for total increases in compensation of 9.75%. The compounded wage increase is 8.16%. 

The previous agreement between the City and the LBA called for the removal of two chart days for newly promoted lieutenants. Chart days are paid days off that accrue because of the way tours are scheduled. This agreement restores those two days so that both newly promoted and veteran lieutenants have the same number of chart days.

Additional Compensation

Effective October 1, 2008, there will be a $1,000 increase for each of the steps in the longevity schedule.  Effective October 31, 2009, there will be an additional $500 longevity increase on the steps.
 
Effective October 31, 2009, there will be a $100 per member increase in the City’s annual contribution to the welfare fund on behalf of active employees and retirees. There will also be a $1,000 lump sum payment made to the annuity fund on behalf of each active employee as of that date. Also on October 31, 2009, there will be a $3,000 one-time lump sum payment on behalf of each active eligible employee into the Savings Incentive Plan, an innovative program first introduced by the LBA during its last contract settlement.

Finally, effective September 1, 2007, the current number of budgeted positions for Lieutenants detailed or assigned to Special Assignment or Commanders of Detective Squads will double from about 5% to about 10% of the current bargaining unit.

The Mayor thanked Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, LBA President Anthony Garvey and his Committee, Labor Commissioner James F. Hanley and First Deputy Commissioner Pamela S. Silverblatt and their team, and Budget Director Mark Page and his staff for their efforts in reaching this Agreement.