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An assessment of our union
Where we’re at
Over the past decade, the cost of living in New York City has risen, but for many of us, wages just aren't keeping up. Our contracts often take years to be negotiated and retain rules written for the workplaces of the last century, while other City unions have made important advances.
The Federal Consumer Price Index for the NYC area has risen nearly 37% between September 2016 and 2026. During that period, the base wage increases negotiated by DC37 total less than 29%. We compared our inflation-adjusted pay in 2016 to 2026 for our biggest titles, taking into account other changes over that period.
Our members do earn various Longevity and Recurring Increment Payments in addition to base pay, and certain titles have received separate adjustments (often due to job market pressures and our advocacy during "equity panel" negotiations). As a result, just over half of our titles now earn more base pay than 10 years ago, even accounting for inflation.
However, we found nearly half (44%) of our titles have had no real increase in base pay. This means that many entry level workers in our Local have less purchasing power than a similar entry level worker did 10 years ago
For those of us who have been working in our titles for the past 10 years, even when including all longevity and recurring increments, 39% have not beat inflation, within which an unfortunate 27% have actually seen their purchasing power decrease.
We should be negotiating contracts that at least keep base pay in line with inflation
Our unit contracts have not adjusted to changing working conditions or increased productivity expectations, while other City unions have won significant limits to workload and staffing issues
In the past 15 years, when economic contracts expire we waited an average of over 2 years for our next raises. During those long delays, inflation continues to increase the cost of living and we struggle to keep up
What we’ve done
We have volunteered countless hours to lead the Local’s largest campaigns in recent history. We know what our members' priorities are, which has shaped our vision to build Local 768 into a union capable of fighting to win these priorities.
Many of our candidates are long-time leaders in Local 768, and we have led efforts to change how we approach contract negotiations as well as how we engage and organize our members.
As stewards, chapter leaders and officers, we have involved thousands of members in developing and confirming our priorities
We have transformed our Local from one where just a few dozen members attended sporadic meetings to consistently engaging nearly 40% of our members in meaningful campaigns. Outside of formal bargaining, some of these campaigns have won significant victories.
What we've seen
The status-quo for DC37 is secret bargaining and inconsistent representation for members. This severely limits our ability to negotiate for what we deserve and to fairly represent members using the contracts we already have.
Secret bargaining: The status quo for both the City and even DC37 is to exclude members from secretive bargaining sessions. Even the union’s demands are secret, and members are asked to lower their expectations.
Limiting our power: The last DC37 “contract campaign” started a year after the prior contract expired, included a single rally with 1-2% of members and wearing a sticker 8 months later. Stronger unions do more.
Limited contract ratification: While we do vote on the overall ‘economic agreements’, DC37 chooses not to submit changes to our unit contracts to the membership for ratification.
Inconsistent representation: DC37 Council Rep assignments have shifted continuously over the past 5 years, undermining the quality and availability of representation
The opportunity ahead
Mayor Mamdani, likely the most labor-friendly Mayor NYC has seen in generations, presents an opportunity to win enforceable contract improvements that can protect us well into the future.
Without aggressive bargaining, we will not make up for the losses we’ve endured in the past 10 years. Now is the time to raise our expectations of what we can win and fight for it with all the power we can build.
Our Vision
As leaders of Local 768, we will
Strengthen and expand the number of title-based chapters
Improve our support to MAT Leaders and Shop Stewards
Continue to involve members in contract bargaining
Organize more regular work-site meetings
Maintain accessible online membership meetings, while adding improved hybrid options
Improve communication to members, including honest reports regarding DC37
As your representatives to DC37, we will advocate for
A more open bargaining process: Let's change the strategy, and be open about what we need
Using our power and raising expectations: Union power comes from our members; If we aren’t mobilizing in aggressive, public contract fights, we aren’t using our full power to fight for what we deserve.
Implementing members voting on major decisions: A basic promise of the labor movement is to give working people more control over their lives by extending democracy from the ballot box to the workplace. Our union can play a role in this by giving members more say over matters like unit contracts that affect our lives.
Increasing Local union authority and resources: Like DC37 and its Local unions, many unions have complex structures, but keeping all authority and information at the top does not make a union more powerful.
Tax the rich: The City's budget may be limited, but the rich can and should pay more. We must help build the coalition to force this change in Albany, so that
Inviting dissent and differing view points: Dissent is healthy. We believe the union is strongest when members are able to disagree with each other and work through differences together. As former DC37 Executive Director Victor Gotbaum said, “If the old guard demands loyalty and unity… using it to cloak honest, constructive dissent… we will be in trouble. … the Labor movement was born in dissent.”