Q&A
OLR's efforts in workforce retention and union negotiations
1:42:20
·
136 sec
Council Member Carmen De La Rosa inquires about the Office of Labor Relations' (OLR) role in improving workforce retention and the impact of vacancies on union negotiations. Daniel Pollak, First Deputy Commissioner of OLR, responds by highlighting their recent achievements and strategies.
- Successfully negotiated contracts with unions representing 97% of the city workforce
- Implemented general wage increases exceeding 16% for the contract period
- Introduced initiatives like remote work pilots and targeted funding for challenging positions
Carmen De La Rosa
1:42:20
Are you going to I do have a few questions.
1:42:23
Well, let me first ask a question of OLR, and then we wanna get a little bit into the consulting contracts.
1:42:30
But, for OLR, what role has your office played in improving workforce retention?
1:42:38
And then has the number of vacancies in the city's workforce impacted OLR's negotiation with unions at this point?
Daniel Pollak
1:42:45
Thank you very much for that question, council member.
1:42:47
So, we're very proud that over the last, year and a half, a little bit more, we've successfully negotiated contracts with unions representing 97% of the city workforce, and the, you know, at that time, at the time we entered into negotiations for this round, you know, we were acutely aware of some of the challenges with recruitment and retention that agencies face.
1:43:08
And it was very much a priority for us in those negotiations.
1:43:12
So in addition to, you know, the general wage increases, which, you know, totaled excess of 16% for the contract period, which, obvious, I would think would, you know, greatly aided in recruitment and retention, There were also other aspects of our agreements that were focused on recruitment and retention.
Kadian Outar
1:43:27
Mhmm.
Daniel Pollak
1:43:29
We, as, Henry Garrido testified, we agreed to a remote work and a compressed work pilot with DC 37, which, you know, we've we've heard has, you know, we've heard from agencies, positive reception to that, that that's, they've seen that improve recruitment and retention.
1:43:45
We also, in many of our contracts, dedicated funding, specifically for titles that were facing challenges.
1:43:52
Again, you know, mister Direto spoke to the, equity fund that we created with DC 37 that, among other things, created, you know, bonuses for caseworkers at HRA, which is in effect right now, and and numerous other kind of targeted efforts to increase salaries or or create bonuses or, otherwise address, places where we really saw the greatest challenges.
1:44:16
You mentioned probation.
1:44:18
Probation officers, we reached a contract agreement with them, a couple months ago.
1:44:22
That agreement created a whole new salary structure.
1:44:25
It increased the starting salary by about 30%.
1:44:28
So, you know, we have been aware of that.
1:44:30
We have worked with our unions who, obviously, are very concerned about that as well to to try to address that best we can in our agreements.
1:44:34
One of the, sectors of the workforce that I'm very concerned about
Lincoln Restler
1:44:36
and I
