New York City Council, Committee on Civil Service and Labor held a meeting on June 24 regarding:
- Intro 0265-2024, a local law to amend the administrative code of the City of New York, in relation to health insurance for City employees.
- T2024-2170, a local law to amend the administrative code of the City of New York, in relation to the administration of employee benefits.
RE: NYC MEA response to OLR and DCAS testimony.
Dear City Council Members:
During the hearing, the Office of Labor Relations testified that the Paid Parental Leave (PPL) Program includes bonding with a new child and the leave time has been increased from 6 weeks to 12 weeks.
NYC MEA continues to stand firm that funding for the PPL Program was unfairly imposed on City managers who are not eligible for its benefit.
The funding of the PPL Program consists of 1) two annual leave days being taken from senior managers with twenty-seven days of annual leave and 2) 0.47% pay raise (effective July 1, 2017) which was repurposed from all managers. Annual leave days are earned based on the length of time employed by the City. It takes at least fifteen years of service to earn twenty-seven days of annual leave.
The Office of Labor Relations has been disingenuous in the disclosure of PPL funding used with repurposed manager compensation. Repurposing has had a perpetual adverse effect on morale and future financial welfare which negatively impacts retirement income. It is recommended that the City Administration find another source for funding the Paid Parental Leave Program.
We seek:
- the two annual leave days that were taken be restored to the maximum of twenty-seven days per year
- the repurposed 0.47% pay raise should be reinstated and compounded in conjunction with other pay raises over the years
- cost analysis and report of the data showing the benefit costs and justification of the PPL Program has still not been provided by OLR – where is it?
Very truly yours,
Darrell Sims Alice Wong
President Executive Director
