Painters Agreement Includes Freeze, Concessions

After twice previously rejecting settlements reached with painting contractors, members of Painters' District Council #2 voted overwhelmingly to approve a new three-year agreement which included wage freezes in the first two years and significant concessions on premium rates and work rules.

Representatives of Painting and Decorating Contractors of America Chapter 2/Finishing Contractors Association will vote on ratification of the agreement on Thursday. "We worked on some things that we thought would increase manhours and market share," a representative for the contractors said.

The contractors had reached agreement with union negotiators on two previous occasions, but union leaders were unable to sell the agreements to their membership. The earlier agreements reportedly contained similar provisions to those approved in the agreement ratified by the union. 

Provisions of the agreement approved by the union included:

• Wage freezes in years one and two, with any money needed to fund industry funds to be deducted from the wage package currently in place;
• A three percent increase in year three, based on base wages as of August 31, 2012, with the proceeds to be distributed to the funds;
• Voluntary make-up days at regular pay for exterior work lost to inclement weather. Exceptions are made for instances where the worker was entitled to show up pay or work was cancelled after the work day began;
  
• Spray work premium of $2 per hour only applies to classifications E1 and E0 materials (highest levels of VOCs);
• 4/10 schedules are applicable to all work, not just to industrial;
• Water blast premium eliminated;
• High work premium eliminated;
• Shift pay work is $2 per hour with a four-hour premium after 8 p.m., but drops to actual hours after four hours. The four-hour minimum will be waived for circumstances beyond the contractor's control.
  

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