RAB/Local Union 94-94A-94B CBA 1-1-23 thru 12-31-2026

Table of Contents

 

Page No.

 

No Strikes or Lockouts ………………………………… 18

 

Pension ……………………………………………………….29

 

Pyramiding …………………………………………………..55

 

Recognition and Union Security ……………………… 1

 

Reducing Force …………………………………………….52

 

Right of Management ………………………………….. 15

 

Sale of Building ………………………………… 22 and 54

 

Sanitary Arrangements ………………………………….56

 

Saving Clause ………………………………………………22

 

Security Background Checks ………………………….64

 

Seniority ………………………………………………………55

 

Sickness Benefits ………………………………………….33

 

Sick Pay ………………………………………………………33

 

Staff Vacancies ……………………………………………….4

 

Substance Abuse Testing ……………………………….64

 

Term of Agreement ……………………………………….23

 

Termination Pay ……………………………………………52

 

Tools …………………………………………………………..61

 

Training Fund ………………………………………………36

 

Training Program ………………………………………….36

 

Transferring Employees …………………………………45

 

Trial Period ………………………………………………….55

 

Unemployment Insurance Law ……………………….42

 

Uniforms and Other Apparel ………………………….56

 

Union Insignia ……………………………………………..57

 

Vacations ……………………………………………………..42

 

Wages, Hours and Working Conditions ……………. 5

 

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2023 ENGINEER AGREEMENT

 

This agreement is by and between the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 94-94A-94B, AFL-CIO (hereinafter referred to as the “Union”), acting on behalf of its members and other employees for whom it is recognized as the collective bargaining agent as defined below, and the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations, Incorporated (hereinafter referred to as the “RAB”), acting on behalf of various owners of office and commercial buildings in the City of New York and authorized agents of such owners, who become signatory to this agreement (hereinafter severally referred to as “Employer”).

 

ARTICLE I Recognition and Union Security

 

1. This agreement shall be binding on each owner signatory to this agreement, as well as upon each agent of an owner who becomes signatory hereto as Employer.

 

2. The Union is recognized as the exclusive bargaining representative of all employees employed as engineers, mechanics, helpers (as well as chief engineers and assistant chief engineers in such buildings where these classifications are represented by the Union) and wherever the word “employee” appears herein, it shall refer to all such classifications of employee.

 

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3. The Employer shall not enter into any agreement contracting for the performance of work and/or for the categories of work heretofore performed by employees covered by this agreement except within the provisions and limitations set forth below.

 

4. In the event that an Employer desires to contract for the service performed by members of this Union, or change contractors for such services, it shall do so in compliance with the following provisions:

 

(a) The Employer shall give advance written notice to the RAB and the Union at least three (3) weeks prior to the effective date of its contracting for such services, and set forth the name and address of the contractor.

 

(b) As a condition of such contracting, the Employer shall require the contractor to become a party to this agreement and to file a sub-assent hereto with the Union through the RAB, and the contractor shall thereafter have all of the rights and obligations of the Employer hereunder. The Union has the right to reject such sub-assent where the contractor has habitually failed to comply with the obligations of the labor agreements with the Union covering other buildings in the industry or has failed to make proper and timely payments to the Union Welfare, Annuity, Sick Pay, Training and/or Pension Funds. The Union shall not arbitrarily refuse to accept a sub-assent and the Employer may have such refusal reviewed by

 

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grievance and/or arbitration.

 

(c) The Employer agrees that its employees then engaged in the particular work which is contracted out shall become employees of the initial contractor or any successor contractor, and agrees to employ or re-employ those employees in the employ of the contractor at any time that such contracts are terminated or cancelled. This provision shall not be construed to prevent termination of any employee’s employment under other provisions of the agreement relating to illness, retirement, resignation, discharge or layoffs; however, a contractor may not reduce force or change the work schedule without first obtaining written consent of the Union, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, and which shall be subject to grievance and/or arbitration.

 

(d) If a contractor fails to comply with all provisions of this agreement, the Employer shall be liable jointly and severally with the contractor for any and all damages sustained by the employees or by the Union as a result thereof, as well as for any unpaid Welfare, Sick Pay, Annuity, Training and/or Pension contributions; provided, however, that the Employer’s liability shall commence when it receives written notice from the Union of the contractor’s failure to so comply.

 

(e) To determine which employees employed by the Employer should be members of the Union under the terms of this agreement, and to ascertain the amounts payable to the Union Welfare,

 

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Annuity, Sick Pay, Training and/or Pension Funds, the Union and/or the Funds, independently or in coordination and cooperation, shall have the right to inspect and audit the contractor’s social security and/or payroll records and all such records shall be made available to the Union and to the Funds upon request.

 

5. The Employer shall give written notice, including through email, to the Business Manager and Business Agent of the Union, for all vacancies in the staff. If the Union is unable to supply a qualified person for such opening within five (5) business days of receipt of such notice, or if the Union waives its right to attempt to supply such a person or if there is an emergency need to fill the position immediately, then the Employer may hire a person. All employees must become members of the Union after the thirtieth (30) day following their employment; provided, however, that the requirement to become a member shall be waived if the Union refuses membership to such persons.

 

6. Upon the receipt by the Employer of a letter from the Union’s Recording Corresponding Secretary requesting any employee’s discharge because the employee has not met the requirements of Union membership under the Agreement, unless the Employer questions the propriety of so doing, the employee shall be discharged within fifteen (15) days of said notice if prior thereto the employee does not take proper steps to meet

 

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said requirements. If the Employer questions the propriety of the discharge, he/she shall immediately submit the matter to grievance and if not thus settled, to arbitration for final determination. If it is finally settled or determined that the employee has not met said requirements, the employee shall be discharged within ten (10) days after written notice of the final determination has been given to the RAB and the Employer.

 

The Union will hold the Employer harmless from any liability arising from a discharge asked by the Union pursuant to this provision, provided the Employer has done nothing to cause or increase its own liability concerning removal of employees.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Wage, Hours and Working Conditions

 

1. Employees shall be paid in accordance with the scale of wages as set forth on the assent filed hereto.

 

Wage increase shall be granted as follows: EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2023: ENGINEERS: One dollar eighty-six cents ($1.86)

 

per hour, at which time the minimum wage for these employees shall be one thousand nine hundred and thirty five dollars and sixty cents ($1,935.60) per forty (40) hour week and forty-eight dollars and thirty-nine cents ($48.39) per hour.

 

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HELPERS: one dollar and forty-five cents ($1.45) per hour, at which time the minimum wage for these employees shall be one thousand five hundred and seven dollars and twenty cents ($1,507.20) per forty (40) hour week and thirty-seven dollars and sixty eight cents ($37.68) per hour.

 

OTHERS: Employees receiving pay scales other than the scale engineers or helpers shall be given percentage wage increases based on the following

 

formula: (The Employees’ 2022 Hourly Rate x .04) (Rounded to the nearest penny). EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2024:

 

ENGINEERS: One dollar fifty-seven cents ($1.57) per hour, at which time the minimum wage for these employees shall be one thousand nine hundred ninety eight dollars and forty cents ($1,998.40) per week) per forty (40) hour week and forty-nine dollars and ninety-six cents ($49.96) per hour.

 

HELPERS: one dollar and twenty-two cents ($1.22) per hour, at which time the minimum wage for these employees shall be one thousand five hundred and fifty six dollars and no cents ($1,556.00) per forty (40) hour week and thirty-eight dollars and ninety cents ($38.90) per hour.

 

OTHERS: Employees receiving pay scales other than the scale engineers or helpers shall be given

 

wage increase based on the following formula: (The Employees’ 2023 Hourly Rate x .0325) (Rounded to

 

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the nearest penny).

 

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2025:

 

ENGINEERS: One dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per hour, at which time the minimum wage for these employees shall be two thousand fifty-eight dollars and forty cents ($2,058.40) per forty (40) hour week and fifty-one dollars and forty-six cents ($51.46) per hour.

 

HELPERS: One dollar and seventeen cents ($1.17) per hour, at which time the minimum wage for these employees shall be one thousand six hundred and two dollars and eighty cents ($1,602.80) per forty (40) hour week and forty dollars and seven cents ($40.07) per hour.

 

OTHERS: Employees receiving pay scales other than the scale engineers or helpers shall be given wage increases based on the following formula: (The Employees’ 2024 Hourly Rate x .03) (Rounded to the nearest penny).

 

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026: ENGINEERS: One dollar and fifty-five cents ($1.55) per hour, at which time the minimum wage for these employees shall be two thousand one hundred and twenty dollars and forty cents ($2,120.40) per forty (40) hour week and fifty-three dollars and one cent ($53.01) per hour.

 

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HELPERS: One dollar and twenty cents ($1.20) per hour, at which time the minimum wage for these employees shall be one thousand six hundred and fifty dollars and eighty cents ($1,650.80) per forty (40) hour week and forty-one dollars and twenty-seven cents ($41.27) per hour.

 

OTHERS: Employees receiving pay scales other than the scale engineers or helpers shall be given wage increases based on the following formula: (The Employees’ 2025 Hourly Rate x .03) (Rounded to the nearest penny).

 

An employee promoted to Engineer or newly hired into the industry as an Engineer shall have a starting rate of pay of 90% of the then current Engineer rate for his/her first two years of employment.

 

(a) Effective January 1, 2024, in the event that the percentage increase in the cost of living [Consumer Price Index for the City of New York — Metropolitan Area (New York-New Jersey) Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers] from November 2022 to November 2023 exceeds six and one-half percent (6.5%), then, in that event, an increase of ten cents ($.10) per hour for each full one percent (1%) increase in the cost of living in excess of six and one half percent (6.5%) shall be granted effective for the first full work week commencing after January 1, 2024. In no event shall said increase pursuant to this provision exceed twenty cents ($.20) per hour. In computing increases in the cost of living above

 

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six and one-half percent (6.5%) less than one-half of one percent (.5 %) shall be ignored and increases of one-half of one percent (.5%) or more shall be considered a full point. Any increases hereunder shall be added to the minimum.

 

(b) Effective January 1, 2025, in the event that the percentage increase in the cost of living [Consumer Price Index for the City of New York — Metropolitan Area (New York-New Jersey) Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers] from November 2023 to November 2024 exceeds six percent (6%), then, in that event, an increase of ten cents ($.10) per hour for each full one percent (I%) increase in the cost of living in excess of six percent (6%) shall be granted effective for the first full work week commencing after January 1, 2025. In no event shall said increase pursuant to this provision exceed twenty cents ($.20) per hour. In computing increases in the cost of living above six percent (6%), less than one-half of a percent (.5%) shall be ignored and increases of one-half of percent (.5%) or more shall be considered a full point. Any increases hereunder shall be added to the minimum.

 

(c) Effective January 1, 2026, in the event that the percentage increase in the cost of living [Consumer Price Index for the City of New York — Metropolitan Area (New York-New Jersey) Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers] from November 2024 to November 2025 exceeds six percent (6%) then, in that event, an increase of ten

 

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cents ($.10) per hour for each full one percent (1%) increase in the cost of living in excess of six percent (6%) shall be granted effective for the first full work week commencing after January 1, 2026. In no event shall said increase pursuant to this provision exceed twenty cents ($.20) per hour. In computing increases in the cost of living above six percent (6%), less than one-half of a percent (.5%) shall be ignored and increases of one-half of a percent (.5%) or more shall be considered a full point. Any increases hereunder shall be added to the minimum.

 

2. (a) Each Employer agrees to deduct the Union’s monthly dues, and all legal assessments from the pay of each employee from whom it received written authorization and will continue to make such deduction while the authorization remains in effect.

 

(b) Each Employer agrees to deduct voluntary political contributions based upon authorizations signed by the employees in accordance with applicable law.

 

(c) Such deductions will be made from the pay for the first full pay period worked by such employee following receipt of the authorization, and thereafter will be made the first payday each month, and forwarded to the Union not later than the twentieth day in each and every current month. Such deductions shall constitute trust funds while in the possession of the Employer.

 

(d) If an employee does not revoke the authorization at the end of a year following the date

 

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of the authorization, or at the end of the current contract, whichever is earlier, it shall be deemed a renewal of authorization, irrevocable for another year, or until the expiration of the next succeeding contract, whichever is earlier.

 

(e) The Employer agrees to use the lawful forms supplied by the Union for check-off. The Union agrees to indemnify and save such Employer and the RAB harmless from any liability incurred without fault on the part of the Employer by reason of such deduction.

 

3. It is the policy of the Employer to avoid excessive overtime. Where an employee believes he/ she is required to work excessive overtime, the matter shall be submitted to grievance and arbitration. If it is alleged that the excessive overtime is a regular and continuing practice, such grievance may be submitted directly to arbitration.

 

4. An employee hired as a replacement or an addition to the force may be employed at the minimum rate for an engineer or helper set forth above, except that where an assent has established a rate for such classification higher than such minimum rate, the applicable assent rate shall continue to apply to such building.

 

5. Any employee required to replace a higher classified employee for one week or more shall be paid at the rate of the higher classified employee, when and if the absent employee is not being paid by the Employer or the Sick Pay Fund.

 

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6. (a) The standard work week shall be forty (40) hours per week, consisting of five (5) days of eight (8) hours each, and overtime shall be paid at the rate of time and one half (1½ x) the regular straight time hourly rate for all hours worked in excess of eight (8) hours per day or in excess of forty (40) hours per week, whichever is greater. There shall be no split shifts.

 

(b) Employees required to work overtime shall be paid at least one (1) hour at the overtime rate except for employees working overtime due to absenteeism or lateness.

 

(c) Any employee who has worked eight (8) hours and is required to work at least four (4) hours of consecutive overtime before or after the eight (8) hours shall be paid a seventeen dollars ($17.00) meal allowance.

 

(d) Every employee shall be entitled to two (2) consecutive days off in any seven (7) days. Any work performed on such days shall be considered overtime and paid for at the rate of time and one half (1½ x) the regular straight time hourly rate of pay.

 

(e) Saturday and Sunday shall be premium days and any work performed on those days shall be paid for at the rate of time and one half (1½ x) the regular straight time hourly rate of pay. The determination of whether a particular work shift falls on a premium day shall depend upon the building’s practice now applicable to holiday work in that building.

 

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(f) The weekly working hours for regular full-time employees shall include a thirty (30) minute relief and lunch period. Such period, at the Employer’s option, shall be taken on the premises at a scheduled time within two (2) hours of the middle of the shift and at such suitable place compatible with building needs as may be designated by the Employer. Where an employee works a shift of more than eight (8) hours in any day, all time beyond eight (8) hours shall be considered overtime and paid for at the rate of time and one half times (1½ x) the regular straight time hourly rate.

 

7. (a) No provision of this agreement shall be construed as to lower the weekly, daily or hourly wage of any employee. Where in any building, the employees of said building have presently in effect a practice of terms or conditions better than those provided for herein, applicable generally to the employees in the building covered by this agreement in respect to wages, hours, sick pay, vacations, holidays, premium pay for Saturday and/or Sunday work, relief and lunch periods, and group life insurance, such better conditions shall be continued in effect for all employees who may now, or during the term of this agreement, be employed in the said building, except that such continuance shall be required for group life insurance only for those persons in the employment of the Employer on the effective date this agreement is signed and except insofar as the provisions of Section 1 above, of this Article may apply. The Arbitrator is

 

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empowered to afford relief from the obligations expressed in the preceding sentence on the ground that its enforcement would work an undue hardship, injustice or inequity upon the Employer.

 

(b) A change of schedules or duties shall not constitute a violation of this Section. However, every employee presently working a Monday through Friday work week (and if such employee leaves his/her job for any reason whatsoever, the person who fills his position) shall receive premium pay at time and one half times (1½ x) the regular straight time hourly rate for any work performed by him/her on a Saturday or Sunday. The Employer shall post a change of schedule at least twelve (12) days in advance of the effective date thereof.

 

(c) The parties agree that this Agreement addresses temporary changes to Employee work schedules and that the provisions of the New York City Temporary Changes to Work Schedules Law, N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 20-1261, et seq., are hereby waived.

 

8. Any employee called into work by the Employer for any time not consecutive with his regular schedule shall be paid for at least four (4) hours of overtime.

 

9. The Employer may require, subject to existing law and without cost to the employee, that an employee’s check be deposited electronically at the employee’s designated bank or Employees may be paid by paycheck card. The Union shall be

 

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notified by the Employer of this arrangement.

 

10. The Union agrees to cooperate with the employer in transitioning all bargaining unit employees to a bi-weekly payroll cycle. The Employer will make its best efforts to minimize withholding tax consequences to employees in accordance with applicable law.

 

11. Pay stubs and other compensation documents required to be distributed to employees that only are available on-line shall be in a format that can be downloaded, printed and shall be made available to the employees at the work site.

 

12. The RAB will encourage its members who are signatories to the Engineer Agreement to adopt a qualified transportation fringe benefit program (e.g. transit check) pursuant to which employees may pay certain qualified transportation costs on a pre-tax basis, to the extent permitted by law.

 

ARTICLE III Right of Management

 

1. The Union recognizes the right of management to direct and control the policies of management subject to the obligations of this agreement.

 

2. It is agreed that the employees will cooperate with management within the obligations of this agreement to facilitate the efficient operation of the building.

 

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3. If, through the grievance procedure or by decision of the Arbitrator, it shall be found that an employee has been unjustly discharged, such employee shall be reinstated to his former position without loss of seniority or rank and shall suffer no reduction in salary, and in such event the Grievance Committee or the Arbitrator shall be empowered to determine whether, and to what extent, the employee shall be compensated by the Employer for time lost.

 

4. It is agreed that in the case of substantial or unreasonable reduction of force, the Union may invoke the grievance procedure on a claim that such reduction has created an unreasonable hardship on the remaining employees. In the event of failure of the Grievance Committee to resolve the issue, it may be submitted to arbitration.

 

5. The Employer shall not impose discipline on employees for events occurring more than thirty (30) days prior to the imposition of discipline unless the Grievance Committee or the Arbitrator find that the Employer did not and could not reasonably have known of the existence of said occurrence within thirty (30) days. This provision shall not be construed to preclude an Arbitrator from receiving evidence of past discipline at any proceeding under this agreement.

 

6. All written disciplinary warnings for absenteeism, tardiness or any other attendance issue shall be null and void two (2) years after the date on which they were issued, provided that the employee

 

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has not received any other discipline during that two (2) year period.

 

7. The Union will continue to cooperate with the employer on issues involving security and qualifications of employees. Any disputes under this provision shall be subject to grievance and arbitration.

 

8. The Union recognizes that many Employers covered by this Agreement provide a service of critical importance to a customer or customers. If a customer demands that an Employer remove an employee from further employment at a location, the Employer shall have the right to comply with such demand. However, unless the Employer has cause to discharge the employee, the Employer will place the employee in a job at another facility covered by Article I, Sec. 1 of this Agreement without loss of seniority or reduction in pay or benefits, or terminate the employee and pay termination pay, in the amount of three months wages and benefit fund contributions, provided that the employee executes a general release in a form satisfactory to the Employer. Actions taken under this provision are subject to the grievance and arbitration procedure (Articles V and VI). The Union has the right to subpoena the customer to testify at the arbitration, and unless extraordinary circumstances are present, it is expected that the customer will appear at the hearing. The Arbitrator may order the employee to be reinstated to the building.

 

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ARTICLE IV No Strikes or Lockouts

 

1. During the term of this agreement, there shall be no stoppage of work, strike, lock out or picketing in respect to any signatory building, except as provided in Section 2 of this Article. In the event of a violation of this provision by any of the parties to this Agreement, such matter shall be submitted immediately to an Arbitrator for such actions as the Arbitrator deems necessary.

 

2. (a) If an award against the Employer by the Arbitrator for Welfare, Annuity, Sick Pay, Training or Pension Fund payment is not complied with within two (2) weeks after such award is sent by registered or certified mail to the Employer at his last known address, the Union may order a stoppage of work, strike or picketing in the building involved to enforce such award, and it may also thereby compel payment of lost wages to any employee engaged in such work stoppage or strike. Upon compliance with the Arbitrator’s award and payment of lost wages, the stoppage of work or strike shall cease.

 

(b) The Union shall not be held liable for any violation of this Article where it appears that it has taken all reasonable steps to avoid and end any violation.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

Grievance Procedure

 

1. Any grievance or dispute arising out of the interpretation, performance or applicability of any term or provision of this agreement shall be submitted to a Grievance Committee, in writing by the party complaining within thirty (30) days of occurrence unless the Committee or the Arbitrator finds that the complainant did not and could not reasonably have known of the existence of said occurrence within thirty (30) days.

 

2. The Grievance Committee shall consist of one (1) representative chosen by the Union and one (1) representative chosen by the Employer, it being agreed that no issue shall be submitted to arbitration, except as provided in Section 3 of this Article, Article II (3) or Article IV, until it has been processed by the Grievance Committee and that said Committee has failed to reach an adjustment.

 

3. (a) If the Committee fails to schedule a hearing of the issue within five (5) days after receipt of notice of the grievance the matter shall be immediately submitted to arbitration unless the parties otherwise agree. There shall be no unreasonable delay in the hearing of a grievance.

 

(b) In the event the grievance procedure is not completed within fourteen (14) calendar days after notice of the Union’s request for grievance in discharge cases, the matter may be referred by either party to arbitration.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

Arbitration

 

1. In the event of failure of the Grievance Committee to determine an issue arising between the parties as to the interpretation, performance or applicability of any term or provision of this agreement, such issue shall be submitted to an Arbitrator.

 

2. (a) The parties agree to a panel of Arbitrators consisting of:

 

Randi Lowitt, Roger Maher, Gary Kendellen and Earl Pfeffer.

 

Arbitrators shall be appointed in rotation.

 

(b) Either of said arbitrators may be terminated by either party upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the other party. If all of the Arbitrators are so terminated and the parties are unable to agree upon substitute Arbitrators, pending matters shall be submitted to the New York State Employment Relations Board.

 

3. The Procedure herein outlined with respect to matters over which the Arbitrators have jurisdiction shall be the sole and exclusive method for the determination of all such issues, and the Arbitrator shall have the power to award appropriate remedies, the award of the Arbitrator being final and binding upon the parties, and the employee or employees involved; providing, however that nothing herein shall be construed to forbid either

 

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party from resorting to court for relief from, or to enforce rights under, any arbitration award. In any proceeding to confirm the award of the Arbitrator, service may be made by registered or certified mail, within or without the State of New York, as the case may be.

 

4. Employees’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act are hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement, and Arbitrators shall have the authority to adjudicate claims for unfair labor practices under the National Labor Relations Act in accordance with the Procedure set forth herein and applicable National Labor Relations Act principles and powers.

 

5. Should either party fail to abide with an arbitration award within two (2) weeks after such award is sent by registered or certified mail to the parties, either party may, in its sole and absolute discretion, take any action necessary to secure such award including, but not limited to, suits at law. Should either party take such suit it shall be entitled, if it succeeds, to receive from the other party all expenses for counsel fees and court costs.

 

6. Pursuant to 12 NY.C.R.R. Section 195- 5, all disputes over wage advancements and/or overpayment shall be subject to the grievance and arbitration procedures set forth in Articles V and VI.

 

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ARTICLE VII Building Acquisition by Public Authority

 

Where a building is acquired by a public authority of any nature through condemnation, purchase or otherwise, the last owner shall guarantee the payment of accrued vacations due to the employees up to the date of transfer of title and termination pay to the same date. Termination Pay, in this provision, shall include wages and fringe benefits. It is understood that the Union will, however, seek to have such public authority assume the obligations for the payment of such accrued vacation and/or termination pay. If unsuccessful, and the last owner becomes liable for such payments, the amounts thereof shall be liens upon any condemnation award or on any amount received by such last owner.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

Saving Clause

 

If any provision of this agreement shall be held to be illegal or of no legal effect, said provision shall be deemed null and void without affecting the obligations of the balance of the contract.

 

Both parties agree to construe any provisions held to be contrary to law as closely to its bargained for purpose permissible by law and to agree on a revised draft of such provisions that as close as legally possible mirrors and/or achieves the purpose

 

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of such an invalidated or unenforceable provision. All disputes under the savings clause, including proposals for and the content of any substitute provision, are subject to grievance and arbitration (Articles V and VI).

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Complete Agreement

 

Except as the parties may otherwise mutually agree, and except as set forth below, it is agreed that during the lifetime of this agreement there shall be no demands for collective bargaining negotiations, as to any matter or issue not covered by the provisions of this agreement, or for the renegotiation of any of the provisions of this agreement.

 

ARTICLE X Term of Agreement

 

1. This agreement shall continue in full force and effect up to and including December 31, 2026. The parties shall enter into direct negotiations looking toward a renewal agreement at least sixty (60) days before the expiration date.

 

2. If fifteen (15) days before the expiration of this agreement the parties shall not have been able to agree upon the terms of their new agreement, both parties will thereupon confer with the New York State Employment Relations Board for the purpose of conciliating their differences.

 

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ARTICLE XI Employer Fund Contributions

 

1. Health and Benefits: (a) Effective January 1, 2023, the Employer shall contribute eleven dollars and seventy-six cents ($11.76) for each hour paid to an employee (except for sickness contributions and benefits) covered by this agreement to the Local 94-94A-94B Health and Benefit Fund for coverage of the employee and his/her dependent family with welfare benefits provided through said Fund.

 

(b) Effective January 1, 2024, the Employer shall contribute eleven dollars and seventy-six cents ($11.76) per hour for each hour paid to an employee (except for sickness contributions and benefits) covered by this agreement to the Local 94-94A-94B Health and Benefit Fund for coverage of the employee and his/her dependent family with welfare benefits provided through said Fund.

 

(c) Effective January 1, 2025, the Employer shall contribute twelve dollars and twenty-six cents ($12.26) per hour for each hour paid to an employee (except for sickness contributions and benefits) covered by this agreement to the Local 94-94A-94B Health and Benefit Fund for coverage of the employee and his/her dependent family with welfare benefits provided through said Fund.

 

(d) Effective January 1, 2026, the Employer shall contribute twelve dollars and seventy-six cents ($12.76) per hour for each hour paid to an

 

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employee (except for sickness contributions and benefits) covered by this agreement to the Local 94-94A-94B Health and Benefit Fund for coverage of the employee and his/her dependent family with welfare benefits provided through said Fund.

 

(e) In addition, the parties shall recommend to the Trustees of the Local 94 Health and Benefit Funds that modifications be made to improve administration and the general financial condition of the Fund including, but not limited to:

 

i. Mandatory use of generic drugs

 

ii. Creation of a Dental PPO to replace the current Dental Indemnity Plan

 

iii. Creation of a disease management program (including, but not limited to, diabetes)

 

iv. Other cost saving measures

 

(f) If, as of January 1, 2016 or thereafter, the Trustees of the Health Fund find the payment provided herein insufficient to maintain the benefits then in existence based on the contribution rate, they may, provided benefits added during the term of the agreement, if any, were actuarially sound, in such emergency situations before the termination of this Agreement, adjust benefits to a level sustainable by the current negotiated contribution rate and/or require that additional monies be transferred from wages in the maximum amount of twenty percent (20%) (but in no event more than five cents ($0.05)

 

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per hour) of the needed amount, with the Employer making the additional contribution of a maximum of eighty percent (80%) (but in no event more than twenty cents ($0.20) per hour) of the needed amount (which in total cannot exceed twenty-five cents ($0.25) per hour with the Employer and employee contributions combined), in order to fund the Health Fund at a sufficient level. The Trustees shall notify the bargaining parties how much money is needed within these parameters.

 

(g) The parties agree that if there is governmental health care reform mandating payment in full or part, by a contributing Employer for some or all of the benefits already provided for in the Health Fund to participants, the parties shall meet to discuss what steps, if any, might be appropriate to minimize, and if possible eliminate, any adverse impact on the Fund, its participants and Employers. The parties agree that if the recently passed healthcare reform legislation or any future governmental healthcare reform requires (i) any payment by contributing Employers for some or all of the benefits already provided for in the Health Fund to participants, or (ii) any contributing Employers to pay any excise or other tax, penalty (including assessable payments), fee or other amount relating to or resulting from the eligibility requirements of, or the level of benefits provided by the Health Fund or otherwise relating to the Health Fund, the parties shall meet as soon as practicable

 

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thereafter to discuss what actions are appropriate to minimize, and if possible eliminate, any adverse impact that such payments, excise or other tax, penalty (including assessable payments), fee or other amount has on the Health Fund, its participants and the contributing Employers.

 

(h) The parties previously created the Health Fund Study and Savings Committee (the “Committee”) whose members are appointed in even numbers by the Business Manager of the Union and the President of the RAB, to evaluate the Local 94-94A-94B Health and Benefit Fund (the “Health Fund”) benefits and operations, with the goal being to recommend to the Trustees’ ways for the Health Fund to continuously save money on medical administrative and other costs associated with the Health Fund while maintaining high quality of care for Health Fund participants. In order to preserve the high-quality benefits that the Health Fund provides to employees, the parties reaffirm their strong commitment to continue the substantial progress that has been made by the Committee over the next four (4) years as healthcare costs continue to accelerate at an unsustainable level. The bargaining parties and the Committee agree to recommend to the Health Fund Trustees a Health Fund savings each year of the Agreement. The bargaining parties and the Committee agree to recommend to the Health Fund Trustees to take all legal action necessary so that (i) the Health Fund reserves do not fall below an amount equivalent to no less than twelve

 

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(12) full months of benefit costs and operating/ administrative expenses; (ii) such measures shall be modified only by unanimous agreement of the Trustees; and (iii) such measures are made with the intent of being permanent and within the purposes of the aforementioned cost savings. The provisions of the prior sentence shall continue to apply to any new recommended savings measures that are implemented by the Health Fund pursuant to this Section. The Committee shall meet regularly at least once a quarter (or on a more frequent basis if called for by either party), to continue to monitor and review Health Fund expenditures and trends, to evaluate and consider best practices and developments in cost-effective methods of providing quality benefits for the purposes of continuing to ensure that substantial savings are being realized and to recommend any and all appropriate measures to contain, modify or modulate cost-trends, and to make recommendations to the collective bargaining parties and/or Health Fund Trustees regarding potential actions including, without limitation, for further savings such as Employee contributions to healthcare premiums.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee will meet regularly at least once a quarter (or on a more frequent basis if called for by either party) to review a report from the Health Fund staff and consultants of material items of Fund revenues and expenses for the prior six-month period and anything else deemed appropriate by Fund staff and

 

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consultants. In addition, the Health Fund staff and consultants will also notify the Health Fund Study Committee as soon as possible upon the occurrence of any extraordinary event(s) or other information that is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the revenues and/or expenses of the Fund in the future (“Extraordinary Event”), and the Health Fund Study and Savings Committee will hold a special meeting shortly after such notification. In advance of any such special meeting (or at any regular quarterly meeting in which an Extraordinary Event is to be reported), the Health Fund Study and Savings Committee shall require the Health Fund Benefit Consultant and Fund staff to provide the Committee with such information and projections (including options for measures to be taken to save money on medical and hospital costs and/or changes that can be adopted by the Fund’s plan of benefits) as is deemed necessary by the Health Fund Study and Savings Committee for such meeting.

 

2. Pension: (a) Effective January 1, 2023, the Employer shall contribute four dollars and thirty-five cents ($4.35) per hour for each hour paid to an employee (except for sickness contributions and benefits) covered by this agreement to the Central Pension Fund of the International Union of Operating Engineers and Participating Employers for retirement benefits for the employee.

 

(b) Effective January 1, 2024, the Employer shall contribute four dollars and fortyfive cents ($4.45) per hour for each hour paid to

 

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an employee (except for sickness contributions and benefits) covered by this agreement to the Central Pension Fund of the International Union of Operating Engineers and Participating Employers for retirement benefits for the employee.

 

(c) Effective January 1, 2025, the Employer shall contribute four dollars and fiftyfive cents ($4.55) per hour for each hour paid to an employee (except for sickness contributions and benefit) covered by this agreement to the Central Pension Fund of the International Union of Operating Engineers and Participating Employers for retirement benefits for the employee.

 

(d) Effective January 1, 2026, the Employer shall contribute four dollars and sixtyfive cents ($4.65) per hour for each hour paid to an employee (except for sickness contributions and benefit) covered by this agreement to the Central Pension Fund of the International Union of Operating Engineers and Participating Employers for retirement benefits for the employee.

 

(e) The parties agree that if there are new governmental regulations issued that implement the excise tax provisions of the Pension Protection Act (PPA), or there is further governmental reform relating to the funding of pension funds, the parties shall meet to discuss what steps, if any, might be appropriate to minimize, and if possible eliminate, any adverse impact on the Fund, its participants and employers.

 

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(f) To the extent that during the term of this Agreement, any contributing Employer becomes subject to, with respect to employees covered by this Agreement, the automatic employer surcharge under Section 432 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”) or any excise tax, penalty, fee, increased contribution rate or other amount relating to the funding of the Pension Fund, including without limitation those under Section 4971(g), 412 or 432 of the Internal Revenue Code (collectively “Surcharge/Penalty Amounts”), then the parties agree to meet as soon as practicable thereafter to discuss what actions are appropriate to minimize, and if possible eliminate, any adverse impact that such Surcharge/Penalty Amounts may have on the contributing Employers.

 

3. The above provisions relating to Health and Benefit and Pension contributions will not apply in cases where the Employer presently provides benefits determined by the Trustees of the Welfare or Pension Funds to be at least equivalent of those provided by such Funds. The discretion of the Trustees as to such equivalency shall not be arbitrable under this agreement.

 

4. Annuity: (a) Effective January 1, 2023, the Employer shall contribute four dollars and sixty cents ($4.60) per hour for each hour paid to an employee (except for sick pay contributions and benefits) covered by this agreement to the Local 94-94A-94B Annuity Fund.

 

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(b) Effective January 1, 2024, the Employer shall contribute four dollars and seventy cents ($4.70) per hour for each hour paid to an employee (except for sick pay contributions and benefits) covered by this agreement to the Local 94-94A-94B Annuity Fund.

 

(c) Effective January 1, 2025, the Employer shall contribute four dollars and eighty cents ($4.80) per hour for each hour paid to an employee (except for sick pay contributions and benefits) covered by this agreement to the Local 94-94A-94B Annuity Fund.

 

(d) Effective January 1, 2026, the Employer shall contribute four dollars and ninety cents ($4.90) per hour for each hour paid to an employee (except for sick pay contributions and benefits) covered by this agreement to the Local 94-94A-94B Annuity Fund.

 

5. The Employer shall continue to contribute to the Health Benefit, Annuity, Sick Pay and Training funds during the illness or injury resulting in a leave of absence of absence (except for workers compensation) under this Agreement no more than once in any rolling twelve (12) month period for the same illness or injury, of a regular full time employee who has been employed within the bargaining unit covered by this or a predecessor agreement on the basis of one (1) month’s contribution for each year of service within the industry with a minimum of four hundred (400) hours and a maximum of eight

 

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hundred (800) hours contribution. If there are disagreements concerning whether it is the same illness or injury, there can be an independent medical examination at the request of either party. The parties agree on the formation of a Committee to determine whether contributions are required. The Union and/ or the Funds will not seek to enforce payment unless the Committee otherwise agrees.

 

6. In the case of an illness or injury resulting in leave of absence (except for workers compensation) under this Agreement and no more than once in any rolling twelve (12) month period for the same illness or injury, of a regular full time employee who has been employed within the bargaining unit covered by this or a predecessor agreement, the Employer shall contribute to the Central Pension Fund sufficient funds to ensure that the total yearend contributions are at least equivalent to one thousand (1000) hours contribution for said year, provided such contributions are permitted by the Central Pension Fund and under applicable law. If there are disagreements concerning whether it is the same illness or injury, there can be an independent medical examination at the request of either party. The parties agree on the formation of a Committee to determine whether contributions are required. The Union and/or the Funds will not seek to enforce payment unless the Committee otherwise agrees.

 

7. Sick Pay: (a) For employees who are paid for one hundred (100) hours or more during any

 

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calendar month, and who have been employed with substantial continuity for one (1) year or more in any building signatory to this agreement (whether a member of the R.A.B. or not), the Employer shall, effective January 1, 2023, contribute one dollar and ninety-four cents ($1.94) per hour for engineers and one dollar and forty-four cents ($1.44) per hour for helpers for each hour paid during such calendar month.

 

Effective January 1, 2024, the Employer shall contribute two dollars and one cent ($2.01) per hour for engineers and one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per hour for helpers for each hour paid during the calendar month.

 

Effective January 1, 2025, the Employer shall contribute two dollars and eight cents ($2.08) per hour for engineers and one dollar and fifty-five cents ($1.55) per hour for helpers for each hour paid during the calendar month.

 

Effective January 1, 2026, the Employer shall contribute two dollars and fifteen cents ($2.15) per hour for engineers and one dollar and sixty-one cents ($1.61) per hour for helpers for each hour paid during the calendar month.

 

For employees in pay scales other than scale helpers or scale engineers the contribution rate for sick pay shall be computed on the following basis:

 

(Hourly Rate x 8 hours ÷ 173 – .30) = Hourly Sick Pay Contribution

 

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No contribution shall be made for employees who do not receive pay for at least one hundred (100) hours during any calendar month.

 

(b) An employee who is absent from work by reason of illness shall be entitled to draw eight (8) hours pay for each full day of work absent from the job due to illness up to the number of paid hours credited to his/her account. Benefits from such fund shall be payable to the employee in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Fund.

 

(c) Employees with unused sick pay credit at the end of each calendar year may carry said credit forward to the following year.

 

(d) Sick pay contributions and benefits shall not be considered hours paid for the purposes of fringe benefit contributions.

 

(e) If an employee changes his/her employment during a calendar month, the Employer on whose payroll he/she is carried on the last day of the month shall be responsible to pay the sick pay contribution for that month to which the employee is entitled. Hours worked for all employers during that month shall be counted toward the required one hundred (100) hours. The responsibility of a current Employer for sick pay shall continue regardless of the number of times an employee with sufficient seniority changes jobs.

 

(f) The parties agree that on an annual basis paid leave benefits provided regular employees under this Agreement are comparable to or better

 

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than those provided under the New York City Earned Safe and Sick Time Act, N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 20- 911 et seq. Therefore, the provisions of that Act are hereby waived.

 

(g) The parties specifically acknowledge the provisions of New York Paid Sick Leave Law, N.Y. Labor Law § 196-b.9.a. and b. and agree that this Agreement provides a different and comparable benefit in the form of paid days off, including, but not limited to, paid leave, compensation, and other employee benefits, separately and in combination, and that these contractual benefits are provided in lieu of the leave provided in the New York Paid Sick Leave Law, N.Y. Labor Law § 196-b.

 

(h) The Employer, upon request to the Health Fund, shall be provided information from the sick pay fund regarding sick days used by employees on workers compensation within fourteen (14) days of the Employer’s request.

 

8. Training: (a) Effective January 1, 2023, the Employer shall contribute the amount of twentyone cents ($.21) per hour paid per employee (except for sick pay contributions and benefits) covered by this agreement to the Local 94-94A-94B Training Fund which shall be payable on the same schedule as Health Fund Contributions.

 

(b)(i) New Hire Employees (prior to January 1, 2019). Employees newly hired in the industry prior to January 1, 2019 shall be required to attend and participate in the Training Program. Such

 

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employees shall have a starting rate of pay of seventy percent (70%) of the then current Helper minimum rate. Such starting rate shall be increased by five percent (5%) for each six (6) months of employment, provided that such employee successfully continues in the Training Program, until such employee reaches the contract minimum rate.

 

(i.e.,) after six (6) months = seventy-five

 

(75%) of helpers’ rate after twelve (12) months =

 

eighty percent (80%) of helpers’ rate after eighteen (18) months = eight-five percent (85%) of helpers’ rate

 

after twenty-four (24) months = ninety percent (90%) of helpers’ rate after thirty (30) months = ninety-five (95%) of helpers’ rate

 

after thirty-six (36) months = one hundred percent (100%) of helpers’ rate

 

The employee must present a certificate of satisfactory participation or completion of the Training Program in order to be eligible for each step increase.

 

An employee hired after January 1, 2011, shall attain a New York City certificate of qualification for refrigerating system operator within two years of completing the training program, and shall be available for any engineer position at any location and for any available shift with his/her Employer.

 

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Upon earning such certificate, the Employer will consider the employee for an engineer’s position. In the event that no such position is available or provided, then the employee shall be paid a onetime payment of $250 upon presentation of his/her certificate to the Employer.

 

(b)(ii) New Hire Employees (on or after January 1, 2019). Employees newly hired in the industry on or after January 1, 2019, shall be required to attend and participate in the Training Program. Such employees shall have a starting rate of pay of seventy percent (70%) of the then current Helper minimum rate. Such starting rate shall be increased by five percent (5%) for each twelve (12) months of employment, until such employee has completed forty-eight (48) months of continuous employment, provided that such employee successfully continues in the Training Program, such employee will reach the contract minimum rate upon beginning his/her forty-ninth (49th) month of employment.

 

(i.e.,) after twelve (12) months =

 

seventy-five (75%) of helpers’ rate after twenty-four (24) months = eighty percent (80%) of helpers’ rate after thirty-six (36) months = eightyfive percent (85%) of helpers’ rate after forty-eight (48) months = one hundred percent (100%) of helpers’ rate

 

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The employee must present a certificate of satisfactory participation or completion of the Training Program in order to be eligible for each step increase.

 

An employee hired after January 1, 2011, shall attain a New York City certificate of qualification for refrigerating system operator within two years of completing the training program, and shall be available for any engineer position at any location and for any available shift with his/her Employer. Upon earning such certificate, the Employer will consider the employee for an engineer’s position. In the event that no such position is available or provided, then the employee shall be paid a onetime payment of $250 upon presentation of his/her certificate to the Employer.

 

(c) Any employee who leaves or is terminated from the Training Program shall be terminated by the Employer. Such employees shall not have recourse to the Grievance and Arbitration provisions of the contract with respect to such termination.

 

(d) The parties hereto and the Training Program shall establish criteria for admission to the program.

 

(e) The bargaining parties will recommend to the Trustees of the Training Fund that they convene the Training Fund Curriculum Committee to discuss and consider, (i) continuing education courses for journeymen engineers;(ii)) a training

 

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course on human resources for chief and assistant chief engineers; and (iii) expansion of training fund classroom and related facilities.

 

(f) The duration of the Training Program shall be set by the Trustees of the Training Fund but shall not be less than thirty-six (36) months. Employees, newly hired in the industry, on or after January 1, 2019, must complete the Training Program within three (3) years of the date on which such employee was hired, and must pass all required courses of the Training Fund with a minimum passing score of seventy percent (70%). Employees may take a required course no more than twice.

 

(g) There shall be an established procedure for a pre-employment physical examination program for all newly hired employees. Such examination shall include but not be limited to urine and blood tests. The test results must be submitted to the Training Fund for evaluation as to the eligibility of an employee to participate in the Training Program. The RAB and the Union shall determine the methodology for such preemployment physicals.

 

(h) Employees who are hired as summer helpers between the periods of April 15 through October 15 shall be paid seventy percent (70%) of the regular helper rate and shall not be entitled to any benefit fund contributions. If such summer helpers are continued beyond October 15 as regular employees, they shall receive benefit fund contributions as of October 15 and time credit toward

 

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the forty-eight (48) month start rate in paragraph (b), above, from the date of employment as a summer helper for that year. The Employer will notify the Union when hiring Summer Helpers.

 

9. Contributions to the Health and Benefit, Pension, Annuity, Training and Sick Pay Funds shall be made on a monthly basis and shall be paid by the end of the succeeding month. The Employer agrees to use the lawful forms supplied by the Fund.

 

10. If the Employer fails to make the required payments to any of the Funds, as set forth above, or fails to file required reports, the Trustees may, in their sole and absolute discretion, take any action necessary, including, but not limited to, immediate arbitration and suits at law, to enforce such payments and reports, and in any such action or proceeding shall be entitled to receive interest at the rate of one and one-half percent (1.5%) per month and liquidated damages at the rate of one percent (1%) per month (total of two and one half percent (2.5%) per month) on unpaid contributions, except that interest only shall be charged for defaults of less than thirty (30) days, including any and all expenses of collection, such as counsel fees, arbitrator’s costs, arbitration fees and court costs.

 

ARTICLE XII General Clauses

 

1. Disability Benefits Law: (a) The Employer agrees to cover the employees under the New York

 

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State Disability Benefits Law on a non-contributory basis, whether or not such coverage is required by law.

 

(b) The Employer will cooperate with employees in the processing of their claims and any violation by the Employer, including but not limited to the posting of notices or furnishing of forms, shall be subject to grievance and arbitration.

 

(c) The parties will discuss and consider allowing the Employer to contract with a preferred provider organization (PPO) to deliver all medical services mandated by the New York Workers’ Compensation Law, §350 et seq.

 

2. Unemployment Insurance Law: The employer agrees to cover the Employees under the New York State Unemployment Insurance Law, whether or not such coverage is required by law.

 

3. Vacations: (a) Every employee employed with substantial continuity in any building signatory shall receive each year a vacation with pay as follows (where an Employer transfers an employee from another building and the employee agrees to such transfer, length of service for the purpose of vacation entitlement shall be measured as length of service with the Employer):

 

Employees who have worked for:

 

Six (6) months …………………..three (3) days

 

One (1) year………………………ten (10) days

 

Five (5) years…………………….fifteen (15) days

 

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Fifteen (15) years……………….twenty (20) days

 

Twenty-one (21) years………..twenty-one (21) days

 

Twenty-two (22) years………..twenty-two (22) days

 

Twenty-three (23) years………twenty-three (23) days

 

Twenty-four (24) years ……….twenty-four (24) days

 

Twenty-five (25) years………..twenty-five (25) days

 

(b) Length of employment for the purpose of the foregoing schedule shall be computed on the basis of the amount of vacation that an employee would be entitled to on September 15 of the year in which the vacation is given. Only actual working days shall count as part of the allowed vacation and regular days off and holidays falling during the employee’s vacation period, the employee shall receive an additional day’s pay therefore or, at the option of the Employer, an extra day off within ten (10) days immediately preceding or succeeding the employees’ vacation period.

 

(c) Vacation wages shall be paid at the rate of pay in effect when the vacation is given and paid prior to the vacation period unless otherwise requested by the employee.

 

(d) Employees are entitled to actual vacations and no employee shall be required to accept money in lieu of his/her vacation.

 

(e) The vacation period shall be May 1, through April 30 each year.

 

(f) Employees shall be entitled to take

 

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vacation at any time during the year provided such vacation time is compatible with the proper operation of the building and no more than two (2) weeks may be taken between April 15 and October 15.

 

If an employee is to be denied a vacation during the April 15 and October 15 period because of lack of compatibility with the operation of the building, the Employer shall inform the employee and the Union no later than April 15 or two (2) weeks after the vacation request. Such denial shall be subject to grievance and arbitration.

 

(g) Choice of vacation periods shall be according to building seniority in the job classification.

 

(h) Any employee leaving his/her job for any reason shall be entitled to a vacation accrual allowance computed on his/her length of service as provided in the vacation schedule set forth above based on the elapsed period from the previous September 16th (or from the date of employment if later employed) to the date of his/her leaving; provided, however, that any employee who has received a vacation during the previous year and who leaves his/her job after April 15th under circumstances which entitle him/her to vacation accrual rights, shall be entitled to full vacation accrual allowances instead of on the basis of the elapsed period from the previous September 16th.

 

Any employee who is employed more than six (6) months but less than one (1) year as of the date

 

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of termination shall receive three (3) days’ vacation pay, unless already taken.

 

(i) No employee who leaves his/her position of his/her own accord shall be entitled to his/her accrued vacation credit unless he/she gives two (2) weeks’ termination notice to the Employer, in writing.

 

(j) The Employer will pay any accumulated unpaid vacation to the designated beneficiary or the estate of a deceased employee.

 

4. Transferring Employees: (a) An employee who has been employed with substantial continuity for one (1) year or more in any building signatory to this agreement (whether a member of the R.A.B. or not) will receive credit for one (1) years’ service for the purpose of computing vacation pay eligibility in the event that such employee changes his/her employment to a different building.

 

(b) An employee who has been employed with substantial continuity for five (5) years or more in any building signatory to this agreement (whether a member of the R.A.B. or not) will receive credit for five (5) years’ service for the purpose of computing vacation pay eligibility in the event that such employee changes his/her employment to a different building, and shall be treated as having five (5) years’ service at the building for the purpose of determining future vacation entitlements. Provided, however that if an employee changes his/her job on or after April 15th, of any calendar year, with proper

 

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termination notice, the original Employer shall be responsible for the payment of a full year’s vacation.

 

(c) An employee who has been employed with substantial continuity for one (1) year or more in any building signatory to this agreement (whether a member of the R.A.B or not) who changes employment to a different building, will receive credit for one (1) years’ service for the purpose of determining eligibility for a medical check-up leave.

 

(d) For the purposes of this Article, “substantial continuity” shall mean less than one (1) month’s break in continued service for each two (2) years of continued membership in the Union. This rule will be waived in the event of a break in service caused by illness covered by Disability Benefits, accident covered under Workers Compensation Insurance, or provided the employee is receiving Unemployment Compensation.

 

5. Leave of Absence: (a) Once during the term of this agreement upon written application to the Employer and the Union, a regular full-time employee who has been employed in the building for five (5) years or more shall be granted a leave of absence not to exceed six (6) months, subject to an extension for a period not to exceed six (6) months, in case of bona fide illness or injury, whether or not covered by the New York State Workers Compensation Law. When such employee is physically and mentally able to resume work, he/ she shall on one (1) week’s prior written notice to

 

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the Employer, be then employed, with no loss of seniority.

 

(b) Once every five (5) years, upon six (6) weeks’ written application to the Employer, a regular full-time employee who has been employed in the building for five (5) years or more shall be granted a leave of absence for personal reasons not to exceed two (2) months. Upon the employee’s return to work, he/she shall be reemployed with no loss of seniority. Personal leave of absence shall not be used for the purpose of seeking or engaging in other employment and any employee so doing will be subject to termination.

 

(c) Any leave taken pursuant to any government regulation shall be deemed to be a leave under this Section, except in cases of demonstrable undue hardship and contractual leaves of absences pursuant to this Section shall run concurrently with FMLA leave, NYSPFL leave and/or State or City law leave requirements, as permitted by law.

 

6. Holidays: (a) The following is the

 

schedule of holidays:

 

2023:

 

New Year’s Day Labor Day

 

(Jan. 2 Observed) (Sept. 4)

 

Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day

 

(May 29) (Nov. 23)

 

Independence Day Christmas Day

 

(July 4) (Dec. 25)

 

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2024:

 

New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) Memorial Day (May 27) Independence Day (July 4) 2025:New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) Memorial Day (May 26) Independence Day (July 4) 2026:New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) Memorial Day (May 25) Independence Day (July 3 observed) Labor Day(Sept 2)Thanksgiving Day(Nov. 28)Christmas Day(Dec. 25)
Labor Day(Sept. 1)Thanksgiving Day(Nov. 27)Christmas Day(Dec. 25)
Labor Day(Sept. 7)Thanksgiving Day(Nov. 26)Christmas Day(Dec. 25)

In addition, there shall be six (6) floating holidays per year. Said holiday may be taken by an employee upon ten (10) days’ notice to the Employer provided that no more than one (1) employee per building takes off on a particular day as the floating

 

holiday. In buildings employing more than twelve

 

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(12) members of Local 9494A-94B, more than one (1) employee may take a floating holiday on a particular day provided that employee selections do not result in a reduction of Local 94-94A-94B employees below seventy-five percent (75%) of the normal work staff, by classification.

 

(b) Employees shall receive idle pay at their regular straight-time hourly rates for the normal eight (8) hour working day not worked. Any employee who is required to work on a holiday shall receive in addition to the idle pay above mentioned, premium pay at the rate of time and one half (1½ x) his/her regular straight time hourly rate of pay for each hour worked, with a minimum of four (4) hours’ premium pay. Any employee who is required to work on a holiday beyond eight (8) hours shall continue to receive the compensation above provided for holiday pay, namely idle pay at his/her regular straight-time hourly rate plus premium pay at time and one half (1½ x) the employees regular straight-time rate.

 

(c) Any regular full-time employee who shall be ill during the period in which a contract holiday falls shall be entitled to holiday pay or corresponding time off if the employee worked at least one (1) regular scheduled day during the employee’s five (5) working days immediately preceding or succeeding the holiday.

 

(d) Any regular full-time employee whose regular day off, or one of whose regular days off

 

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falls on a holiday, shall receive an additional day’s pay therefor, or at the option of the Employer, shall receive an extra work day off within ten (10) days immediately preceding or succeeding the holiday. If the employee receives an extra day off before the holiday and his/her employment is terminated for any reason whatever, he/she shall not be required to compensate the Employer for that day.

 

(e) Employees newly hired in the industry, during their first year of employment, shall receive floating holidays based on an accrual of one (1) holiday for each three (3) months of employment and three (3) holidays in the last quarter of the calendar year.

 

(f) Employees with substantial continuity in the industry who change Employers will be paid for all accrued, unused floating holidays by their terminating Employer, based on the schedule in the preceding paragraph.

 

(g) The Employer on whose payroll an employee is on the last day of the calendar quarter shall be responsible for the payment of the accrued, unused floating holiday for such quarter.

 

(h) It is the intention of the parties that employees with substantial continuity in the industry shall receive six (6) floating holidays, but no more than six (6) floating holidays in each calendar year.

 

(i) Employees who have not used their floating holidays by the end of the calendar year

 

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shall be paid one (1) day’s pay for each unused day at the rate in effect for the year in which the holiday was earned.

 

(j) Payment for unused floating holidays shall be made as soon as possible after December 31.

 

7. Election Day: Employees who are eligible to vote shall be permitted two (2) hours off to vote on Election Day if they are unable to vote during nonworking hours. Employees shall give legal notice of such intention and such hours are to be designated by the Employer, while the polls are open.

 

8. Family Death: A regular full-time employee with at least one (1) year of employment in the industry shall be granted bereavement leave following the death of his/her parent, brother, sister, spouse, child, father-in-law or mother-inlaw, or grandparent and shall be paid his/her regular straight-time wages for any of such three (3) days on which he/she was regularly scheduled to work, or entitled to holiday pay. Such leave shall be either the day of the funeral and the two (2) days immediately preceding the funeral, or the day of the funeral and the two (2) days immediately following the funeral, at the option of the employee.

 

9. Medical Check-Up: Every regular fulltime employee employed in the industry for at least one (1) year shall be entitled, upon one (1) week’s notice to the Employer, to take one (1) day off in each calendar year at straight time pay to visit a diagnostic clinic operated by the Welfare Fund under

 

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which the employee is covered or, if none, to visit such other clinic or physician of the employee’s choice for reason of medical checkup. To receive payment for such day, the employee shall exhibit a signed statement from the clinic or physician. If the examining physician requires a follow-up visit, in writing, the employee shall be entitled to an additional day off at straight time rates.

 

10. Reducing Force: In reducing force, Employers are required, in addition to their accrued vacation credits and termination pay, if any, to give employees who have been employed for one (1) year at least three (3) weeks’ notice of lay-off or discharge, or in lieu thereof, an additional three (3) weeks’ pay. In addition, except for normal or routine reduction, the Union and the RAB shall be given at least one (1) week’s advance written notice.

 

11. Jury Duty: An employee performing jury duty shall receive his/her full pay less jury duty compensation, not more than once in any contract period.

 

12. Termination Pay:(a) In case of termination of employment because of the employee’s physical or mental inability to perform his/her duties or from reduction of force, the employee shall receive, in addition to accrued vacation credits, termination pay according to the employee’s years of service in the building on the following basis:

 

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Employees with Five (5) and less than

 

ten (10) years ……………..one (1) week’s pay

 

Ten (10) and less than

 

twelve (12) years ………..two (2) weeks’ pay

 

Twelve (12) and less than

 

fifteen (15) years…………three (3) weeks’ pay

 

Fifteen (15) and less than

 

seventeen (17) years ……six (6) weeks’ pay Seventeen (17) and less than

 

twenty (20) years ………..seven (7) weeks’ pay

 

Twenty (20) and less than

 

Twenty-five (25) years…eight (8) weeks’ pay Twenty-five (25) years

 

or more………………………ten (10) weeks’ pay

 

(b) An employee who is physically or mentally unable to perform his/her duties may resign and receive the above termination pay provided the employee submits satisfactory evidence of such inability. In the event the Employer does not deem the evidence satisfactory, such question may be submitted to grievance and arbitration.

 

(c) The right to accept termination pay and resign where there has been a reduction in force shall be determined by seniority, i.e. in the event of a reduction of force, notice is to be posted in the engine room prior to the effective date. If no senior employee wishes to exercise his/her rights under this

 

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provision, the least senior employee or employees shall be terminated.

 

(d) In order to receive any termination pay, Employee must enter into a general release and separation agreement in the form acceptable to the Employer and Union.

 

13. Change of Employer: In the event of a change of Employers in a building the RAB shall use its best efforts to have the succeeding Employer join the RAB and become bound to the terms of this agreement.

 

The Employer shall, if possible, give the Union at least twenty (20) days advance notice of any change of Employer in the building.

 

In the event an Employer terminates an employee or employees as a direct result of the sale or transfer of a building and has not required the purchaser or transferee to hire the existing employees and continue the wages, terms and conditions in effect at the time of said sale or transfer, the terminated employee(s) shall receive from such terminating Employer severance pay in the amount of three (3) months’ pay, along with Annuity Fund and Pension Fund contributions, in addition to any other accrued payments due under this Agreement. The terminating Employer shall also cover terminated employees under the Health Fund for up to three (3) months at forty (40) hours per week or until such employee obtains coverage from a new job, whichever is less. If the existing or

 

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new Employer places the displaced employee in a comparable position with the same or new Employer, Managing Agent or employing entity the foregoing obligations shall not apply.

 

14. Pyramiding: In no event shall there be any pyramiding of overtime pay, holiday pay or any other premium pay. Where more than one of the aforesaid overtime, holiday or other premium pay are applicable, then compensation shall be computed on the basis giving the greater amount.

 

15. Trial Period: All newly hired employees in the industry shall have a one hundred and eighty (180) day trial period. Any employee moving to another position shall have a trial period of fortyfive (45) days at such new position.

 

16. Seniority: (a) The Employer agrees in principle that senior employees may pick their shifts provided it is practical or possible without impairing the efficiency of the work or the operation of the building.

 

(b) Choice of vacations shall be granted on the basis of seniority.

 

(c) For the purpose of lay-offs, decrease of the working force and recall to work of employees who have been laid off, consideration shall be given to the employee’s length of service in the particular classification of work and to the employee’s ability to perform the work involved. Where factors other than length of service are relatively equal, an

 

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employee with the greatest length of service shall be given preference.

 

17. Sanitary Arrangements: Adequate sanitary arrangements for employee shall be maintained in every building, and an individual locker and key thereto and rest room key, where rest room is provided, shall be furnished by the Employer for the use of every employee. Soap, towels and washing facilities shall be supplied by the Employer for all employees.

 

18. Uniforms and Other Apparel: Uniforms and/or overalls, where necessary for the job, shall be supplied and maintained by the Employer. In addition, the Employer will pay to the employees within ten (10) days of receipt of proof of purchase of safety shoes that meet the American National Standards Institute Code Z-41, up to one hundred and twenty-five dollars and no cents ($125.00) per year for such shoes. The Employer may require the employee to wear said work shoes after payment.

 

19. First Aid Kit: An adequate and complete first aid kit shall be supplied and maintained by the Employer in a place readily available to all Employees.

 

20. Bulletin Board: A bulletin board shall be furnished by the Employer for Union announcements and notices of meetings.

 

21. Emergency Calls: (a) When on emergency call, employees shall be reimbursed for all loss of

 

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personal effects on such call.

 

(b) Loss of personal effects on such call shall include losses while traveling to and from such emergency call in excess of insured losses.

 

(c) Employees shall be compensated for time spent answering emergency phone calls and responding to emergency emails, provided that such time is more than de minimis. The Union and RAB agree that due to the administrative impracticality of recording such time and the infrequency of emergency calls and emails, time spent answering emergency calls and emails that amounts to fifteen (15) minutes or less per day shall be considered de minimis. If more than fifteen (15) minutes per day is incurred then the first fifteen (15) minutes shall be counted as paid time and no longer de minimus. In such cases, all time recording and pay practices as specified by the Employer shall be followed in connection with payments under this provision (i.e., hours must be recorded in a timely manner).

 

22. Union Insignia: Employees may wear the Union insignia while on duty.

 

23. Fire Safety Plan: (a) Employees who serve as fire life safety directors shall be paid the sum of fifteen dollars and no cents ($15.00) per week in addition to their normal wage for performing such duties and holding a certificate of qualification from the New York City Fire Department. If any employee currently performs such duty and receives a differential of more than fifteen dollars and no cents

 

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($15.00) per week, said employee shall continue to receive the higher amount. Employees who serve as fire safety directors shall do so on a voluntary basis and not as a condition of employment. The Union and the Employer shall cooperate in attempting to achieve the needs of the job site.

 

(b) Separate and independent from the provisions of subsection (a) above, in the sole and complete discretion of an Employer, for example if and when the law (including, without limitation the New York City Fire Code, or other applicable regulation) requires a New York City certificate of qualification for refrigerating system operator to be assigned as a Fire Life Safety/Emergency Action Safety Plan Director (“FLSD/EAP”), the separate full time position of FSD/EAP shall be created under this Agreement, and shall be so recognized by the RAB and its member Employers. If an Employer chooses to fill the FSD/EAP position, the wages and benefits for FSD/EAP shall be set by the Employer, the RAB and the Union specific to the site and job. This new position is separate and apart from the engineering operations of the building. No Employer can require an employee to accept the FSD/EAP position, and the employee must do so on a voluntary basis, at the time of hire to that position. In the event that this becomes a Local 94 position, the contract expiration date for this position shall be ninety (90) days after the expiration of this agreement.

 

24. Employment and Discrimination: (a) No

 

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employee shall be employed through fee charging agencies except where the Employer shall pay the full amount of the fee.

 

(b) There shall be no discrimination against any present or future employee by reason of race, creed, color, age, disability, national origin, sex, union membership or any characteristic protected by law, including, but not limited to, claims made pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the New York State Human Rights Law, the New York Paid Family Leave Law, the New York City Human Rights Code, the Stop Sexual Harassment in New York City Act, the New York City Temporary Schedule Change Law, or any other similar laws, rules or regulations. All claims alleging illegal discrimination under any of the above authorities, as well as all claims alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, the New York State Labor Law, and any other federal, state or local wage payment statutes or regulations, shall be subject to the Agreement’s grievance and arbitration procedure as the final, binding, sole and exclusive remedy for such violations, and employees covered by this Agreement shall not file suit or seek relief in any other forum. This provision shall apply to allegations arising out of events occurring before and/or after the effective date of this Agreement. Arbitrators shall apply applicable law as it would be applied, and shall have such powers as would

 

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be exercised, by the appropriate court in rendering decisions on the claims covered by this paragraph.

 

(c) The claims subject to resolution in accordance with paragraph 24 (b), above, shall not be litigated or arbitrated by way of a class or collective action. All claims between an employee and an employer must be decided individually. Neither an employee nor an employer will have the right, with respect to any claim, to do any of the following before an arbitrator:

 

i. Obtain relief from a class or collective action, either as a class representative, class member or class opponent; or

 

ii. Join or consolidate claims with the claims of any other person.

 

The arbitrator shall have no authority or jurisdiction to process, conduct or rule upon any class or collective proceeding, or to consolidate any individual claims in one proceeding absent mutual consent of the parties hereto.

 

(d) The parties will recommend to the Trustees of the Local 94-94A-94B Training Fund that it will provide interactive training, compliant with the New York State and New York City laws regarding prevention of sexual harassment, to all employees enrolled in the Training Program. The Trustees will investigate the feasibility of training for all employees employed in covered employment under this Agreement. The scope, cost, delivery and

 

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curriculum for such training shall be approved by the Trustees.

 

25. Tools: All tools, uniforms or other apparel necessary for the job shall be furnished by the Employer.

 

Employees shall be responsible for the loss of any hand tools issued to them by the Employer, provided that the Employer provides a secured locker facility for the storage of such tools between use.

 

26. Hazardous Work: (a) Where a claim is made that work is hazardous, determination of the question shall be left to the Chief Engineer or Management Representative and Shop Steward of the building and, in the event they fail to agree, the matter shall be determined through the grievance and arbitration procedures. The Union and the RAB shall appoint an equal number of representatives, between six (6) and ten (10) in total, to a Labor Management Committee, which shall be known as the “Industrial Safety Committee.”

 

(b) In accordance with the requirement of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, it shall be the exclusive responsibility of the Employer to insure the safety of its employees and compliance by them with any safety rules contained herein or established by the Employer. Nothing in this agreement will make the Union liable to any employees or to any other persons in the event that injury or accident occurs.

 

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27. Legal Assistance: The Employer shall supply legal assistance where required to employees who are served with summons regarding building violations.

 

28. Family and Medical Leave Act: The parties agree to comply with the Family and Medical Leave Act to the extent required by law. Leaves under this Agreement and/or the Family and Medical Leave Act shall not pyramid.

 

29. Job Definitions: (a) Chief Engineer: To direct the operation of employees in the bargaining unit in the performance of their duties. This does not preclude the Chief Engineer from standing watch and performing manual duties consistent with the work performed by the employees under his/her direction.

 

(b) Assistant Chief Engineer: To assist the Chief Engineer in the performance of his/her duties.

 

(c) Engineer: Operating, maintaining and repairing heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment and other equipment incidental to the operation of the building as directed by management.

 

(d) Mechanic: By training and experience possesses a certain amount of mechanical technical skill that enables him/her to function independently of an engineer more than fifty percent (50%) of his/ her time.

 

(e) Helpers: Assist the engineer and/ or mechanic in the performance of their duties,

 

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and perform tasks appropriate to his/her skill level outside the presence of an engineer/mechanic as directed by management and/or engineers/ mechanics. The parties recognize that management’s hiring and use of helpers is essential to the industry’s successful future. The position of helper is designed to be a step on the path to becoming an engineer. Hence, after January I, 2011, it is the parties’ intent that the helper classification will not be available to newly hired helpers on a “career” basis, except on the mutual consent of the Employer and Union.

 

(f) Fire Safety/Emergency Action Safety Plan Director (“FSD/EAP”) performs the duties and responsibilities as required by the applicable sections of the New York City Fire Code and/or other applicable laws or regulations, and any other related duties and responsibilities as directed by an Employer in its sole and complete discretion. The Employer shall hold the employee harmless for any non-compliance, except in cases of that employee’s recklessness or gross negligence.

 

(g) The above classifications are intended to describe the existing practices in the industry.

 

30. Licenses and Certificates: Any newly hired candidate excluding summer and temporary helpers will be required to have five (5) of the following certificates of fitness that are issued by the New York City Fire Department (“FDNY”) (namely A35, F60, G60, S12, S13, S14, S95, F01, P98, P99, or any successor certifications as required by the

 

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FDNY) (the “Certificates”) to obtain employment unless the Employer deems that the candidates mechanical experience is sufficient to forego this obligation and, if so, these candidates will have two (2) years to achieve the Certificates or the Employer agrees to an extension of time to so do. The Employer can require the employee to submit such certificates of fitness within two (2) weeks of such direction. Terminations pursuant to this provision of the collective bargaining agreement are not subject to the just cause provision.

 

31. Substance Abuse Testing: The Employer is permitted to test applicants and/or employees for substance abuse, in accordance with applicable law, at the time of hire or at the time a new Employer takes over the ownership/management of a building/ facility. No applicant and/or employee may refuse to submit to the above described medically accepted substance abuse testing. If an applicant and/or employee refuse such testing or if the test result shows substance abuse, the Employer may terminate such employee. If such termination is submitted to arbitration and the arbitrator determines that there was a refusal or that a test showed substance abuse, the arbitrator may not modify the discharge penalty.

 

32. Security Background Checks: (a) All applicants and/or employees shall be subject to security background checks at the time of hire or at the time a new Employer takes over the ownership/ management of a building/facility. An applicant and/

 

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or employee shall cooperate with an Employer as necessary for obtaining security background checks. Any applicant and/or employee who refuse to cooperate shall be subject to termination. Applicants and/or employees who fail such security background checks shall be subject to termination.

 

For the purpose of this provision, just cause to terminate an applicant and/or employee who has failed a security background check exists only if it is established that one or more of the findings of the background security check is directly related to his/her job functions or responsibilities, or that the continuation of, or future, employment would involve an unreasonable risk to property or to the safety or welfare of specific individuals or the general public or constitute a violation of any applicable governmental rule or regulation.

 

(b) At the request of a tenant to an Employer, the Employer may require any employee who has access and/or will perform work in that tenant’s space to submit to background checks or renewed background checks as the tenant may reasonably request. Employees agree to fully cooperate with any reasonable requirements for the completion of a background check. An Employee’s failure to cooperate shall constitute just cause grounds for termination, subject to the grievance and arbitration procedure.

 

In the event that the Employee does not pass the background check, the Employer shall make

 

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reasonable efforts to retain the Employee in another area of the building. If retaining the Employee in another areas is not practicable, the Employer shall comply with Article III, Section 8 of this Agreement.

 

33. Helpers: The parties agree to establish a committee to study and encourage the hiring of Helpers in the industry in order to ensure the career progression from Helpers to Engineers.

 

34. New Development: The Union and the RAB recognize (1) that real estate development strengthens communities and enhances New York’s economy; (2) that the economics of developments are complex and not uniform: and (3) that successful development is important to all stakeholders, and to the people of the City of New York. Therefore, the parties shall establish a sitting New Development Committee whose members shall determine, on a project-by-project basis, wage and benefit standards that accord with the needs of the parties and are consistent with applicable law for employees in newly constructed buildings. Any such standards shall be determined only upon mutual agreement of the Union and the RAB. Any action or inaction of the committee shall not be reviewable in any forum. The committee shall comprise of an equal number of persons appointed by the Business Manager of the Union and the President of the RAB.

 

35. “HERO Act Waiver”

 

On May 5, 2021, the New York Health and Essential Rights Act, Senate Bill 1034B (“S1034B”

 

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or “NY HERO Act”), amending the New York Labor Law to include provisions on prevention of airborne infectious disease, was signed into law by Governor Cuomo which, inter alia, imposed the requirement on all employers with worksites in New York State to establish an airborne infectious disease prevention plan and permits the establishment of workplace safety committees.

 

The parties agree to implement the following to ensure a safe and healthy workplace for Industry employees as follows:

 

1. Employers agree to adopt an airborne

 

infectious disease exposure prevention

 

plan as required by the NY HERO Act and

 

its implementing regulations, by either

 

adopting the model standard promulgated

 

by the Commissioner of the Department of

 

Labor in consultation with the Department

 

of Health, or by establishing an alternative

 

plan that is comparable to or better than the

 

minimum standards provided by the model

 

standard. Any Employer seeking to adopt

 

an alternative plan that is comparable to

 

or better than the model plan shall submit

 

such plan to the RAB and the Union at

 

least thirty (30) days prior to the proposed

 

effective date of such alternative plan,

 

and if neither the RAB nor the Union

 

object to such plan, in writing, within that

 

time period, such alternative plan will be

 

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considered to have been accepted by the Union. It is acknowledged and agreed that the Union has no responsibility for establishing any Employer’s airborne infectious disease exposure prevention plan or to ensure that any such plan is comparable to or better than the model plan.

 

2. The RAB, Employers, and the Union

 

agree to establish joint labor-management

 

workplace safety committees. The

 

workplace safety committees shall be

 

comprised of Employer representatives,

 

selected in consultation with the RAB,

 

and Union representatives, including

 

bargaining unit employee representatives

 

as the Union may designate. The

 

workplace safety committees shall meet

 

as needed, upon the request of either the

 

Employer or the Union, at such times and

 

in such manner as the Employer, RAB

 

and the Union may deem reasonable and

 

proper. Each workplace safety committee

 

so-established, will have the ability,

 

consistent with S1034B, to: (a) raise health

 

and safety concerns, hazards, complaints

 

and violations to the Employer; (b) review

 

any policy or procedures put in place

 

in the workplace concerning workplace

 

safety; (c) participate in any site visit by

 

any governmental agency responsible for

 

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enforcing safety and health standards in a manner consistent with applicable law; (d) review relevant reports filed by the Employer related to the health and safety of the workplace in a manner consistent with applicable law; and (e) discuss training and equipment needs, including personal protective equipment. Meetings shall occur during work hours and shall be scheduled within two (2) weeks of either party requesting the meeting, provided that in the event that there is an urgent health and safety issue or other urgent operational issue in connection with the exposure prevention plan, the parties shall make their best efforts to meet on an expedited basis. Upon agreement by the parties, commonly owned, commonly-managed buildings that are subject to the Agreement, may form a workplace safety committee that covers all or some of the commonlyowned, commonly managed buildings. Established workplace safety committees may make reports and recommendations to the Employer, as necessary, concerning the above and other matters covered by Sl034B within their responsibility to the Employer as may be appropriate.

 

3. The RAB, on behalf of its members, and

 

the Union agree that the benefits provided

 

under this Agreement are comparable to or

 

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better than those provided under S1034B, enacted under N.Y. Labor Law Sections 27-d and 218-b. and therefore, pursuant to N.Y. Labor Law § 27-d (7) and N.Y. Labor Law Section 218-b (9), the provisions of S1034B are waived with regard to the parties to this Agreement.

 

4. The parties further agree that any dispute

 

arising out of or relating to airborne

 

infectious disease exposure prevention,

 

shall be resolved through the applicable

 

grievance and arbitration process of the

 

Agreement, as the sole and exclusive

 

process for resolution of such disputes.

 

Any grievance alleging a violation of the

 

Employer’s exposure prevention plan

 

that creates a substantial probability that

 

serious physical harm or death could result

 

from a condition which exists, or from

 

one or more practices, means, methods,

 

operations or processes which have been

 

adopted or are in use, by the Employer

 

at the work site, shall be submitted to

 

expedited arbitration within three (3)

 

business days of an arbitration demand.

 

The non-retaliation provisions of the NY

 

HERO Act, SB1034B, shall continue to

 

apply.

 

5. Nothing in this provision shall make or be

 

deemed to make the Union liable to any

 

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employees or to any other persons in the event of any violation of this provision or of the NY HERO Act by any Employer.

 

6. During the period of time prior to any

 

requirement by the Department of Labor

 

or Department of Health that the Employer

 

implement its exposure prevention plan,

 

Employers shall follow the joint guidelines

 

developed by the RAB, the Union and

 

REBNY, as they may be revised, with

 

respect to personal protective equipment,

 

social distancing and other practices to

 

reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposures

 

and/or transmission.

 

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ARTICLE XIII

 

Assents

 

The Union and the RAB will cooperate in facilitating the collection of assents and the Central Pension Fund Participating Agreements.

 

In witness whereof, the parties have hereto set their hands and seals.

 

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 94-94A-94B, AFL-CIO By: Kuba J. Brown

 

Business Manager/Financial Secretary

 

Dated: December 31, 2022

 

and

 

By: Raymond Macco

 

Assistant Business Manager/

 

Recording Corresponding Secretary

 

Dated: December 31, 2022

 

REALTY ADVISORY BOARD ON LABOR RELATIONS, INC.

 

By: Howard Rothschild President

 

Dated: December 31, 2022

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