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Voting closed at noon on Monday with 18,519 of 21,861 NYC PBA members (84.71 percent) casting ballots and 17,921 (97.69 percent) voting in favor of ratification of the new deal.
By Michael V. Cusenza
The members of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York have voted by an overwhelming margin to approve the union’s proposed eight-year contract agreement with the City, with turnout that is among the highest for any union ratification vote, nationwide, PBA officials announced Monday.
The voting was conducted through electronic balloting supervised by the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Voting closed at noon on Monday with 18,519 of 21,861 members (84.71 percent) casting ballots and 17,921 (97.69 percent) voting in favor of ratification. This turnout far exceeds the NYC PBA’s record turnout for its last contract agreement in 2017, when 77 percent of members voted. Union ratification votes nationwide frequently see turnouts of less than 50 percent.
“The resounding support for this contract proves our union’s strength and solidarity. Over the past six years, PBA members have endured the pandemic, riots, rising crime and a deluge of criticism. Through it all, our unity never wavered in our fight for fair market pay,” said PBA President Patrick Lynch. “That fight is still not over. We will continue our quest to return New York City police officers to their rightful place as the highest paid police officers in the nation. We look forward to returning to the bargaining table with the city in 2025.”
The new NYC PBA contract covers the years 2017 through 2025 and includes 28.25 percent in compounded wage increases and an historic agreement to pilot a new working schedule for police officers.
“The men and women of the NYPD put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our city safe — and we’re proud that the PBA contract ratified today recognizes the unique contributions and sacrifices that members of service make on behalf of all New Yorkers. This contract offers fair wage increases, provides for greater flexibility for our officers, and boosts the salary schedule for starting officers to ensure they are fairly compensated,” said Mayor Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain. “We thank Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion and PBA President Pat Lynch for their relentless efforts to reach this historic agreement.”
The contract announcement comes just two weeks after Lynch noted in an email message sent to NYC PBA members that he will not seek re-election when his current term expires in June.
Lynch is the longest-serving PBA president on record and is currently the longest-tenured leader of any major New York City municipal labor union.
He has served six terms as PBA president since being first elected in 1999 as part of a slate of reformed-minded delegates (the PBA equivalent of union shop stewards) from precincts across the five boroughs. In the years preceding Lynch’s election, New York City police officers suffered through three-and-a-half years of zero wage increases, while the PBA was marred by scandals that sent multiple union attorneys and advisors to prison on corruption charges.
Since taking office, Lynch has overseen collective bargaining agreements that have increased police officers’ salaries by 127 percent, while simultaneously transforming the PBA into one of the most vocal and visible advocates for the law enforcement profession nationwide.
