n years past, although we were forced by the city’s unwillingness to bargain fairly to settle our contracts in mandatory PERB arbitrations, we fought long and hard for a negotiated settlement that we could recommend to the membership and, as you know, last year we succeeded.

That contract, achieved in face-to-face negotiations with the city over the bargaining table, provided not only a much-needed and much-deserved wage increase but also introduced an historic innovation in income enhancement for New York City police officers, one that will increase longevity compensation with every new salary increase in the near and distant future.

We continue to reap the benefits of that negotiated settlement. Last year, our police officers received retroactive payment for three four-percent wage increases that the contract called for to have been effective on every August 1st of 2006, 2007 and 2008. And now — while the economy remains in a precarious state and wage increases are extremely difficult to come by — on Aug. 1 of this year, you will be receiving another four percent raise.

The following is a chart detailing the latest salary increase:

On top of that, there are the all important longevity escalators. Here’s how they work: Effective July 31, 2008, each step of the longevity payments was increased by $313. Effective that same date, it was established that the longevity payment schedule would be increased by any future general wage increases, compounded and as of the effective date of those increases (the“escalator”). In addition, effective July 31, 2010, each step of the longevity payments will be increased by $1,230.

As I explained in my column in last December’s issue of The PBA Magazine, having these escalators tied to general salary increases has been a goal of this PBA administration since we first took office ten years ago and it’s a very significant repair of a previous shortcoming in our compensation structure. The longevity-escalator innovation was unprecedented and should have a tremendous long-term impact on our compensation.

With the raise that you will be getting Aug. 1, of 4%, the escalator also takes effect in your longevity schedule. The following chart shows how that works and how next year’s $1,230 longevity increase works.

The following chart shows what your compensation will be, effective July 31, 2010, which includes both salary and longevity payments only.

Although the longevity escalators— combined with wage increases and other benefits — made the negotiated contract settlement reached last year a significant accomplishment, our work on your behalf is not over. When we began in office in what seems like a short time ago, our salary was about $49,000. Since then, we have made significant progress. Our hope, even in this tough financial environment, is to continue to make strides to improve our compensation.