NYC and DC37 Come to 5 Year Agreement
DC37
NYC and DC37 Come to 5 Year Agreement - File Photo from DC37
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, alongside key labor leaders and officials, announced a tentative contract agreement that promises significant wage increases for thousands of dedicated childcare providers. The agreement, forged between District Council 37 (DC 37), Local 205, and the Day Care Council of New York (DCCNY), introduces an $18 minimum wage for workers and brings substantial benefits to those who care for New York's youngest citizens.
A Long Overdue Wage Increase
The five-year, five-month, and 12-day contract is a breakthrough for childcare workers in the city. With compounded wage increases totaling 16.21%, the agreement retroactively grants pay raises starting from October 2022. By October 2024, the minimum wage for childcare workers will officially rise to $18 an hour, bringing the compensation more in line with city standards.
Additionally, employees will receive a $2,000 lump sum ratification bonus, alongside a $1,000 contribution per worker toward health insurance. The agreement also reinstates longevity-based payments, which had been paused for over a decade. Workers involved in Extended Day and Year Programs will receive additional payments each summer, a welcomed boost for those dedicated to year-round service.
Mayor Adams: "Investing in Childcare Is Investing in NYC's Future"
"Working families cannot thrive without childcare," Mayor Adams emphasized during the announcement. "To build a strong childcare system in this city, we must invest in the New Yorkers who make it run every day. This agreement puts well-deserved raises in the pockets of hardworking New Yorkers, while investing in our childcare system for years to come."
The mayor’s sentiments were echoed by Deputy Mayor Ana J. Almanzar, who praised the agreement for addressing "long-standing wage and compensation inequities" within the childcare workforce.
A Win for Childcare Workers and New York Families
Leaders from both the union and the Day Care Council hailed the agreement as a major victory for the city's childcare workforce, a group that has long advocated for fair wages. Henry Garrido, executive director of DC 37, lauded the agreement’s inclusion of bonuses, health care funding, and educational benefits.
“Our daycare workers keep this city running,” Garrido noted. “Their expertise and care for the youngest New Yorkers allows working families to attend to their jobs and responsibilities. This contract ensures they are compensated fairly for their dedication.”
Robert Ramos, president of Local 205 Day Care Employees, expressed his relief at finally seeing wages rise after years of inflation. “This contract will impact every facet of life for our members and alleviate some of the pressures at home,” Ramos said.
What the Agreement Means for the Future
As part of the larger effort by the Adams administration to improve early childhood education, this agreement is one of several recent moves to address systemic issues within New York’s childcare infrastructure. With over 150,000 children now enrolled in the city's early childhood system, the need for a well-compensated workforce has never been more apparent.
The administration has already successfully negotiated contracts with nearly 97% of the city's workforce in the past 20 months, many of which include similar wage increases and benefits aimed at addressing retention and recruitment challenges.
As Mayor Adams continues to push for improvements across the city’s childcare and early education systems, the new tentative agreement signals a promising future for both childcare workers and the families they serve.
