After years of being nickel-and-dimed, the city’s mainly female school safety agents are finally getting a pile of dollars.
In an move timed to Women’s Equality Day, the city announced Monday it had settled a four-year-old lawsuit from a group of safety agents who were paid far less than their male counterparts.
The suit was settled for $38 million as part of a new labor agreement with Teamsters Local 237.
“It’s fair, and it’s right that we’ve reached this settlement,” said Mayor de Blasio. “It’s a landmark settlement that will raise the pay scale for over 5,000 school safety agents.”
The safety agents, who work for the NYPD but don’t carry guns, were typically paid $7,000 less than workers in hospitals and homeless shelters — who are overwhelmingly male — despite similar training and duties.
In addition to the $38 million the city is paying to settle the lawsuit — which will go toward reimbursing the workers for years of unequal wages — the city will also spend an extra $47 million through March 2018 to bring the employees up to parity.
That’s in addition to 10% raises the workers will receive as part of the contract deal announced on Tuesday.
That deal will cost the city $145.5 million, although officials claim the number drops to $67.9 million after savings the union agreed to are factored in.
City Controller Scott Stringer, who must sign off on any legal action against the city, said the settlement was “in the best interest of both parties.”
One of the women who sued said the deal means “food on the table” for her family.
“I’m just truly, truly thankful,” said Kangela Moore of Queens, a school safety agent for more than 22 years.
At one point, she almost broke down in tears. “I’m just so overwhelmed,” she said.
The New York chapter of the National Organization for Women also hailed the settlement.
“The days of blatant pay discrimination against the mostly female workforce that protects our kids at school are finally over,” said Sonia Ossorio, president of NOW-NYC.
