Leaders of District Council 33 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents 9,400 mostly blue-collar workers, reached a tentative agreement with the city July 24. The contract provides no raise but a $1,100 bonus, no change in the city contribution to health care, and a number of nonmonetary changes sought by the union.

The membership approved the contract by 2,589 to 1,472, according to District Council 33.

The ratification follows the July 10 arbitration award to the Fraternal Order of Police. That puts pressure on AFSCME District Council 47, representing 3,400 mostly white-collar employees, to reach a deal. Local 22 of the International Association of Firefighters will be in arbitration through the end of the year.

All contracts expired June 30 but have been extended to allow for negotiations. Nutter has been seeking one-year contracts and a commitment from each union to join a labor-management committee to address soaring health-care costs.

The police and District Council 33 have agreed to participate in the committee. District Council 33's agreement also sets up a separate labor-management group to address workplace issues, including areas for improvement.

District Council 33 president Pete Matthews said the vote "accurately reflects the wishes of the membership."

"Now we will be getting started right away on negotiations for a new, multiyear contract that has percentage wage increases and addresses the other contract proposals we made to the city that were not settled with this agreement," Matthews said.