Seems like it might be your fault

Manhattan: Initially, as I read “For justice, pay us what we’re worth” (op-ed, Aug. 26), a guest opinion by Dalvanie Powell, president of the United Probation Officers Association, I was in total sympathy with the plight of the minority and female probation officers whose salary discrimination the piece details, citing a salary range of $45,934 to $57,885 maximum for a position requiring a specialized college degree. The union has filed an action in federal court because compensation has declined for more recently hired officers who are almost totally minority and/or female.

Curious as to the extent of the discrimination, I referenced the collective bargaining agreement for December 2009-April 2017, where the salary range appears to be $49,173-$71,197 (I did not find a later CBA, but I doubt the salary would have declined).

As to contract unfairness to the more recently employed minorities/ females, the agreement negotiated by the union (and presumably ratified by the membership) includes longevity increments of $7,000-plus during years two through six for those employed prior to August 2004 and $2,700-plus for post-August-2004 hires.

This suggests that the union actually caused the wage disparity by opting to distribute the bulk of the wage package to the more senior staff. Since most public employees are probably inadequately compensated, it is painful to observe a union undercutting those legitimate claims by trying to game the courts for the consequences of its own negotiating.