DC37

  • Heavy Turnout at Union-Backed Hiring Hall
    By MIKE LEE Hundreds of New York City job seekers wanting a career in civil service packed the DC 37 Hiring Hall and Job Fair on Saturday, Feb. 11. Sponsored by the union and the City’s Department of Administrative Citywide Services (DCAS), more than 25 agencies were on hand to take applications, hold interviews, and assist with civil service exam registration to help fill the City’s vacancies. New York City Mayor Eric Adams and other union leaders joined DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido to greet the throngs of people that lined the block outside DC 37’s West 45th Street office. The union’s Hiring Hall is part of a recently launched campaign called Staff the Front Lines of the American Federation of State, City and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), DC 37’s national union, to recruit and retain public workers. Despite a slight increase in hiring last year thanks to aid provided by the American Rescue Plan Act and other federal initiatives, the public sector workforce is down more than 500,000 since the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the large attendance at the first event and positive online response through social media, DC 37 is working with DCAS to plan additional hiring halls [...] — Mar 9
  • State Pays Out Second Round of Health Care Worker Retention Bonus
    By DIANE S. WILLIAMS New York State processed the second round of Health Care and Mental Hygiene Worker Bonus (HWB) program payments to eligible workers at city agencies. The majority of employees in line for the second cycle of state-funded retention bonuses are FDNY Emergency Medical Services workers in Local 2507 and officers in Local 3621. “We’re glad the governor recognizes FDNY first responders in Local 3621 and Local 2507 for the sacrifices we’ve made to serve the people of New York City during the pandemic,” said Local 3621 President Vincent Variale. “The union advocated for this benefit and it makes sense that our members are covered because they’re frontline responders to emergency health crises.” “Additionally, the union fought hard to win the maximum payout of $3,000 for this vesting period, free from state and city taxes,” he said. In 2022, New York State began processing payments of the Health Care and Mental Hygiene Worker Bonus covering the first two vesting periods, from Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2022. As an incentive to retain experienced health care workers, the state allocated $1.3 billion in the FY 2023 budget to fund the HWB program. The program pays a bonus of [...] — Mar 9
  • Governor Hochul Introduces Executive Budget
    By the DC 37 Political Action & Legislative Department On Feb. 1, Gov. Kathy Hochul revealed her executive budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2024. Below is an overview of the governor’s plans on a range of issues that impact New York residents and working families: To address the ongoing housing crisis, the Governor proposed the creation of the “New York Housing Compact,” a plan that includes building 800,000 new homes over the next decade. This program will focus on locations near existing subway and commuter rail lines. This plan will allow better access to mass transit and make it more difficult for suburban communities to reject new housing development projects. In her address, Governor Hochul revealed an array of public safety initiatives and investments to sharpen the State’s response to guns and violent crime. These proposals build on criminal justice legislative reforms—particularly “second chance” reforms signed by Gov. Hochul since she took office in 2021. In her budget proposals, the Governor presented an ambitious $1 billion multi-year investment to overhaul mental health care in New York. The goal is to reduce the number of New Yorkers with unmet mental health needs by: Increasing operational capacity by 1,000 beds for inpatient [...] — Mar 9
  • Mayor’s Budget Hits Libraries, Parks, Early Education
    By MIKE LEE Claiming “fiscal discipline (as) the hallmark of this administration,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled a proposed $102.7 billion Executive Budget for fiscal year 2024 on Jan. 12. The mayor included costs of the ongoing migrant crisis, paying for health care, an end to federal stimulus funding, and pending labor agreements as reasons for the draconian cuts in certain essential city services. Mayor Adams pointed to a claimed budget deficit from his November 2022 Financial Plan that could reach as high as $6.5 billion by fiscal year 2027. Among the first targets for cuts are New York City’s three library systems, which are the backbone of the city’s cultural heritage. In the Mayor’s budget modification, the libraries were asked to find a 3% savings. As a result, the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library were able to preserve services without impacting the public. However, further reductions in the proposed Executive Budget mean cutting back critical services such as ESL classes and other public programs. The proposed budget cut may reduce library hours and materials, as well as reduce staff hiring. DC 37 and library advocates led the fight several years ago [...] — Mar 9
  • DC 37 Talks Union Benefits at Worksites Citywide
    By MIKE LEE Beginning in late January and continuing throughout the year, District Council 37 will hold Union Day events at various worksites throughout New York City. Director of Field Operations Barbara Terrelonge explained the importance of the campaign. “We’re focused on going to the workplace meet with workers and demonstrate the value of joining the union,” she said. Educating workers about the many benefits and protections of becoming a member of DC 37 is an important part of field work. So, too, is building an active membership prepared to spread the union message to their communities. In addition to Union Days, Terrelonge said Chapter Chairs and Shop Stewards frequently meet one-on-one with workers interested in joining the union during the lunch hour. DC 37’s Education and Libraries Division hosted Union Days in Brooklyn and Queens on Jan. 30. At Newton High School, Reps greeted School Workers while staff from the DC 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services (MELS) and Personal Services Unit discussed the benefits available to those who join the union. Workers arrived from morning to afternoon to sign member cards, ask questions and share information with School Reps. Donald Nesbit, Board of Education Employees Local 372 Vice President, [...] — Mar 9