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DC 37 NEWS, EVENTS and SERVICES YOU CAN USE in JULY THE DC 37 GREEN JOBS TRAINING PROGRAM IS BACK AND IT’S EXPANDING! The DC37 Education Fund is happy to announce the Green Jobs Training Expansion Program, a grant-funded training program for eligible DC 37 members to receive free, hands-on instruction in areas of need within the green economy and energy sector. Training courses include Energy Auditing, Multifamily and Commercial Building Analyst, Carbon Accounting, LEED Green Associate, Energy Benchmarking and Construction Management. These courses and more will prepare members for certifications and licenses offered and recognized by the Building Performance Institute, Urban Green Council and Association of Energy Engineers. If you are interested in more information on these courses and what this training can provide for you, click HERE. ### LABOR DAY PARADE, SAT., SEPT. 9 ### UNION WEEKEND AT THE NEW YORK YANKEES, JULY 21-23 Join your fellow Union members and cheer on the New York Yankees as they take on the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium this summer! Each ticket is discounted and includes a hot dog, drink, and a special New York Yankees Union Weekend T-shirt. BUY TICKETS NOW » Three games to choose from: Union Strong Weekend – Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees Fri, July [...] — Jun 29
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The Power of Our Union Thank you for exercising your rights by voting overwhelmingly in support of the Citywide Economic Agreement. What we negotiated in good faith with the City is the best contract the union has received in years. As we grapple with the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, this victory could not have happened at a more critical time for our members. The agreement is a watershed event in our history as a union. Not only does this contract provide pay raises higher than previous Mayoral administrations agreed to, but what we negotiated and you ratified reflects the realities of the present and looks to the future of how New York City’s essential public workforce carries out their jobs. With this contract, we moved toward creating a workplace adaptive to workers’ needs by collaborating with the City on the Flexible Work Committee. On June 1, the Committee announced its recommendations for a hybrid pilot program for thousands of public workers in eligible titles. The pilot program allows eligible employees to work remotely for up to two days per week. This provides greater flexibility for our members, enhancing morale and significantly furthering recruitment and worker retention. The program runs through May 31, 2025, [...] — Jun 20
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Health Care Bill Win a Step Forward to Rein in Hospital Costs By MIKE LEE On June 8, the New York City Council voted to approve the Healthcare Accountability & Consumer Protection Act. The law establishes the Office of Healthcare Accountability (OHA), which has the authority to oversee hospitals’ actions in pricing health care procedures at their institutions and to end the opaque practice of how citywide hospital systems do their business. The passage of the bill makes New York City the first municipality in the United States to establish an agency to oversee hospital pricing with authority and develop a grading system for each hospital’s transparency in revealing their health care costs. “New Yorkers shouldn’t have to struggle to understand the costs of health care services or go into debt to the lack of transparency,” said New York City Council Member Julie Menin, who introduced the legislation. “The HACP Act will help protect patients from inconsistent hospital pricing and level the playing field for consumers in the health care industry.” “Inflated rates by some private hospitals are one of the biggest threats to the foundation of our health care system,” said DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido at a City Hall rally announcing the bill on Feb. 23. “Fulfilling this basic [...] — Jun 20
- DC 37 June 27 Primary Endorsements for City Council, Bronx District Attorney — Jun 20
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A Fighting Union: Campaign Key to Contract Victory By MIKE LEE Since early March, as reported in the previous issue of PEPtalk, DC 37 staff and leadership have led nearly 200 in-person worksite lunchtime meetings, engaging DC 37 members on matters involving the then-tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement and showcasing the variety of benefits the union offers members and their families. Directors and staff from DC 37 divisions representing locals covered by the contract traveled across the city to explain the tentative economic agreement at worksite “Union Days,” answering questions, educating members on their union benefits, and signing up non-members to join the union. Union Day meetings were held every day throughout March until the night before the vote count—in some cases, as many as four sessions a day. This field effort was the union’s first major in-person campaign since the pandemic and offered a valuable opportunity to connect one-on-one with members at jobsites throughout New York City. “We gave our team this directive. Our people took this on and accelerated.” “This effort has encouraged the entire staff, and they see how important these in-person meetings matter to our members and other city workers,” said Barbara Terrelonge, DC 37 Director of Field Operations. “As we went along, I witnessed [...] — Jun 20