members

Women Moving Forward: Union’s Leadership Academy Class Graduates

July 26, 2021 // 0 Comments

By MIKE LEE The Lillian Roberts Women’s Leadership Academy graduated its third cohort on June 19. The LRWLA, normally an in-person, six-month program that requires participants to dedicate a full Saturday, once a month for the duration of the program, was held virtually due to COVID. Claire Menelas, Assistant Director of the DC 37 Ed Fund, said that with an overwhelming response, the program was split into two cohorts, with the next program scheduled to begin this September. The program, held in collaboration with the American Federation of State, City and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), District Council 37’s national union, the LRWLA is a leadership program designed to support and develop female workers to become leaders in their professions, their union, and in their communities. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was converted into a 14-week course, and the first fully [More...]

DOT Highway Repairers Help Staten Island Driver in Fatal Crash

July 16, 2021 // 0 Comments

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS Two fast-acting DOT workers helped rescue a driver from a burning SUV in a fatal crash July 10, on the Staten Island Expressway. The Department of Transportation crew was making road repairs Saturday around 8:30 a.m. on the Brooklyn-bound highway leading to the Verrazano Bridge. “The SUV was traveling in the high-occupancy lane on the left when it hit the wall with such force that it crossed three lanes and stopped near the work zone where we were,” said Assistant City Highway Repairer Michael Sasso, a DOT employee since 2013. “It happened so fast. How no other cars were hit is a mystery.” Sasso and coworker Eusi Pickering, a Local 376 Highway Repairer, ran to the wreckage to find an unconscious driver slumped across the front seats of his Buick. Sasso said, “The OnStar operator called 911 as we worked to figure out what to do.” The SUV started to leak [More...]

Local 983 Enrolls 1K+ New Parks CSAs

July 16, 2021 // 0 Comments

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS Local 983 is working around the clock to build union membership in a massive campaign to enroll 1,500 new City Seasonal Aides. The Parks Department hired the CSAs to clean up public parks across the five boroughs. “Our grievance reps are working 15-hour days in order to get these newest Parks employees to join the union,” said President Joe Puleo. Since June, the local has signed up about 1,000 members as part of their all-out effort. During the COVID-19 lock down, New York City residents are using neighborhood parks, beaches and boardwalks, urban forests and nature trails more than ever. These greenspaces are essential to the well-being of New Yorkers seeking reprieve from the confines of their apartments and homes. But in 2020 and throughout the pandemic, public parks quickly became overrun with trash and debris. DC 37 Executive Director Henry [More...]

Giving Back During the Pandemic

July 9, 2021 // 0 Comments

By MIKE LEE Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, DC 37’s essential workers stood tall in serving the public under the most difficult situations the city has ever faced. Communities throughout New York City suffered, both from the unprecedented health crisis and the economic dislocation that it created. Two-thirds of the union’s 150,000 workers were deemed essential and went to work in-person every day. Some paid the ultimate price for their sacrifice. Our essential workers were not our only heroes, however. Other DC 37 members went above and beyond in taking the time to help at-risk communities; volunteering to help those most in need. Their contributions were vital in keeping people whole. A prime example has been the work of Local 2627 member Elias Barreto. Barreto, a 20-year veteran of the Department of Transportation in Internet Technologies, stepped forward with others to help his [More...]

Union Wins $10K+ for Four Local 768 Therapists

July 8, 2021 // 0 Comments

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS A group grievance filed on behalf of Licensed Creative Arts Therapists in Local 768 was settled in May. The union recouped about $10,000 in total retroactive pay owed to four Bellevue Hospital therapists who were not paid RIPs, recurring incremental payments, from 2017 to 2019. “The local filed the group grievance for these members to enforce the terms of the contract that provide RIPs after two years of service,” said Local 768 President Carmen de Leon. The licensed therapists use art and music to help patients heal. Their skills are especially useful as patients and Bellevue Hospital staff cope with increased stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The therapists contacted the union when they realized the Payroll Department failed to add the RIPs to their biweekly paychecks in March 2017. Council Rep Joel Vera Viera filed the group grievance that [More...]

The LATEST NEWS, UPCOMING EVENTS and SERVICES YOU CAN USE

July 6, 2021 // 0 Comments

9/11 WTC HEALTH WORKSHOP The DC 37 Safety and Health Department invites members to attend a virtual workshop with the World Trade Center Health Program and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund on Thursday July 15, at 6:30 PM. Hear from experts Maria L. Lugo, Sr. Program Coordinator, World Trade Center Health Program, Clinical Center of Excellence at Mount Sinai, Nicole P. Smith, September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Associate Special Master and Anthony Gardner, September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Director of Communications & External Affairs. To join, please REGISTER HERE: https://webinar.ringcentral.com/webinar/register/WN_ssxK1qy7SEqmKvn9s07mTA Registration is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to join the webinar. For assistance, please call Safety and Health Department: 212.815.1685 or email: safety@dc37.net ### SUMMER [More...]

SUMMER FUN at SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE!

July 2, 2021 // 0 Comments

DC 37 members get discounted admission to the Six Flags theme park in Jackson, New Jersey and can save over $40 on the gate admission. Just click the link below and enter promo code rewards2021 in the red box at the top right-hand corner that says “Enter Promo.” For Theme Park and Safari Drive Thru tickets, please order here: https://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure The Safari Drive-Thru requires a reservation: https://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/things-to-do/animal-attractions To purchase Hurricane Harbor water park tickets, please visit: [More...]

Museum of Jewish Heritage Workers Hold Union Solidarity Event

June 23, 2021 // 0 Comments

Staff from the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, located in Lower Manhattan, held a solidarity demonstration on June 10, in support of the unionization effort currently stalled by Museum management. The demonstration was timed for when audience members arrived for an indoor concert by Sharabi, a Bhangra-Funk-Klezmer fusion group. The workers brought their own instruments, including kazoos and maracas to make the protest more entertaining. Sarah Gordon, the band’s singer, came out to greet the workers and offer support. In June 2020, 40% of Museum of Jewish Heritage staff were laid off, and remaining workers believed it was time to unionize. Issues include job security, inequality in pay and promotion, safety issues, and other provisions to ensure their dignity as workers. Museum staffers won a union election with DC 37 last December. However, efforts to [More...]

MELS ID THEFT WEBINAR JUNE 23, 5:30 PM

June 23, 2021 // 0 Comments

MELS will host an ID Theft and Scams webinar on Wednesday, June 23, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Learn how to spot and respond to IRS scams, Social Security scams, Internet scams, and investment scams. Learn how to respond to identity theft discovered through banking and credit transactions or fraudulent unemployment claims. Learn about the three most popular credit report security devices, how they differ and how to use them for your advantage. Register at www.DC37mels.com. A link to join online or by phone will be forwarded in advance. Call MELS Screening at 212-815-1111 for more information. Below are the links to the webinar replay and slides: MELS ID Theft & Scams Webinar – Video Replay: https://bit.ly/3qo5ruh MELS ID Theft & Scams Webinar – Slides: [More...]

#DC37GETSVACCINATED

June 20, 2021 // 0 Comments

Raul Domenech, Local 1501 President I am a Senior Attendant at the New York Aquarium, where I clean and maintain the grounds. As an essential worker, I come in contact with the public daily. As a union leader, I want to set an example, so I decided to get the shot. I did my research. The information on the union website helped me make my decision. I got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in April. During the height of the pandemic, I was very concerned for my family and my coworkers. There was so much misinformation circulating back then. We didn’t know much about the coronavirus. At first, there was a shortage of PPE. I remember I met the DC 37 Safety Director Deborah Williams a few times in a Bronx parking lot to get masks for my members. I know coworkers who got sick from COVID-19. They were out of work for six weeks, two months. Some still have long-term effects from COVID. I [More...]