The union busters are at it again… Unions like ours are again under attack by extremist anti-union organizations that are using deceptive tactics to scam members into giving away their hard-fought rights and personal information. The scammers allude to raises and savings and promote divisive issues to get you to click a link in an email, fill out a postcard, or scan a QR Code. Don’t fall for their lies. These messages are NOT from DC 37. Be aware when receiving mail or online solicitations offering so-called “savings”— you are being pulled into a trap. Their intent is to strip unions of the ability to defend your basic rights as workers, negotiate pay raises, and fight for better benefits. They also support replacing your pensions with 401(k)s and outsourcing public worker jobs to private contractors. If you have any questions about your benefits, please contact your Field Representative.— Dec 19
By JUSTINA RAMLAKHAN In a city where the real estate landscape is constantly evolving, assessing property tax values requires a unique skill set to meet market value and ensure consistency across the board. The NYC Department of Finance (DOF) is the agency responsible for administering tax revenue laws of the city fairly, efficiently, and transparently to instill public confidence and encourage compliance. DOF employees responsible for visiting properties and assessing their tax value are titled City Assessors and are represented by Local 1757 NYC Assessors, Appraisers & Housing Development Specialists. City Assessors oversee the valuation of approximately 1.1 million parcels within the five boroughs and support the single largest source of City revenue, which funds critical services like public schools, public safety services, sanitation, social services, and infrastructure projects. Property sales occur throughout the year and the value of properties changes over time for a variety of reasons. The Cost of Attrition Since March 2020, the number of City Assessors has decreased by 25%, which has troubling implications for the City’s tax revenue collections. “Staffing at DOF has been at a crisis level and continues to decline,” said Candice Ficalora, President of Local 1757 and a City Assessor Level [...]— Dec 16
By MIKE LEE Workers at Breaking Ground were joined by union activists and supporters protesting management’s slow-walking contract negotiations on Oct. 19, 2023. Two years after gaining recognition as a bargaining unit and starting negotiations with management, 400 workers at Breaking Ground ratified their first contract on Aug. 17. With sites in four boroughs, Breaking Ground is New York City’s largest nonprofit developer and operator of supportive housing. In addition to managing more than 4,400 housing units, the agency also provides support services and case management to help clients find permanent housing. The Breaking Ground contract covers nearly 20 titles, including 311 Dispatchers, Case Managers, Engineers, Harm Reduction Specialists, Housekeepers, Housing Advocates, Housing Reporting Specialists, Housing Specialists, Maintenance Workers, Office Managers, Outreach Case Managers, Painters, Porters, Rent Administrators, and Residential Aides. The workers began their union campaign during the summer of 2021, filing for recognition on Aug. 27. Breaking Ground management agreed to recognize the union in early October, making it the first non-profit to agree after the New York City Labor Peace Agreement was signed into law earlier that year, enabling workers of the City’s human services contractors to organize without fear of retaliation. However, when it came time [...]— Dec 16
By MIKE LEE A Custodian at the New York Public Library (NYPL) won a grievance for several Local 374 Quasi Public Employees members thanks to intensive detective work. It began with a grievance the Local filed challenging the square footage of several of the larger New York Public Library branches. When the square footage is above a specific number, the Custodian assigned gets a title upgrade and, therefore, more money. In the course of investigating the grievance, Roland Blowe, Assistant Library Custodian at the Hamilton Grange branch and DC 37 Chapter Chair for Local 374, examined the layouts of larger branches, including the Mid-Manhattan Library, to determine whether workers at those branches deserved to be promoted to a higher title. “The contract language says that if it’s between a 20,000- and 40,000-square-foot building, these workers are supposed to be a Level II, and if it’s over 40,000 square feet, they are supposed to be a Level III,” Blowe said. After Blowe passed the information to the union, Local 374 confronted NYPL. “At first, management put up a fight,” Blowe said. “I thought it would be a clear-cut case because they have the numbers. These are your blueprints.” The Library stalled [...]— Dec 16
DC 37 Celebrates Italian Heritage The union and supporters packed the house for the 26th DC 37 Italian Heritage Celebration. The Oct. 6 event honored the contributions of Italian-Americans, including their central role in the growth of the U.S. labor movement. “Our heritage is a tapestry woven with stories of courage, resilience, and passion,” said Michael DeMarco, President of NYC Traffic Employees Local 1455 and Chair of the DC 37 Italian Heritage Committee. “From the early immigrants who crossed the ocean in search of a better life to the countless individuals who have enriched our society with their talents and hard work, the Italian-American journey is one of inspiration and pride.” Honoring Latino Heritage The DC 37 Latino Heritage Committee hosted a Latino Heritage Month Finale Celebration on Sept. 27. Pictured are SSEU Local 371 President Anthony Wells and Executive Vice President Doris Murphy who chairs the Committee with members of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) NYC Chapter. Local 2507 Member Honored for Service At an Oct. 17 ceremony, the Fire Department of New York honored Deputy Chief Inspector Michael Reardon for his 40 years of service. From left: DC 37 Director of Strategic Initiatives Barbara Edmonds, Reardon, [...]— Dec 16
