the unionist december 2013

8/13/2019 The Unionist December 2013

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Volume 43 Number 11

December 2013

Official Publication of Social Service Employees Union Local 371-DC 37 AFSCME, AFL-CIO www.sseu371.org

NYCHA wants to privatize community and senior

centers, but workers and residents fight back.

C l a r e n c e E l i e R i v e r a

Can You Hear Us NOW?

page 3

NYCHA:


2/8

A

s the year comes to a close, we reflect. We note the passing of the Man ofthe Century and a man for all times, former South African President Nelson

Mandela. His legacy, life and effect on freedom is indisputable. He showedthat humility and forgiveness are qualitiesthat we should strive for. These qualities are notimpediments to success but the foundation forgreatness. He changed the world.

Moving forward, the election of Bill de Blasiobrings hope and a new vision. He is not a saviorbut will be a mayor with a progressive agenda. Hevowed to change New York from a Tale of TwoCities to one that cares about all of its people.We say that a progressive agenda has to include

strengthening the

social safety net,advocating for af-fordable housingand the preserva-tion of public housing. And without question, itincludes settling our contracts with retroactivityand protecting our benefits.

As we move forward, there are threats to and challenges for the labor movement. Ajudge in the 6th District Federal Court ruled that the Michigan Constitutional provi-sion protecting public employee pensions is null and void in bankruptcy proceedings.Thousands of Detroit retirees will either lose their pensions or have them greatly

reduced. The implications of this decision are nationwide, including New York. Andin Illinois, the legislature voted to reduce pensions and benefits.

Within our local, we continue the fightback against layoffs in NYCHA. Asnegotiations continue to mitigate layoffs, we look forward to a change in a mayoralphilosophy that seeks to privatize social and community services to one thatrecognizes the value of City-provided services.

We continue to address the impact of the Medicaid Redesign Teams plan thatcontracted out the CASA and Lombardi programs. Although CASA was reduced andLombardi eliminated, not one job has been lost, and no worker has been redeployedor involuntarily transferred. In fact, there are still discussions being held to bringnew programs back in-house.

We look forward to the future. We continue to see the glass as half full rather than halfempty. The agenda is the same: Stop layoffs, strengthen the Union, get a contract andprotect our benefits and rights. We will fight back any effort to destroy us. We will notbe divided by philosophy, gender, ethnicity or ideology. The Union is strongest whenwe come together for the common cause. The common cause is the Union. HappyHolidays to you and your families. God bless you. God bless the Union.

Anthony Wells

2 The Unionist | December 2013

CALENDAR

Published monthly except for a combined issue in July/August and a Supplement in January by the SocialService Employees Union Local 371, District Council 37,

AFSCME, AFL-CIO. Subscription Price $2.00 annually.Periodical postage paid at New York, N.Y.

POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: TheUnionist, SSEU Local 371, 817 Broadway, N.Y., N.Y. 10003.

USPS# 348990 (212) 677-3900ISSN# 0041-7092

PresidentAnthony Wells

Executive Vice PresidentYolanda Pumarejo

Secretary-TreasurerJuan Ortiz

V.P. Negotiations & ResearchRose Lovaglio-Miller

V.P. Organization & EducationArmenta Weekes

V.P. Grievances & Legal ServicesLloyd Permaul

V.P. Publicity & Community RelationsPatricia Chardavoyne

V.P. Legislation & Political ActionMichelle Akyempong

TrusteesVincent CiccarelloYolanda DeJesusMelva Scarborough

EditorAri Paul

Visit us on the web at www.sseu371.org

Moving Forward in the New Year

[T]here are threatsto and challenges

for the labor

movement.

JANUARY 20146 BCW Chapter: 6:30 p.m.

Union Office, 12th Floor

7 Executive Committee: 6:30 p.m.


8 Women's Committee: 6:30 p.m.


9 Committee of Concerned Social Workers:

6:30 p.m. Union Office, 12th Floor

Black Heritage Committee: 6:30 p.m.


10 Latino Heritage Committee: 6:30 p.m.


15 Delegate Assembly:6:30 p.m.

235 West 23rd Street, Advance Realty

16 Black Heritage Committee:6:30 p.m.


22 Political Action Committee: 6:30 p.m.Union Office, 12th Floor

27 Black Heritage Committee:6:30 p.m.


29 Civilians in Law Enforcement: 6:30 p.m.


30 Black Heritage Committee: 6:30 p.m.



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December 2013 | The Unionist 3

the crowd how NYCHA was shortsightedin its choice to balance its budgets off thebacks of workers.

Last month, the Unionist reported on theUnions massive resistance effort against the

New York City Housing Authoritys move tolay off more than 160 community and senior

center workers and farm out community andsenior centers to non-profit contractors.

While SSEU Local 371 and itsresident and labor allies have yetto achieve total and unconditional

victory, there has been progress. TheUnions research and negotiations sectionheld several meetings with NYCHA man-agement in order to get members trans-ferred to other titles rather than being laidoff, and has so far reduced the at-risk pool

to 15. Even one lay off is one too many,said section VP Rose Lovaglio-Miller.But this is a welcome relief to a greatmajority of the people who were at risk,and it shows that we have avenues to placeworkers in other jobs rather than puttingthem on the unemployment rolls.

Big Rally

The coalition fighting the layoffs andthe privatization staged a rally outsideNYCHAs lower Manhattan headquarterslast month. NYCHA center worker Sadie

Sanders, a Union Executive Committeemember and chapter chair, angrily told

NYCHA: Not Without a Fight

Happy Thanksgiving and MerryChristmas, she said of the recent layoffnotices with biting sarcasm. The Hous-ing Authority doesnt understand, becausethey dont come out to the field and seewhat we do every single day. We workby ourselves most of the time. We do 10jobs. We get one paycheck and now theywant to take our damn paycheck. Well,we are hear to tell them Hell no!

Speaking to journalists during therally, Union President Anthony Wellsexpressed outrage that NYCHA would

try to outsource its community andsenior services. Wells said that notonly were these vital resources for theresidents, but he also noted NYCHAworkers do these jobs better and cheaperthan outsourced labor. Wells stressedthat agencies like NYCHA save costsby reducing the use of costly, inefficientconsultants rather than laying offseasoned and dedicated employees.

They want to privatize communityservices and senior centers, Wells

Picketers caught the attention of people passing by.

Union President Anthony Wells rallied with workers and residents outside NYCHA's headquarters.

Photos:ClarenceElie-Rivera

continued on page 8


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THE AFSCME JUDICIAL

process is going forward in thecase of SSEU Local 371 VicePresident of Grievances andLegal Services Lloyd Permaul,who was suspended from hisduties by the Executive Com-mittee after he admitted tofalsifying City timesheets.

Going Forward

AFSCME Judicial ChairRichard Abelson heard fromboth President Anthony Wellsand the accused in a hearingheld Dec. 5 at the MillenniumHotel in lower Manhattan.

The Union and PresidentWells presented chargesagainst the vice president, andthe Union presented evidencethat in addition to submit-ted falsified timesheets, Mr.Permaul also failed to acknowl-edge procedures mandated by

Update on the Lloyd Permaul Case

the Executive Committee andcommitted actions leading toa sexual harassment lawsuitagainst the Union.

The chair will issue a rulingand, if necessary, issue a penalty

that could include removingthe vice president from postand expulsion from the Union.Once the ruling and penaltyare announced, either partywill have the right to appeal

the decision to the full judicialpanel.

In the interim, Executive As-sistant Shirley Gray is oversee-ing the grievances and legalservices section of the Union.

Ensley Scholarship Fundraiser Still Room!

The First Fundraiser For The Charles EnsleyScholarship Will Take Place

Thursday, January 23, 2014

RUSSOS ON THE BAY

162-45 Crossbay BoulevardHoward Beach, NY 11414

6:00 to 11:00 p.m.

Individual tickets are $125, and a table for 10 is $1,000

For tickets and information contact Deborah Williams at

(212)598-7050 or [email protected].


5/8


New York Citystreets arebusy places, and with speed-

ing cars, hordes of pedestriansand bikers zipping betweenthe roads and sidewalks, theycan be dangerous. Thats whypeople need to be educatedabout traffic safety starting ata young age. Luckily, the Cityhas workers like Sheila Grant.

Grant, who has worked atthe Department of Transpor-tations safety education andoutreach program for two de-cades, goes to different schools

all over the City four days outof the week to educate chil-dren about pedestrian safety.

We target schools wherethere are fatalities or wheresomeone has been hit by avehicle, Grant said.

In addition to doing trafficsafety training, she helps co-ordinate different educationalprograms where studentsidentify the safety problems in

their communities and workwith artists to develop trafficsafety awareness signs. As anadded bonus, the students getto visit the Citys sign-makingshop in Maspeth, Queens.

Its such a great experiencefor the children, Grant said.

Grant started her work ineducation, both in the publicand private sector, which iswhat drew her to this line ofwork. And she especially likesthe fact that she gets to visitdifferent parts of the City andsee different communities.

Every day is a new experi-ence with different children,but its the same message,she said.

Grant noted that over thecourse of her career, issuesof traffic and pedestriansafety have changed and havebecome more challenging.

Keeping Our Kids Safe on the StreetsON THE FRONT LINES

There are a lot more issues,she said. There is a high vol-

ume of traffic now. You havetexting and people talking oncell phones. A lot has hap-pened in 20 years. You havemore people on bicycles.

Grant also hopes to getmore involved with SSEULocal 371. She said it wasntjust important for job protec-tions and to have a voice in theworkplace, but that festive andsocial events brought mem-bers together and forged newrelationships.

We have a voice and wecan advocate how to makechange, she said. Werestrong in numbers.

Attention Recent SSEU Local 371 GraduatesSSEU Local 371s Social Work Month Celebration will take place on Friday, March 28, 2014 at DC 37with an evening of music, food, speakers, and recognition of the Unions social workers.

This event honors those Union members who have graduated from social work school in the past two

years, said Executive Vice President Yolanda Pumarejo, the coordinator of the event and chairperson ofthe Unions Committee of Concerned Social Workers. We expect to have a great time this year, as always.All Local 371 members, family and friends are invited to attend the celebration, which will begin with a freebuffet dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The program will follow, and is expected to end by 9:00 p.m.

Attention Recent SSEU Local 371 Graduates:

Please fill out the coupon below if you have graduated from social work school in the last two years,June 2012 or 2013, August 2012 or 2013, January 2013 or will graduate in January 2014, so that your namecan be listed in the commemorative journal ad. The cutoff date to send in this form is March 14, 2014.

Hundreds of Union members who received their MSWs have been honored at this eventover the years. The cutoff date to send in your information is March 14, 2014.

Please return to Yolanda Pumarejo, CCSW, SSEU Local 371, 817 Broadway, NY, NY 10003.Or you can fax to (212) 777-5528.

I received my MSW in q June 2012 q June 2013 q August 2012 q August 2013q January 2013 q January 2014

SCHOOL ____________________________________________________________ DATE OF GRADUATION _____________

NAME _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS __________________________________________________________________________________ APT. __________

CITY ______________________________________________ STATE _______________________________ ZIP ____________

WORK TEL. ________________________________________________ HOME TEL. __________________________________

S.S. # ___________________________________________ CIVIL SERVICE TITLE _____________________________________

JOB FUNCTION _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Sheila Grant brings the DOT's safety message to the schools.


6/8


PARTIAL VICTORY

Jail Threat Lifted for Bell and Adams

I

n a dramatic turn ofevents, two former ACSworkers implicated in the

tragic death of 4-year-oldMarchella Pierce, walked awayfrom the case Dec. 17 withoutjail time and the virtual assur-ance of a clean record.

Chereece Bell and DamonAdams had been charged withnegligent homicide in the caseof Pierce, who was starved todeath by her mother, a chargeSSEU Local 371 believed waspolitically motivated and base-less. However, the two agreed

this month to a plea bargainthat drops the top charge,while accepting misdemeanorcharges. Bell and Adams willcomplete 350 and 500 hours,respectively, of communityservice with at-risk popula-tions (Adams has opted to dohis with at-risk youth).

End of a Saga

After the completion of the

service, provided they arentconvicted of another crimeduring that time, their crimi-nal records will be wiped clean.

Im relieved that this isover, Adams said upon leav-ing the courtroom.

His lawyer, AnthonyGrandinetti, said that Adamswas a scapegoat of ACS andthat the poor guy has beenthrough hell.

Attorney Joshua Horowitz,speaking for Bell, said that amajor turning point for thecase was a report by a Brook-lyn grand jury in October stat-ing that ACSs failure to act onrecommendations to overhaulits practices resulted in thedeaths of 19 children, vindicat-ing the Unions argument thatBell, Adams and countless ofother ACS workers had beenburied under such a volumi-

nous caseloads that attending

to all cases in a timely mannerwas physically impossible.

I think thats the tip ofthe iceberg, Horowitz said,noting that while reformshave been made many otherproblems persist in the agency.It was a significant report.

As for the original charge ofnegligent homicide, a charge

that the lawyers worked tire-

lessly to get dropped, he saidthat it was an abomination,and shouldnt have happened.

SSEU Local 371, while notproviding direct legal counselin the case, worked closely

with the two former memberssince they were charged inearly 2011. Union membersheld several rallies, including

one outside Bell and Adamss

Photos:MichelFriang

north Brooklyn ACS office andoutside the Brooklyn District

Attorneys office. Rank-and-filemembers packed the courtroomeach time Bell and Adams hada scheduled court appearance.

Bell is currently employed atthe Unions Welfare Fund.

Union President AnthonyWells said af ter the courtappearance, We support thedecisions of Chereece Belland Damon Adams to endthis unfair and outrageousprosecution and persecution.They should never have beenput in this situation. Theynow can move forward withtheir lives. We will continueto support them in any pos-sible way.

Horowitz also blasted a sen-sationalist press for portrayingBell and Adams as crimi-nals during the ordeal, eventhough our justice systemensures that anyone charged isinnocent until proven guilty.

Isnt it just a shame? Howdo you undo it? Horowitzasked. How do you give a per-

son their life back after that?

Damon Adams, top, and Chereece Bell, bottom, expressed relief after this month'splea agreement.


7/8


As the year draws to aclose, we have a lot tocelebrate, including a

lot of victories and highlightsthat show the power of our

mighty, mighty Union. Just toname a few:

We saved all at-risk jobsat CASA.

We have avoided anylayoffs in the Lombardiprogram, with no forcedredeployments.

In August, we savedmore than 500 jobs atNYCHA.

The Sup I Social Serviceand Social Workerlist has been extended toFebruary 2015.

The Associate FraudInvestigator list has beenextended to October2014 for a second time.

We held a follow-upDelegate Training inMarch in lower Manhat-tan and a well-attended three-day

training in upstateNew York in October.

The Union held 120Delegate elections, upfrom 64 the previous year.

The Union campaignedduring the political sea-son, which helped bring ina new mayor, comptroller,public advocate, Brook-lyn district attorney, and

borough presidents forManhattan and Brook-lyn, as well as 19 new citycouncil members.

President Anthony Wellssaid, We believe that with thismomentum, we can come outstronger in 2014, to demand

fair wages and a fair contract.We think this is evidence ofwhat happens when the Unionstands united.

He added, This year has

shown that this Union isntabout making statements orplatitudes. Its about gettingpositive results for ourmembers and the City.

2013: A Victorious Year in Review

THE OFFICERS AND STAFF OF SSEU LOCAL 371

WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON AND A

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

BrookeMcGowen


8/8


Social Service Employees Union

Local 371

817 Broadway

New York, N.Y. 10003

Periodicals Postage

Paid at New York, NY

BULLETIN BOARDMEMBERS

said. But the whole operation, with nocommitment to providing real servicesdirectly by NYCHA, is a problem. Theseworkers have been working in NYCHA fora lot of years. They gave their life and bloodto this agency. And now, because theirphilosophy is to get out of the business.

Resident and community groups likeCommunity Voices Heard were in attendanceat the rally, which was organized by Local375 of District Council 37, which is alsodevoted to keeping agency jobs in-house.

The coalition was quick to point out thatthe message wasnt just about keeping the

jobs, but for preserving the integrity of

public housing in a city where affordablehousing is in dangerously short supply.

Eugene Woody, a resident of theFredrick Douglass Houses and a publichousing activist, marched and spoke insolidarity with the workers. He made thesalient point that not only do residentsrely on workers like SSEU Local 371members, but that many of those membersare also tenants.

The Union is remaining hopeful thatafter January 1 it will be able to negotiatewith the new mayor, Bill de Blasio, whohas shown more willingness to work withunions and invest in public works

like NYCHA.

NYCHA: Not Without a Fightcontinued from page 3

Condolences

SWAP-Caseworker at HRA/ HASA Waverly

12 West 14th Street, Manhattan would like

to swap with a Caseworker at Amsterdam

HASA 400 8th Avenue, Manhattan. If

interested, call (212) 620-9427.

SWAP-Job Opportunity Specialist at

HRA/Homeless Division in the Bronx

would like to swap with a Job Opportunity

Specialist in Brooklyn or Manhattan location.

If interested, call (347) 243-7958.

SWAP- Caseworker at the Barbara S.Kleinman Residence in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

would like to swap with a Caseworker

at 30th Street Assessment Shelter in

Manhattan. If interested, call (347) 515-0317.

SWAP- Hospital Care Investigator at

234 East 149th Street in the Bronx would like

to swap with a Hospital Care Investigator at

Jacobi Hospital. If interested, call

(718) 790-0157.

SWAP- Job Opportunity Specialist at HRA

Center #23 2322 Third Avenue, Manhattan

would like to swap with a worker at Center

#13 at 12 West 14th Street, Manhattan. If

interested, call (347) 405-0040

Condolencesare extended to Jovan Roman,Alternate Delegate based at HRA/FIA Unit, onthe death of her father-in-law, who diedNov. 24. Condolences may be sent to Jovanand Mark Roman, 80 Paladino Avenue, #2G,New York, NY 10035.

Condolencesare extended to Denise Jones,Technical Assistance Specialist, FSS/Office

of Preventative Technical Assistance at 150William Street, 2nd Floor, NY, NY 10038, onthe death of her grandmother, GwendolynHodge, who died Nov. 6. Condolences can besent to Denise Jones, 181 Gordon Street, #2F,Staten Island, NY 10304

Condolencesare extended to the family ofAlma Florido of the Divis ion of Fair Hearing.Condolences may be sent to Alejandra andOmar Otero, 3458 74th St., Jackson Heights,NY 11372.

This fall the Union was happy toreport that the Health andWelfare Fund planned to update its

computer systems to allow for members toaccess their benefits online. Heres somemore good news: The Unions hardworkingweb and computer systems team states thatit expects for members to be able to accessdental and optical benefits records onlineby the end of January.

The team is currently going throughthe system to double and triple check

security mechanisms and compliancewith the Health Insurance Portability andAccountability Act.

The Union will notify members whenthe system is online. There will also bea number to call to inquire about these

Computer System Update

Educational Fund OffersPrep Course

The Educational Fund is offering an onlineCivil Service Examination Preparation

Course for the Child Protective Specialist

and the Job Opportunity Specialist. Theonline course will be available at:

http://civil-tt.sseu371.org.

The exams will be given at computerized

testing and application centers and will be

offered from January, 2014 through

June, 2014.For additional information, please call theWelfare Fund at (212) 777-9000 x3065.

Mandatory DuesIncreaseAs per the constitution of the American Federation

of County, State and Municipal Employees, all

SSEU Local 371 members will receive a $0.25

increase in dues per biweekly pay period effective

Jan. 1, 2014.

The Union thanks members for their

understanding.

new computerized benefits. And asalways, members will still have the optionto come into the office to inquire abouttheir benefits.

the unionist december 2013

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