National AFSCME News
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Tax Prep Resources For Members and Families By DIANE S. WILLIAMS The Municipal Employees Legal Services hosted a virtual Tax Tips webinar on Jan. 25 that 100 DC 37 members attended. The session is now available online for DC 37 members. During the webinar, Tax Expert and Supervising Attorney Sheldon Barasch walked through deductions that can be itemized and how working families can claim the Earned Income Tax Credit. Barasch also reminded attendees that the birth of a child, childcare expenses, education and tuition, property tax, and other expenses may qualify as tax deductions in 2022. “It’s advisable that New Yorkers file their 2022 income taxes electronically and opt to have tax refunds deposited directly into their personal bank account,” explained MELS Director William Whalen, Esq. “We warn members to NOT use ‘Rapid Refund’ because this fast cash option comes with very high-interest rates and fees.” Members and retirees can view the MELS Tax Tips webinar by clicking on the links below: Slides: http://bit.ly/3WG1ujp Video Replay: http://bit.ly/3WIm2aO The Food Bank for NYC offers free, contactless tax preparation services for low-income New Yorkers. Get the refunds and credits you may be entitled to, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Call 646-981-6111, Mon. to Fri., 10 AM to 4 PM, or email [...] — Jan 30
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UPDATE on HEALTHCARE ARBITRATION DECISION December 15, 2022 Dear DC 37 family, As anticipated, a third-party arbitrator issued his decision today regarding your health benefits and the fund that pays for them. He verified that the Healthcare Stabilization Fund has run out of money, and directed the City and the Municipal Labor Committee (MLC) to finalize the terms of a Medicare Advantage Plan offered by Aetna to prepare for its implementation. The arbitrator’s decision also eliminates all options for retirees except HIP VIP and Medicare Advantage. That’s why I have warned for months that the Administrative Code must change in order to protect retirees’ choice in their healthcare plans. The time to act on Administrative Code 12-126 is now. Additional highlights of the decision: The City and MLC should proceed to negotiate appropriate terms for a Medicare Advantage plan with Aetna within the next 25 calendar days. If the MLC does not approve the Aetna Medicare Advantage plan, the matter would revert to the arbitrator for consideration of how benefits provided for by the Stabilization Fund are to be paid for, including the imposition of premiums on actives and pre-65 retirees. The City Council has 45 calendar days to amend the Administrative Code to permit [...] — Dec 15
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Join the Fight to Protect Our Union By HENRY GARRIDO As we look toward 2023, we must stand together to tackle the challenges ahead that face our union and the livelihood of every New York City public worker. Those who mean to cause a division in our collective power are doing the greatest harm to all of us, including themselves. As a union, we spent the past year fighting and winning battles in New York City, Albany, and at the ballot box. In the coming months, we’ll continue our fight at the bargaining table and at City Hall as we negotiate for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement and preserve premium-free health care for our active members and retirees. Thanks to your volunteer political action efforts, we helped hold off a reactionary political movement during the November 2022 General Election. Our door-knocking, phone-banking, and canvassing campaigns in support of Gov. Kathy Hochul and other pro-worker candidates were crucial as they faced stronger-than-expected opposition by Republicans amid the current economic uncertainty. DC 37 was there when they needed us. Now that we’ve delivered a slew of victories for our elected leaders, we demand the same support in the months ahead. Our fight for justice and dignity continues in Albany [...] — Dec 14
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Union Backs City Council on Healthcare Accountability Legislation By MIKE LEE More than 100 union activists and healthcare advocates joined NYC Council Member Julie Menin and other elected officials to rally in support of the Healthcare Accountability and Consumer Protection Act. The Dec. 7 rally at City Hall is part of an ongoing campaign to reduce health care and hospital costs for working families by the Coalition for Affordable Hospitals, of which DC 37 plays a significant role. The just-introduced City Council’s Healthcare Accountability and Consumer Protection Act would increase oversight over what the New York City’s private hospital systems charge for medical procedures. The creation of a first-in-the-nation Office of Healthcare Accountability would mandate that every NYC hospital publish the price for all medical procedures, audit city expenditures on employee-related health care costs, and grade hospitals on their compliance with pricing transparency measures. “We are here to say ‘enough is enough.’ We are tired of wealthy private hospital systems price gouging at our expense. We are here because these hospitals continue to charge us as much as 400% over the Medicaid rate,” said DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido. “To give you one example, one of our private hospital systems charge city workers more than $1,000 for [...] — Dec 7
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DECEMBER NEWS, EVENTS and SERVICES YOU CAN USE HELP US DEFEND PREMIUM-FREE HEALTHCARE DC 37 needs your help. We’re calling on the New York City Council to immediately update Administrative Code 12-126 to preserve premium-free healthcare benefits! How you can help: Take a minute to email your City Council member. It will go a long way in our fight for your healthcare and a new contract. Please share this message with your union sisters and brothers. Together we are strong! ### MELS MELS VIRTUAL WEBINAR: FINDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING in NYC DEC. 7, 6 PM MELS will host an affordable housing virtual webinar on Dec. 7, at 6 PM, with Anna Ramirez, HPD’s Marketing Outreach Coordinator. Housing experts will discuss affordable housing options accessible through NYC Connect. Learn how MELS can help members remain in their homes by challenging illegal rents, defending against eviction, and advocating for rental assistance. SAVE the DATES MELS will host two virtual events–the Income Tax Filing Tips Webinar on Jan. 25, at 6 PM, and the Bank Fraud, Internet Scams and ID Theft webinar on Feb. 7, at 6 PM. To register for any of these three upcoming events, visit www.dc37mels.com. For information, call the MELS Screening Unit at 212-815-1111 or email [email protected] ### PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS WAIVER UPDATE The Public [...] — Nov 29