National AFSCME News
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STUDENT LOAN FORBEARANCE UPDATE The DC 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services, MELS, has provided the following update on student loan debt forgiveness: Public Service Loan Forgiveness Temporary Waiver: On October 6, 2021, the US Department of Education temporarily waived a number of the requirements borrowers who qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) must meet. The waiver period expires on October 31, 2022. Appropriate steps must be taken prior to that date in order to take advantage of the benefits of the waiver. Waiver of the Qualifying Repayment Plan Options: Under the traditional rules, to qualify for PSLF a borrower working full-time in a qualified employment was required to make 120 payments toward their direct federal student loan debt pursuant to one of the four income driven repayment plan options: PAYE, RE-PAYE, Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment. The repayment plan requirement is temporarily waived. During the waiver period, payments made on any plan will count toward PSLF. Borrowers with FFEL and Perkins Loans: Borrowers with FFEL and Perkins loans now have an improved pathway to PSLF. Under the traditional rules, only direct federal student loans qualified for PSLF. Borrowers with FFEL loans and Perkins loans had to consolidate into a direct consolidated [...] — Oct 19
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Union Settles Illegal Transfer of TEA III By DIANE S. WILLIAMS The union settled a grievance filed on behalf of a Local 983 member, Gary Pearson, who the Police Department wrongfully transferred from the Queens Tow Pound, where he had worked for nearly 30 years, to the Manhattan Tow Pound. The settlement paid him a lump sum of $1,250. Pearson had 36 years’ experience as a NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent Level III and as a heavy duty tow operator. Believing that he was wrongfully transferred, he called the union. “By sticking with the union, members can accomplish anything,” said Marvin Robbins, Vice President of Local 983. Robbins and DC 37 lawyer Dena Klein handled the case. The union believed the TEA III was transferred without justification and that the transfer constituted wrongful discipline. The union filed a wrongful transfer grievance in 2019 shortly after NYPD moved Pearson to the Manhattan Tow Pound which was very far from his home. He also stopped receiving the pay differential for operating the heavy-duty tow truck. The member had received written command disciplines by the NYPD right before the transfer. NYPD management tried to justify the transfers. NYPD claimed that the Manhattan Pound needed more heavy-duty tow operators, however, upon his [...] — Oct 8
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Last Principal Parks Supervisor Retires BY DIANE S. WILLIAMS After a 44-year career in the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Local 1508 Principal Parks Supervisor Vincent Cascella will retire in October. “The highlight of my career has been helping others learn to do the job well and to see them move up to full-time parkies and supervisors,” Cascella said. “I learned to love city parks and I grew to appreciate how important Prospect Park is to the city’s residents.” His retirement as DPR’s last Principal Parks Supervisor (PPS) marks the end of an era. The City redlined the job title in the 1990s and Cascella is the last one. Parks now assigns PPS duties to Parks Supervisors 2, which Local 1508 represents. Cascella started in 1977 as a seasonal Parks worker and was later hired full time as a Local 983 Associate Parks Service Worker. He stood out partly because he rode a motorcycle and played in a rock-n-roll band. Scoring in the top 20 on civil service exams, Cascella climbed the Park Department’s career ladder as a Parks Supervisor in 1987 and then became a Principal Parks Supervisor in 1993. He connected well with his workmates and with Local 1508 [...] — Oct 7
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Voters to Answer Five Referendum Questions on November Ballot On Nov. 2, New York City will hold a general election. In addition to New York City races, the following referendums will appear on the ballot. Below you will find a summary of each of the Constitutional Amendments. DC 37’s Executive Board voted on each on Sept. 14 after PEP Talk went to press. You can find the union’s positions on our blog. No Excuse Absentee Ballot Passed both houses in 2019 (S.1049) and 2021 (S.360) Purpose: Authorizes ballot by mail by removing cause for absentee ballot voting. Right To Clean Air And Water & A Healthful Environment Passed both houses in 2019 (S.2072) and 2021 (S.528) Purpose: Recent water contamination and ongoing concerns about air quality have highlighted the importance of clean drinking water and air, as well as the need for additional protections. Several other states, including Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Montana, have constitutional protections in place to ensure access to clean air and water. This proposed constitutional amendment would follow those models and ensure that clean air and water are treated as fundamental rights for New Yorkers. New York City Civil Court Jurisdiction Passed Both Houses in 2019 (A.7714) Purpose: Increase the jurisdiction of City Civil Court [...] — Oct 6
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DC 37 NEWS, UPCOMING EVENTS and SERVICES YOU CAN USE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, an ideal time to take action on your health. Here’s how Ariel took charge of hers: Ariel was a healthy, 38-year-old mother of two when she was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. “We were all so surprised because I have no family history of breast cancer or cancer. It really rocked our world.” At Ariel’s yearly OB/GYN appointment, her doctor did a breast exam. He felt a little lump underneath her armpit and under her breast. The doctor sent her for a mammogram, which showed that her lymph nodes were enlarged. As a precaution, the doctor recommended a follow-up sonogram. “I went back, and thank goodness I did, because they found tiny signs of breast cancer. I jumped into treatment [at Memorial Sloan Kettering] relatively quickly.” Cancer screenings and preventive care visits are essential to good health and can save lives. Many health professionals fear that delaying screenings due to COVID-19 could cause more harm than good. Ariel advises, “Even if there’s a pandemic, it is still important to prioritize your health and wellbeing. Be proactive. Consult your healthcare professional. A lot of things can be caught early!” Contact [...] — Oct 6