National AFSCME News
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DC 37 NEWS, EVENTS and SERVICES YOU CAN USE in NOVEMBER 2023 DC 37 POLITICAL ACTION Are you ready to vote? It’s that time of year again! DC 37 members are standing in unity to get pro-worker candidates elected to the New York City Council. Here’s all the information you need to cast your ballot in this year’s elections. 2023 General Election Schedule The New York City General Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. You also have the option to vote at an early voting site between Saturday, Oct. 28 and Sunday, Nov. 5. Find your poll site location here or contact 311 or 1-866-VOTE-NYC for more information. DC 37 Endorsed Candidates The DC 37 membership has endorsed a great group of candidates! Check out the list below to see who we’re supporting in your community. Vote “Yes” on State Ballot Proposals Your election-day ballot will include two questions proposing changes to the New York State Constitution. Removal of Small City School Districts Debt Limit – Vote Yes! If this amendment passes, both small and large city school districts will be subject to the same debt limit rules. DC 37 supports this equitable amendment. Ballot Question: The proposed amendment to Article 8, [...] — Oct 31
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DC 37 NEWS, EVENTS and SERVICES YOU CAN USE in OCTOBER DC 37 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES LEGAL SERVICES MELS Student Loan Debt Webinar Please join MELS for a webinar on student loan debt at 6 p.m. on Oct. 18. Topics covered: Fresh Start: Bringing student loans in default current without penalty. One-Time Adjustment: Fast-tracking the path to Income Driven Plan and Public Service Loan Forgiveness for eligible borrowers. The SAVE Repayment Plan: Eligibility and how it works. Register HERE. For more information, call the MELS Screening Unit at 212-815-1111 or e-mail [email protected]. ### Learn About the Benefits of Becoming a United States Citizen The Building Service 32BJ Legal Services Fund, the DC 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services (MELS), CUNY’s Citizenship Now! and the Emerald Isle Immigration Center are jointly presenting a seminar on the benefits of citizenship, on Tuesday, October 17 at 6 p.m. This seminar will answer questions such as: How and when to file? What are the requirements to file? What is the test and how do I prepare? How can the 32BJ Legal Services Fund, MELS, CUNY’s Citizenship Now! and the EIIC help me? Join us via Zoom to learn the answers to these questions and many more. Register HERE. ### Death of a Loved One: Administration of Small Estates ($50,000 or [...] — Sep 29
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Your Union in Action: Local 1505 Member Receives Vital Medical Equipment By MIKE LEE A tenacious local president challenged the system by advocating for a Local 1505 member to receive life-saving equipment. Samuel Marshall, a Local 1505 City Park Worker, has a severe heart condition that requires extensive care and monitoring. In late May, Marshall entered an emergency room complaining of shortness of breath. After monitoring and diagnosis, it was recommended he receive a “LifeVest” to prevent a sudden cardiac death. Although related, a sudden cardiac death is different from a heart attack. Cardiac death is caused by an irregular heartbeat that eventually stops beating. When that occurs, the individual can lose consciousness and cease breathing. The immediate signs of a sudden cardiac death are different from a heart attack. In a heart attack, there are warning signs and time to call for help. With a sudden cardiac death, the only indication is loss of consciousness, which can happen whether someone is awake or asleep. Without immediate treatment, the patient will die. The LifeVest is a wearable external cardiac defibrillator that protects patients at risk of sudden cardiac death without medical care nearby. The LifeVest constantly monitors the patient’s heartbeat to detect certain life-threatening rapid heart rhythms and automatically delivers a [...] — Sep 20
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CBTU 52nd Convention: An Agenda that Promotes Growth By LESLEY WILLIAMS The 52nd International Convention of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) was an extraordinary event, attended by over 1,400 delegates and guests, including delegations from Africa and Canada. The event took place from May 24-30, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The theme of the convention was “Confronting Radical Dangers to Our Families and Our Future.” The well-structured event identified issues of concern and offered comprehensive approaches to evaluate and collaboratively address them. One of the first events was the Retirees Conference chaired by Donald Afflick, DC 37 Retirees Association’s VP of Political Action & Legislation. The Retirees Association was well represented by members from New York and Florida. A representative from the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) highlighted the importance of Social Security and the significant threats it currently faces, namely privatizing Social Security and raising the retirement age. The ARA’s position, on the other hand, is to strengthen and expand Social Security. Seniors’ wellness and mentoring were also important agenda items and were widely discussed and debated. The role of retirees as mentors to the youth was well illustrated by CBTU’s president the Rev. Terrence Melvin in his greetings, which emphasized the significant contribution of retirees [...] — Sep 20
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New State Law Addresses Informing Benefits for 9/11’s Forgotten Victims By MIKE LEE On the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center that unleashed deadly toxins in lower Manhattan, legislation to fully address the “forgotten victims” of the attacks was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul. These victims are those who worked at businesses in the surrounding area and remain at risk for multiple illnesses associated with the attack. Dozens of types of cancer continue to be diagnosed in first responders and others involved in the cleanup of the World Trade Center site. The legislation, which unanimously passed the New York State Assembly and Senate in June, will expand participation in programs devoted to compensation and health care for those living and working in the area of the 9/11 attacks. Now made law, New York’s 9/11 Notice Act directs businesses in the toxic exposure zone to inform their current and former employees of the right to register for the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) and the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). Health resources and financial compensation apply not only to first responders, but also to anyone who lived or worked in the area. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, less than 10% of [...] — Sep 20