Faced with the management’s refusal to remedy unfair labor practices and address workers’ major priorities during contract negotiations, AFSCME Local 397 (District Counc
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
By DIANE S. WILLIAMS MELS, the union’s Municipal Legal Services, held a virtual webinar on Nov. 2 on separation and divorce in New York State. More than 50 union members attended the event. Those interested in a recording of the webinar can view it here: http://bit.ly/3EyLs3V. MELS legal experts provided advice to members and retirees who reside in New York and are considering a separation or divorce. The MELS staff discussed issues involved with deciding to divorce; having MELS represent you; the advantages of using MELS attorneys; what documentation is needed to start divorce proceedings, and shared other valuable information and resources. Eligible DC 37 members can have MELS lawyers represent them in a divorce at no cost. MELS provides representation in matrimonial law issues such as separation, child custody and other legal matters, except criminal cases. To speak with an attorney, call the MELS Screening Unit at 212 815-1111 or email [email protected]— Nov 22
U.S. CITIZENSHIP VIRTUAL SEMINAR WEDNESDAY, NOV. 2 at 6 PM Interested in becoming a United States citizen? Learn about the benefits of becoming a U.S. citizen at a virtual presentation by the DC 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services (MELS), 32BJ SEIU Legal Services Fund, CUNY’s Citizenship Now! and the Emerald Isle Immigration Center at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, on Zoom. This seminar will answer how and when to file for citizenship, the requirements, preparing for the citizenship test, and more. A Q&A session will follow. Please register at: https://bit.ly/3LxVTHT or call 212-815-1111. ### MEHP HOMEBUYER ORIENTATION VIRTUAL WEBINAR MONDAY NOVEMBER 7, at 6 PM DC 37 Municipal Employees Housing Program (MEHP) will hold a free virtual Homebuyer Orientation Webinar for DC 37 members and retirees Monday November 7, at 6 PM. Housing and mortgage experts will discuss how to prepare to buy a home, affordable mortgage options, down payment and closing costs assistance, and more. Please register HERE or call 212-815-1814. Registrants will get a meeting link on Nov. 7. ### PLAN TO VOTE TUESDAY, NOV. 8 DC 37 members deserve to have a say in this year’s mid-term elections! Early voting began Oct. 29 and runs through Nov. 6, or vote at your polling [...]— Nov 1
October 31, 2022 Dear DC 37 Family, As I shared with you last month, we’re doing everything we can to protect the benefits you have earned and deserve for serving our city. We’ve reached a critical point in the fight for your healthcare, and now we need your help. Here’s the bottom line: The money that pays for city employee, retiree and dependent healthcare has run out. The bills continue to pile up at a rate of $50 million per month and we have to take drastic measures to pay for it. We have vetted and implemented every available option to realize savings and stop the healthcare fund from bleeding dry. Now, we need the City Council to amend the language in Administrative Code 12-126, which is essential to preserving premium-free healthcare benefits for you, New York City’s hardworking public servants. Because the shortfall in the healthcare fund continues to grow, the City is considering imposing premiums on active employees and retirees if the City Council doesn’t act immediately. Here’s how you can help: 1) Call your City Council Member. Enter your address here to find your Council Member’s District Office phone number. Call and tell them: Protect premium-free healthcare for City employees and amend [...]— Oct 31
DC 37 fought hard to create a fund for “essential pay” for members on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks in part to that effort, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the state set aside $1.2 billion in the budget to fund bonuses up to $3,000 for health care and mental hygiene workers at public and private hospitals, health care facilities, and related employers providing health care-related functions. The New York State Health Care and Mental Hygiene Worker Bonus covers the period from Oct. 1, 2021, to March 31, 2024. The program provides bonuses to frontline health and mental hygiene workers who provide hands-on assistance with health care services. Currently, the program includes full-time and part-time employees, temporary, and contracted workers in 101 H+H titles, with additional titles in Mayoral agencies to be determined. The union is advocating for the largest possible group of titles that have been or will be engaged in health care, including in H+H and mayoral agencies where employees provide care to patients, clients, or residents. The union is also advocating for members working at nonprofit, private sector organizations that provide care and are funded through the state offices of Persons with Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health, Department [...]— Oct 14
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
By DIANE S. WILLIAMS MELS, the union’s Municipal Legal Services, held a virtual webinar on Nov. 2 on separation and divorce in New York State. More than 50 union members attended the event. Those interested in a recording of the webinar can view it here: http://bit.ly/3EyLs3V. MELS legal experts provided advice to members and retirees who reside in New York and are considering a separation or divorce. The MELS staff discussed issues involved with deciding to divorce; having MELS represent you; the advantages of using MELS attorneys; what documentation is needed to start divorce proceedings, and shared other valuable information and resources. Eligible DC 37 members can have MELS lawyers represent them in a divorce at no cost. MELS provides representation in matrimonial law issues such as separation, child custody and other legal matters, except criminal cases. To speak with an attorney, call the MELS Screening Unit at 212 815-1111 or email [email protected]— Nov 22
U.S. CITIZENSHIP VIRTUAL SEMINAR WEDNESDAY, NOV. 2 at 6 PM Interested in becoming a United States citizen? Learn about the benefits of becoming a U.S. citizen at a virtual presentation by the DC 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services (MELS), 32BJ SEIU Legal Services Fund, CUNY’s Citizenship Now! and the Emerald Isle Immigration Center at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, on Zoom. This seminar will answer how and when to file for citizenship, the requirements, preparing for the citizenship test, and more. A Q&A session will follow. Please register at: https://bit.ly/3LxVTHT or call 212-815-1111. ### MEHP HOMEBUYER ORIENTATION VIRTUAL WEBINAR MONDAY NOVEMBER 7, at 6 PM DC 37 Municipal Employees Housing Program (MEHP) will hold a free virtual Homebuyer Orientation Webinar for DC 37 members and retirees Monday November 7, at 6 PM. Housing and mortgage experts will discuss how to prepare to buy a home, affordable mortgage options, down payment and closing costs assistance, and more. Please register HERE or call 212-815-1814. Registrants will get a meeting link on Nov. 7. ### PLAN TO VOTE TUESDAY, NOV. 8 DC 37 members deserve to have a say in this year’s mid-term elections! Early voting began Oct. 29 and runs through Nov. 6, or vote at your polling [...]— Nov 1
October 31, 2022 Dear DC 37 Family, As I shared with you last month, we’re doing everything we can to protect the benefits you have earned and deserve for serving our city. We’ve reached a critical point in the fight for your healthcare, and now we need your help. Here’s the bottom line: The money that pays for city employee, retiree and dependent healthcare has run out. The bills continue to pile up at a rate of $50 million per month and we have to take drastic measures to pay for it. We have vetted and implemented every available option to realize savings and stop the healthcare fund from bleeding dry. Now, we need the City Council to amend the language in Administrative Code 12-126, which is essential to preserving premium-free healthcare benefits for you, New York City’s hardworking public servants. Because the shortfall in the healthcare fund continues to grow, the City is considering imposing premiums on active employees and retirees if the City Council doesn’t act immediately. Here’s how you can help: 1) Call your City Council Member. Enter your address here to find your Council Member’s District Office phone number. Call and tell them: Protect premium-free healthcare for City employees and amend [...]— Oct 31
DC 37 fought hard to create a fund for “essential pay” for members on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks in part to that effort, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the state set aside $1.2 billion in the budget to fund bonuses up to $3,000 for health care and mental hygiene workers at public and private hospitals, health care facilities, and related employers providing health care-related functions. The New York State Health Care and Mental Hygiene Worker Bonus covers the period from Oct. 1, 2021, to March 31, 2024. The program provides bonuses to frontline health and mental hygiene workers who provide hands-on assistance with health care services. Currently, the program includes full-time and part-time employees, temporary, and contracted workers in 101 H+H titles, with additional titles in Mayoral agencies to be determined. The union is advocating for the largest possible group of titles that have been or will be engaged in health care, including in H+H and mayoral agencies where employees provide care to patients, clients, or residents. The union is also advocating for members working at nonprofit, private sector organizations that provide care and are funded through the state offices of Persons with Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health, Department [...]— Oct 14
