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Filing A Grievance: The Process of Protecting Your Rights By MIKE LEE When a DC 37 member faces injustice, whether it be working out-of-title, unfair treatment by management in the workplace, disciplinary action, or a termination, the union provides full representation through the grievance filing process. A grievance is a dispute between the employee and the employer over whether a collective bargaining contract or policy violation has taken place. Division Directors and Managers at the five DC 37 Field Operations Divisions explain the grievance procedure, which varies depending on the contract for a member’s unit or agency, and whether the Local represents public, private, or non-profit workers, or those serving at cultural institutions. DC 37 members are encouraged to become familiar with their collective bargaining contract language to determine the specific steps for filing a grievance. Professional and Healthcare Marianela Santana, Director of the Professional and Healthcare Division, spoke about the process in her Division, which files hundreds of grievances per year, including cases for out-of-title work, pay disparity, wrongful termination, and other issues that are in violation of the contract. “When a member contacts the union and says, ‘I believe I'm doing out-of-title work,’ we initiate an assessment to determine if there’s a grievance,” Santana said. “When we [...] — Dec 20
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Have You Signed Your White Card? Eligible Members Unlock Union Benefits by Submitting their Health& Security Enrollment Form By ACACIA RODRIGUEZ Being a part of DC 37 is more than just membership in one of New York City's largest unions that negotiates contracts and raises. It's also about added benefits that, while non-economic, definitely impact working families' wallets. With the increasing cost of living, eligible DC 37 members are encouraged to take advantage of all the benefits they can, including medical, dental, legal, and retirement, in addition to support with financial questions, student loan debt relief, educational classes, job training, and estate planning. Signing the Health & Security Benefits Enrollment Form is the critical first step to begin receiving these benefits. After signing the “green card,” or member card, to join the union, members must fill out their “white card,” or benefits enrollment form, and return it to the DC 37 Health & Security Plan Trust by email to [email protected] or fax at 212.298.9880. The form is also available for download at dc37.net/benefits/health/hs_forms. A DC 37 Health & Security Plan Enrollment Form with any required documentation must be on file before members or their eligible dependent/s (legal spouse or domestic partner and dependent children) can obtain [...] — Dec 20
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Welcoming New Members With Help From a Rising Generation of Activists By MIKE LEE The union’s Field Operations team is busy executing worksite visits at the city’s agencies, cultural institutions, and non-profit and private sector facilities to sign up non-members and encourage them to enroll for their Health & Security benefits. At dozens of lunchtime meetings and Union Halls held throughout New York City and upstate since the start of fall, DC 37 staffers and activists have received a receptive, often enthusiastic response. The intensive effort builds union strength while educating both potential and current members on the value of the job protections and extensive services provided by DC 37. Photos: Mike Lee and Acacia Rodriguez All hands were on deck at a Nov. 16 lunchtime meeting at Metropolitan Hospital as Grievance Reps and Division leadership joined representatives of the Health & Security Fund, DC 37 Education Fund, and other vital member services to explain their benefits. This series of meetings is also part of an intensive effort to encourage members to sign the all-important “white cards” (see pages 4-5), guaranteeing eligible DC 37 members and their families health and pension benefits. One of the critical aspects of this campaign is the involvement of Volunteer Member Organizers (VMOs) in the outreach [...] — Dec 20
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Flash Flood: Union Members Assist in Evacuating Patients From Woodhull Hospital By MIKE LEE Major flooding triggered by torrential rains on Sept. 29 created havoc with impassable roads, flooded basements and subway stations, and sudden power outages across New York City. In Brooklyn’s Bedford–Stuyvesant community, a power failure caused Woodhull Hospital to close, forcing an evacuation of 120 patients from the Health+Hospitals facility. Con Edison informed hospital officials that, in order to make the necessary repairs to the voltage feeder line that caused the outage, they would have to shut down Woodhull’s emergency backup generator to restore power to the hospital. Hospital leaders and New York City officials met to coordinate plans and decided to evacuate patients and staff as quickly as possible. “The initial reports I received were the power went out at the hospital and the situation was rather chaotic,” said Carmen De León, President of New York City Health Services Employees Local 768. “They did very well once Health+Hospitals established communications and implemented their plan.” DC 37 members, including workers from Local 768, acted quickly. “The workers at Woodhull evacuated patients, including those critically ill, to other area hospitals,” De León said. “Some of my members, outpatient social workers, stayed behind to help the hospital evacuate inpatient psychiatric [...] — Dec 20
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Local 420 Member Reinstated After Wrongful Termination By MIKE LEE Imagine sending a simple request for additional family leave to be with your newborn child and two other children and receiving a response coldly informing you that your position is terminated. Shari Levy, a Patient Care Associate at Woodhull Hospital, experienced just this. Levy, a hard-working Municipal Hospital Employees Union Local 420 member, began her healthcare career at Health+Hospitals (H+H) in 2013. Beginning in early June 2020, she took leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to give birth and care for her newborn daughter. At the end of the initial two weeks of FMLA leave, Levy requested and received additional concurrent leave under FMLA and the New York Paid Family Leave (PFL) through Aug. 28 of that year. However, unbeknownst to Levy, hospital administration placed her on a three-day childcare leave of absence from Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 2020. At the time, Levy was under the impression she was using FMLA or PFL benefits, not the child care leave benefits afforded to her under the Citywide Bargaining Agreement. H+H coded the final days of Levy’s initial leave period as “child care leave” as an administrative measure to account for Levy’s days off rather than acceding to [...] — Dec 20