DC37

  • DC 37 NOVEMBER EVENTS, SERVICES and NEWS YOU CAN USE
    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
  • HELP US PROTECT YOUR PREMIUM-FREE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS
    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
  • Health Care Workers Bonus Program From NY State (w/update)
    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
  • Important Facts About COVID-19, Monkeypox, Legionnaires’ & Polio
    By DIANE S. WILLIAMS & MIKE LEE DC 37 is taking measures to protect members’ safety and health at work, with the Safety and Health Department compiling the latest information from the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on COVID-19, Monkeypox, Legionnaires’ disease, and Polio. In August, the federal government followed suit, which will increase funding and services. “We’re here to ensure that management upholds workplace safety standards for DC 37 members and protects our members in all possible ways,” said Deborah Williams, Safety and Health Department Director. “Anyone who believes they are working in an unsafe environment should immediately speak to the Union Representative assigned to the location.” COVID-19 INFORMATION, ADVISORY & VACCINE MANDATE UPDATE DC 37 wants to help members stay safe during the pandemic by working together to lessen the spread of COVID-19 and its highly contagious variants. DOHMH urges people over 50 to get the latest COVID-19 vaccine booster. COVID-19 is still present and spreading. The Health Department advises individuals to continue to take precautions to help stop the spread. For more information, visit nyc.gov/covid. For information on COVID-19 protocols for City employees, including the DCAS Commissioner Directive for Face Coverings, the [...] — Oct 14
  • PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS WAIVER EXPIRES OCT. 31. VIEW the VIRTUAL PSLF WEBINAR on ZOOM THURSDAY OCTOBER 13 at 2 PM
    As many as 250,000 New Yorkers are eligible for student loan forgiveness and 20,000 Department of Education employees are now eligible. Over 7,500 New Yorkers have already been forgiven an average of $63,935 in student debt. There’s a lot more money still on the table. You could be next! But time is running out! You must apply by October 31, 2022! LEARN MORE After 14 years with a broken mess, the U.S. Department of Education has created a temporary fix to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, but you must apply for the waiver before it expires on Oct. 31, 2022. Through PSLF more than 250,000 New Yorkers are eligible to have all their student loans erased. DC 37 is proud to work alongside the PSLF.nyc Student Debt Free, ASAP Campaign, a coalition of nonprofits, government agencies and labor unions, to spread the word. Many public employees are already working through the process and will have loans forgiven soon. Read about two DC 37 members who received $345,000 in combined student loan forgiveness HERE. Getting started is easy: Use the 20-minute Help Tool StudentAid.gov/PSLF to see if you are eligible. Visit PSLF.nyc to learn more, watch a video, join a webinar, or get [...] — Oct 12