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Representation Worth Fighting For. Meet DC 37’s New Local: 5911 By JUSTINA RAMLAKHAN 911 Operators are the first line of defense on many New Yorkers’ worst days. Assigned to the New York Police Department’s Communications Section as emergency call takers, they also serve as radio dispatchers of police resources and perform all other administrative duties related to the provision of emergency services. Previously represented by Local 1549, Police Communication Technicians (PCTs) and Supervising Police Communication Technicians (SPCTs) voted on Feb. 22 to create a new DC 37 local. Local 5911 now represents approximately 1,500 PCTs and SPCTs. The members formerly populated the 911 Chapter of Local 1549, NYC Clerical-Administrative Employees. The push to organize their own, unique local started shortly after Local 1549 was placed under administratorship by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) in September 2022. But the reasons for separating into a new local didn’t begin there. Members of the 911 Chapter had long advocated for the opportunity to govern themselves, honoring how their work responsibilities and concerns differed from the other clerical and administrative titles they were grouped with under Local 1549. “From the very beginning, we noticed our work was fundamentally different from aides and clerical staff,” said Barbara Terrelonge, DC 37 [...] — Jun 12
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The Art of Coaching Double Dutch: Community Learns the Ropes from Local 299 Member Four generations at practice — Brown with his wife, daughter, granddaughters, and great granddaughter. Story and Photos by ACACIA RODRIGUEZ For Local 299 member Stanley Douglas Brown, double dutch is not a game. The Recreation Supervisor has coached double dutch since 1981 at the Sorrentino Recreation Center in Queens, where it is one of the largest member-based programs in the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. The “Stan’s Pepper Steppers” founder has taught more than 5,000 children how to jump and has won more than 500 double dutch championships. “You’ve got the game of double dutch and the sport. We do both, but I teach the sport,” Brown said. With its roots in telephone wire and rhymes recited near open fire hydrants, double dutch has remained an accessible means of exercise and community building. It can be practiced on the sidewalk, street, or gymnasium floor. Brown instructs the Pepper Steppers during training Brown and the Pepper Steppers have a tradition of competitive double dutch excellence. They’ve appeared on The Wendy Williams Show, ESPN, in Seventeen Magazine, and even the film Do The Right Thing. The small recreation center in Far Rockaway houses a dynasty team. Stan’s Pepper Steppers [...] — Jun 12
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Generating Life-Changing Wealth with Municipal Employees Housing Program Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s. Story & Photo by JUSTINA RAMLAKHAN For many working-class New Yorkers, the real estate market can be intimidating. With increasing rent prices and the possibility of owning a home more out of reach than ever, quality housing options seem few and far between. That’s where the DC 37 Municipal Employees Housing Program (MEHP) steps in. The program was first established in 2006 to bridge the gap between members and available housing opportunities. The MEHP has seen a transition in its focus through the years as different market demands have emerged and the availability of assistance programs has shifted. Under the current leadership of Housing Manager Daniel Tovar, the department’s goal is to educate as many members as possible about the life-changing benefits of owning a home. Despite the program’s name, the service is available to all DC 37 members. “For us in the middle class, it’s an accomplishment if we’re able to save anything at all,” Tovar said. “By owning a home, our members are able to build equity and potentially change their lives and the lives of their children.” Tovar brings more than 17 years of [...] — Jun 12
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Non-Profit Private Sector Workers Win Big in City Agreements By MIKE LEE Local 95 Wins New Contract District Council 37 reached a tentative agreement with the Head Start Sponsoring Board and the City of New York on behalf of Head Start workers in Local 95. The new contract includes a minimum of 16.21% in cost-of-living (COLA) increases retroactive to Feb. 1, 2022, a ratification bonus, improved education opportunities, and health care. To address worker recruitment and retention, the union won an annual recurring equity fund of $1.4 million and a minimum wage of $18 an hour. “We applaud this agreement, and it is about time employers give the necessary wages and benefits to those workers who have provided services and care for the most vulnerable in our communities,” said DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido. “These workers are always there for those in need, and we are happy to see their employers have recognized their value.” DC 37 in Talks with Private Agencies on City’s Human Services Agreement In March, the union secured a significant agreement on behalf of 80,000 human services workers in New York City, including 10,000 represented by locals in the DC 37 Non-Profit and Private Sector Division. Under the terms of the agreement, after negotiations [...] — Jun 12
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DC 37 NEWS, EVENTS and SERVICES YOU CAN USE in JUNE 2024 DC 37 NEWS, EVENTS and SERVICES YOU CAN USE in JUNE 2024: We're Moving! — May 30
District Council 37
- Representation Worth Fighting For. Meet DC 37’s New Local: 5911
- The Art of Coaching Double Dutch: Community Learns the Ropes from Local 299 Member
- Generating Life-Changing Wealth with Municipal Employees Housing Program
- Non-Profit Private Sector Workers Win Big in City Agreements
- DC 37 NEWS, EVENTS and SERVICES YOU CAN USE in JUNE 2024