District Council 37

  • AdvantageCare Physicians Opens at DC 37 Health Center
    By MIKE LEE District Council 37 members, retirees, and their families may now receive high-quality medical care at the DC 37 Health Center in lower Manhattan. On May 5, AdvantageCare Physicians (ACPNY) opened for business at 115 Chambers St. With more than 40 offices in New York City and Long Island, ACPNY provides primary and specialized care focusing on individual patients’ needs. “I’m proud to bring AdvantageCare Physicians’ high-quality, primary and specialty care to our health center,” said Henry Garrido, DC 37 Executive Director. “This facility represents a significant milestone for us in providing a new, accessible location for our members to receive comprehensive health care and wellness services in a welcoming and state-of-the-art environment.” Photo by Justina Ramlakhan Physicians at ACPNY bring a “whole you” team approach to patients, working with nurses, social workers, nutritionists, behavioral health specialists, and other professionals. The team works to understand the health impacts of physical, emotional, and lifestyle factors. Ascertaining the complete picture of an individual’s health helps the physician work with the patient toward an appropriate diagnosis and direction of care. “DC 37 is committed to improving the quality of life of all our members and their families,” said William Bifulco, Administrator [...] — Jun 6
  • MTA Workers Win Justice in Overtime Screw-Up
    Members of Metropolitan Transportation Authority Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1655 joined Local President Magaly Rosario (seated) after winning their case in Federal Court over unpaid overtime. By MIKE LEE Software issues with payroll resulted in DC 37 members getting shorted comp time when they worked overtime at the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). With the union’s help, they won a substantial settlement from the agency. Patricia Beckwith, Associate Cashier I and a member of Metropolitan Transportation Authority Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1655, first identified the discrepancy in her paycheck and reported it. “There was something wrong with the system software,” said Magaly Rosario, president of Local 1655, whose members include clerical associates, cashiers, customer service specialists, and other MTA titles. “If you worked over 40 hours a week, you would get paid time and a half for the overtime. However, if you decided to bank or use it for comp time, you only received straight time instead of time and a half.” The union filed a case in late November 2019 and, after undergoing a long struggle through the courts, the MTA agreed to settle with the affected workers for nearly $250,000 in April 2024, including additional damages. While the lawsuit began with [...] — Jun 6
  • Fostering a Legacy of Union Sisterhood
    Story and Photo by JUSTINA RAMLAKHAN On the evening of March 14, members of the DC 37 Women’s Committee gathered in the newly renovated union hall to hold a forum in honor of Women’s History Month. Led by Committee Chair Carmen Charles, president of Local 420 Municipal Hospital Employees, and Co-chair Ruth Sabino, member and grievance representative of Social Service Employees Union Local 371, the event focused on sustaining the resilience of working women. From left: Committee Chair Carmen Charles (Local 420), Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, and Committee Co-chair Ruth Sabino (Local 371). In her opening remarks, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson evoked the name of Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, affectionately known as ‘Mama Dukes’, an activist for racial diversity, equity, inclusion, and long-lasting social change who passed away at 92 years old on March 1, 2025. She most notably served as president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). “We have to be on the battlefield, folks,” Gibson said. “I aspire to be a fraction of the woman that Mama Dukes was. Her assignment was fulfilled, but she left a legacy for us to follow and for us to learn from her life. [...] — Jun 6
  • Local 371’s Cynthia Timms Brings Peer Support to the People
    Story and Photo by MIKE LEESSEU Local 371 member Cynthia Timms serves the public in her role as a peer counselor at Metropolitan Hospital where she’s been a part of the Assertive Community Team (ACT) since January 2020, connecting those in need with emotional support and resources. Her service to the community extends well beyond the workplace. She also produces and hosts the cable access show “Mental Health and You,” which airs on Bronxnet the first Thursday of every month. Timms leverages her life experiences, including those as a writer, photographer, and public speaker, to inspire others and help eliminate the stigma of mental health, especially in communities of color. Born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx, Timms honed her skills in her church as a founding member of the National Action Network Photo Club, as a regular in the city’s poetry circuit in the 1990s, and while studying photography in Paris and New York. She earned a BA in Liberal Arts from CCNY, an MBA in Media Management from the Metropolitan College of NY, and a Certificate in Film from NYU. She then went on to work for the late documentary filmmaker William Miles. After experiencing periods of [...] — Jun 6
  • Behind the Wheel: Local 2507 Uniformed EMTs & Paramedics of the FDNY
    Story and Photos by ACACIA RODRIGUEZ When the unthinkable happens and an emergency requires medical support, Uniformed Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics of Local 2507 in the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) are often the first to arrive on the scene. Armed with medical equipment and ready for action, these first responders aim to stabilize and transport patients needing pre-hospital care. Vehicles prepared to handle unique emergencies are a must. Enter the Medical Evacuation Transportation Unit (METU) and the Bariatric Ambulance. At the scene of an emergency, EMTs triage patients and determine if they should be treated, stabilized, or transported to a hospital via ambulance. Patients who can be treated and released are tended to aboard the METU. With only 30 workers qualified to drive the 44-foot behemoth, the METU is rolled out mainly during large-scale disasters and incidents like major fires, hurricanes, flooding, or plane crashes. Recently, the METU was used to evacuate Woodhull Hospital when it flooded in September 2023. During COVID, the METU transported patients as far as Syracuse and Albany. “Driving the METU is an important role in the fire department; I love to drive it,” said Catrese Preston, EMT Specialist. [...] — Jun 6