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Punished For Doing the Right Thing By MIKE LEE Public workers have the right to follow correct procedure in the course of their duties, even when a supervisor demands otherwise. This was the scenario faced by Roderick Holder, Traffic Enforcement Agent 3 and Local 983 member, when he refused to tow a car parked in a space marked by an unofficial “No Parking” sign on June 12, 2022. Holder was then punished for sticking to the rules. The New York City Police Department suspended Holder for 30 days after a hearing, causing him to lose pay and health benefits for failing to comply with a supervisor’s direct order. By refusing to tow a car parked under a counterfeit “No Parking” sign, Roderick Holder was punished by NYPD management. Photo by Roderick Holder However, as Local 983 First Vice President Marvin Robbins pointed out, this was not a lawful order because the parking sign was not an official NYC Department of Transportation sign. “Official signs are clearly marked from DOT. This was a fake sign attached to a tree, and a supervisor ordered Holder to tow the car anyway. That’s not a legal request, but our member didn’t comply, so he was suspended,” Robbins said. Local 983 [...] — Dec 16
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Despite National Upsets, ‘Green Machine’ Secures State Victories Photo by Kat Cancio By MIKE LEE On a sunny Saturday, Oct. 5, DC 37 members and retirees participating in a ‘Battleground Bus Trip’ to Philadelphia spoke about their role in getting out the vote with so many personal and union rights on the line. “This canvassing experience was awesome and eye-opening,” said Michael Kwan, a member of Local 1757 in the City’s Department of Finance. “I contributed to my DC 37 family and union, made new friends, and served my best personal interest by learning about other communities and helping out for a good cause as a volunteer. It was such a memorable and cool experience.” Despite intensive efforts by the DC 37 Green Machine, including door knocking and phone banking to turn out voters in Pennsylvania, the Democratic ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz came up short by a small margin in the Keystone State. The loss in Pennsylvania and six other swing states enabled Donald J. Trump to become the first Republican President to sweep all seven since Ronald Reagan in 1984, although by relatively small margins. Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on Jan. [...] — Dec 16
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We’re Home: Union Headquarters Reopens as State-of-the-Art Member Service Center By MIKE LEE District Council 37 is home. After a five-plus-year redevelopment effort, DC 37’s iconic headquarters on 125 Barclay Street reopened just in time to celebrate the union’s 80th anniversary of receiving its charter from the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The week-long festivities kicked off with an official ribbon-cutting on Oct. 22 before the first Delegates meeting held in-person since the COVID-19 shutdown in March 2020. Attendees were impressed with the dramatic changes to the building and modernized, state-of-the-art interior. “It’s absolutely beautiful,” said Samantha Rappa-Giovagnoli, President of NYC Health Department Technical Professional Employees Local 3005. “It has been a long time since DC 37 members had a home to come to.” The reconstruction effort began in the late summer of 2019. Architectural firm Hunter Roberts was responsible for reconstructing the union’s headquarters to create a more efficient, service-oriented, and sustainable space. The new building consolidates several union facilities into one operations center, the second step in the union’s long-term plan that also saw the grand opening of the DC 37 Health Center at 115 Chambers St. in November 2021. “This new building means the beginning of our renaissance,” said Henry Garrido, DC 37 [...] — Dec 16
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Our Union, Our Home We did it! We have returned to our Union Headquarters at 125 Barclay. After five years of hard work, we opened the doors to our renovated building in October. I’m proud to present our members, retirees, and staff with a state-of-the-art facility offering high-quality services and substantial floor space for political and social events. Executive DirectorHenry Garrido What better moment to return home than just in time to celebrate District Council 37’s 80th anniversary? On Oct. 26, 1944, this union received a charter from the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Since our founding many decades ago, we have grown in strength, standing up and winning against influential leaders like Robert Moses and Robert Wagner. Taking on the struggle for racial equality, DC 37 was one of the first unions to back the Civil Rights movement and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s efforts, a commitment that continues today. We led and won the 1965 Welfare Workers strike, organized tens of thousands of public hospital workers, and were instrumental in saving New York City from bankruptcy in the 1970s. Expanding member services was a priority of then-Associate Director Lillian Roberts, and in 1971, she helped establish the DC [...] — Dec 16
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DC 37 NEWS, EVENTS, and SERVICES YOU CAN USE in DECEMBER 2024 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER From the DC 37 Family We’re grateful for the work our members do to keep New York running every single day. This city doesn’t run without you. From our family to yours, please enjoy the holiday! HEAT YOUR HOME THIS WINTER WITH HEAP Applications for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) are now open! Heating costs can get expensive. As the weather gets colder, HEAP ensures New Yorkers can afford to heat their homes without breaking the bank. Eligible New Yorkers can get up to $1,000 to cover heating bills, $4,000 to repair a boiler, and $8,000 for a boiler replacement. HEAP makes a real difference in the lives of New Yorkers. Last year alone, it saved families across New York over $397 million. You can learn more, check your eligibility, and apply for assistance HERE. DC 37 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES LEGAL SERVICES Housing Webinar MELS Housing Attorneys will answer your questions about getting repairs, rights of family members to take over apartments, legal notices that precede court action, leases and renewal increases, landlord harassment, one-shot deals, charitable grants, and tenant protections available under the Good Cause Eviction law. Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 6 p.m.| Register HERE. DC 37 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES [...] — Nov 29