Public Employee Press

Local 299 holds “town hall” meetings

Hearing that the Recreation workers in her local had lots of questions regarding raises, promotions, job descriptions and working on holidays, Local 299 President Jackie Rowe-Adams took the initiative and organized a series of “town hall” style meetings for them in all five boroughs.

“I was getting so many telephone calls from workers who had questions on those issues that I thought it would be a good idea for the union to bring the answers to the members,” she said.

The workers staff Parks and Recreation Dept. community centers throughout the city.
To help answer their questions, she invited Deputy Commissioner of Public Programs Kevin Jeffrey, Assistant Commissioner of Recreation Nancy Barthold, Dept. of Labor Relations Analyst Andre Mouzon and Citywide Chief of Recreation Renee Lajeunesse, as well as DC 37 Professional Division Council Rep Rhonda Johnson and the Local 299 Executive Board.

“The management team came to every meeting and answered all the questions the members had,” Adams said. “In the beginning the members were a little reluctant to ask questions, but they realized that everyone was there to help.”

Members considered the meetings so successful that Rowe-Adams plans to hold another series next year.