The union filed two lawsuits last month demanding that the city stop using the new federally funded Job Training Participant position to displace members of Locals 299, 983 and 1505.

The suits charge that the JTP title in the Parks Dept. has undermined wages, impaired contracts and destroyed regular civil service jobs. The union says the new title violates provisions of the state Social Services Law, which requires subsidized public sector job recipients to receive “the same benefits as existing employees” and bans them from replacing laid-off workers or displacing current employees.

The JTPs in Parks are paid with federal welfare-to-work funds. They get no benefits or union representation and are paid $7.50 per hour, well below existing rates.

They do the same work as the City Seasonal Aides, City Park Workers, Playground Assistants and Playground Associates in the three DC 37 locals. Because of the new title, hundreds of seasonal workers will not be rehired this summer.

The court actions were filed on behalf of DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, President Veronica Montgomery-Costa, Local 299 President Louis Sbar, Local 983 President Mark Rosenthal and Local 1505 President Michael Hood.