Public Employee Press

JTPs get real jobs in public hospitals

Shanique Huling worked at Alley Pond Park in Queens in the Job Training Program, a six-month program that prepares participants for employment. In June, Huling joined 54 other JTP workers who were hired as Service Aides at a Health and Hospitals Corp. job fair.

“That’s just great,” said Huling when she received the good news after her morning interview. “I’m really looking forward to working at HHC.” The 131 new HHC Service Aides, who were hired at the DC 37 job fair on June 28 and 29, will work 20 hours a week and receive full benefits.

“We are committed to ensuring that the JTP doesn’t become a dead end for these folks,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts.

The JTP program is for public assistance recipients who have reached their five-year limit on federally funded benefits. “Our goal is to help them become productive workers with real jobs,” said Roberts. In 2004, DC 37 won representation rights for the JTP workers in a Board of Collective Bargaining ruling. Last year the union negotiated a 50-cent hourly wage hike (from $7.50 to $8), one sick day and one personal day and a grievance process violations to the agreement.

In May the DC 37 Delegates Council voted to establish the Job Training Participant Association to organize and represent thousands of JTP participants. The JTPA will be part of DC 37’s Blue Collar Division, and the union will work with the city to provide training through the DC 37 Education Fund.