Public Employee Press
By DIANE S. WILLIAMS
City saves seasonal jobs
City council member Mark Levine, chair of the Committee on Parks and Recreation who supports working families and labor, added $9 million to the fiscal year 2018 city budget in June to save 100 seasonal City Parks Workers’ jobs and 50 seasonal Gardeners’ jobs.
“Mark Levine has stood with us to keep these seasonal workers continuously employed,” said Local 1505 President Dilcy Benn.
Additionally, labor leaders worked with Levine to have $1.7 million added to the budget to keep public pools and beaches open one week past Labor Day.
These funds are not baselined in the annual city budget. Each year the union lobbies City Hall to fund these seasonal jobs.
City Lifeguards in Local 461 and their Supervisors in Local 508 protect millions who visit public pools and beaches. To date, these dedicated first responders hold a three-year record for protecting lives. This season, there have been no drownings at any Parks facilities while City Lifeguards are on duty.
