DC 37 BLOG

• Thinking of Becoming a U.S. Citizen? Join Us on Zoom at 6 p.m. Tonight July 1, 2020
  DC 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services (MELS), the Building Service 32BJ Legal Services Fund (Legal Fund) and CUNY Citizenship NOW are jointly presenting a seminar July 1 on free services the union offers to help members on the path to becoming a U.S. citizen, and its many benefits. This seminar will cover how and when […]
• Did You Vote Today? Polls Close at 9 p.m. June 23, 2020
  Sisters and Brothers, We have only a few hours left until polls close at 9 p.m. TONIGHT.  If you haven’t done so, please go vote and be the change we want in our communities.  You can look up your poll site here. Here’s the list of the progressive, labor-friendly candidates DC 37 has endorsed this […]
• Three Free College Degree Programs for Local 372 Members June 23, 2020
  By DIANE S. WILLIAMS  DC 37’s helping Local 372 members with three unique degree programs the union has negotiated with Monroe College and LaGuardia College’s Food Service Management Program. “We have an incredible education benefit that allows members to earn degrees that when paired with their work experience, prepares them to move up the career […]
• Thinking of Becoming a U.S. Citizen? Your Union Can Help June 19, 2020
  The DC 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services (MELS), the Building Service 32BJ Legal Services Fund (Legal Fund) and CUNY Citizenship NOW are jointly presenting a seminar July 1 on free services the union offers to help members on the path to becoming a U.S. citizen and its many benefits. This seminar will cover how and […]
• Time Off to Vote June 23 New Changes June 18, 2020
  VOTING UPDATE: Primary Day is June 23. We are providing you with the updated information on getting time off to vote on June 23.  Section 3-110 of the New York State Election Law, which relates to providing employees in New York State time off to vote, was amended effective April 3, 2020. The changes made […]
• DC 37 Needs You on Primary Day June 23 June 15, 2020
  Primary Day is a week away and DC 37 members can make a difference by supporting these union-endorsed candidates, especially those who face critical races on Tuesday June 23. In bold are key races. QUEENS Queens Borough President Donovan Richards U.S. Congress  Gregory Meeks – CD 5 Grace Meng – CD 6 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – […]
• Updates and New Free Services for DC 37 Members June 10, 2020
  DC 37 has added more FREE services to help members during the COVID-19 pandemic. EMERGENCY COVID-19 CERTIFICATE for PUBLIC SCHOOL WORKERS, APPLY by SEPT. 1 Candidates seeking certain certificates and extensions may be eligible for the Emergency COVID-19 certificate, allowing them to work in public schools or districts for one year while taking and passing […]
• NYC H+H’s Peace Rally for Black Lives Matter June 10, 2020
  By DIANE S. WILLIAMS Hundreds of frontline NYC Health and Hospitals workers stood in solidarity with peaceful protesters at a midday rally June 9 to demand justice for the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others. “As a healthcare worker, I’m proud to work along side so many amazing Black professionals every […]
• Can We Count on You to Volunteer to Get Out the Vote? June 8, 2020
  DC 37 recently announced its endorsements for the June 23 primaries. While we’ve experienced significant challenges over the last few months, we still have an opportunity to elect strong candidates that will work on behalf of our members and the issues our union champions. DC 37 has endorsed a great group of pro-labor, progressive candidates […]
• Local 1503 Member Sews Masks to Fight COVID-19 Spread June 5, 2020
  By DIANE S. WILLIAMS Sitting at a machine surrounded by quilting fabric and notions, Local 1503 member Michelle Chamisa stitches another reuseable face mask, one of dozens she’s sewn to help protect others during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Chamisa, a senior security officer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, came across a Facebook group of quilters […]
• Despite Pandemic, Union Members Votes, Wins New Contract June 4, 2020
  By MIKE LEE While COVID-19 raged throughout New York City, the union continued its vital mission in serving the members. An example was the successful negotiation by the DC 37 Research and Negotiations Department with the ADAPT Community Network in April, which includes members of the union’s Social Service Employees Local 215. After a series […]
• June is Caribbean Heritage Month June 3, 2020
  By CARMEN CHARLES, President Local 420 and FITZ REID, President, Local 768 Dear Brothers and Sisters:​ Even as our members, including essential workers, continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, we rise together to address in earnest longstanding problems that plague our society: racism, police violence and excessive force, the criminal justice system and poverty. We must work […]
• Surviving Coronavirus: A Home Health Care Aide’s Story June 3, 2020
  By MIKE LEE Evelyn Grant, a home health care aide with 31 years experience and a member of Local 389, faced a crisis that too many New Yorkers have endured since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the city hard beginning in late February. Home health care aides provide all necessary services for clients unable to perform […]
• Local 389: Home Care Aides on the Frontlines June 2, 2020
  By MIKE LEE Margaret Glover prays.  The president of Local 389, which represents 7,000 private sector home health care aides, worries about the clients she cares for, and her co-workers. “Oh my God, I don’t know how I feel. Some days are good for me and then some are bad,” Glover said. Home health care […]
• Elect DC 37 Endorsed Candidates on Primary Day June 23 June 1, 2020
  By DIANE S. WILLIAMS New York’s Primary Day is June 23 and we need your help to elect progressive, labor-friendly candidates. This election is proving to be extremely important as our federal and state governments grapple with growing budget deficits. There is power in our collective voice and this primary day we need to send […]
• This Should Never Have Happened June 1, 2020
  We often quote the legendary labor leader Mother Jones. In these days, “Mourn the dead, and fight for the living” resonates clearly like never before as collectively we rise to do battle in the time of COVID-19. In human terms, this battle is painfully costly. As of now, we have lost more than 100 of […]
• MELS UPDATE: Replacing Lost Income, Short Term Disability, Public Assistance, Food Stamps, Workers’ Comp and Unemployment Insurance   May 29, 2020
  DC 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services, MELS, provides information on benefits members can access to replace lost income due to the coronavirus pandemic. DC 37 HEALTH AND SECURITY PLAN SHORT TERM DISABILITY Members who are unable to continue working because of illness or disability may be eligible for short term disability, public assistance and food […]
• ‘Public Service Workers Are … Crucial to Fighting This Pandemic’ May 26, 2020
  By AFSCME Staff Editor’s Note: The following is a story from the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus. During National EMS Week, AFSCME featured the story of AFSCME Local 768 District Council 37 member Carmen De Leon from New York. De Leon was one of two AFSCME members who, in a press call last week, described […]
• PSU Offers Grief and Bereavement Counseling May 21, 2020
  During COVID-19, people are experiencing many losses, including the death of loved ones, the loss of health, freedoms, and routines. Many are experiencing cumulative grief due to so many losses occurring consecutively. Any of these losses can trigger a range of emotions that individuals may experience. These emotions are also referred to as The Stages […]
• Request an Absentee Ballot for Primary Day June 23 May 20, 2020
  As you may have heard, Governor Cuomo has made a series of changes that will impact this year’s primary elections.    In an executive order, he has cancelled the special elections for Queens Borough President, and the 31st Assembly District. The Governor has mandated, through executive order, that the state Board of Elections mail all […]