MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

DC 37 IS GOING BACK HOME!

We’re moving!

After five years of temporary relocation, we’re moving back to 125 Barclay this fall! The process will take place over the summer months as we reestablish departments and settle into our new union headquarters. Please be aware that DC 37 staff will no longer be located at 55 Water Street after Friday, May 17. 

In the meantime, we will set up a temporary member service center at 420 W. 45th Street in midtown Manhattan. Beginning Monday, May 20, you can walk in between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday to access staff who can assist you– no appointment necessary. Our phone numbers will stay the same and you can continue to dial 212-815-1000 during business hours to reach our member service line.

Health & Security Plan Benefits: Effective Monday, May 20, the Audiology Center will resume operations at the DC 37 Health Center located at 115 Chambers St. For all H&S inquiries and scheduling, please continue to contact the Inquiry Unit at 212-815-1234.

We can’t wait to welcome you to the new state-of-the-art DC 37 headquarters by September 2024. Sign up for Action Alerts, follow @dc37nyc on social media, and visit our website for further updates, and get ready to celebrate our grand opening– and DC 37’s 80th birthday!– later this year.

DC 37 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES LEGAL SERVICES

Real Estate Webinar

DC 37 MELS is hosting a Real Estate Webinar for members and retirees who are interested in buying a home, co-op, or condominium apartment. MELS real estate experts will discuss retaining and working with a realtor, seller’s concerns, purchaser’s concerns, financing and mortgages, home inspections, closings and much more. You bring the questions, we have the answers!

Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 6 p.m. | Register HERE.

Bank Fraud, Scams, and ID Theft Webinar

DC 37 MELS presents Bank Fraud, Scams, and ID Theft. In this webinar you will learn how to spot and respond to: IRS scams, Social Security scams, internet scams, and investment scams. Experts will share how to respond to identity theft discovered through your banking and credit card statements or fraudulent unemployment claims. You will also learn about the three most popular credit report security devices, how they differ, and how to use them to your advantage. We hope you’ll join us for this informative webinar. 

Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 6 p.m. | Register HERE.

DC 37 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES HOUSING PROGRAM

First-Time Homebuyer Workshop

Are you thinking of buying your first home but don’t know where to begin? The DC 37 Municipal Employees Housing Program is pleased to offer a virtual First-Time Homebuyer Workshop twice this month. Allow us to assist you on your journey to homeownership as we discuss the mortgage process, pre-approvals, debt-to-income ratios, PMI, FHA loans, conventional loans, and much more! Bring your questions and we’ll provide the answers. We hope to see you there! 

Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 11 a.m. | Register HERE.

Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 11 a.m. | Register HERE.

Affordable Housing Webinar

Finding affordable housing in NYC can be challenging. Let the DC 37 Municipal Employees Housing Program help! We are proud to offer you our first Affordable Housing Webinar in partnership with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). We will be joined by guest speakers Ana Ramirez and Shaheem Taylor, HPD’s Marketing Outreach Coordinators, as we discuss how to navigate the NYC Housing Connect portal, register an account, and submit an application to open housing lotteries. We hope to see you there! 

Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 11 a.m. | Register HERE. 

DC 37 POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

2024 Voter Registration Deadlines

Are you and your family all set to participate in the 2024 elections? Elections for President, Congress, New York State Senate, and New York State Assembly are happening this year! You may register to vote online HERE or check the status of your voter registration HERE.

To find out who DC 37 is supporting in your district, you can review the list of 2024 primary election endorsements HERE.

Rally With Us to Fight for NYC Parks!

Please join us, along with the Play Fair Coalition, for a rally to oppose budget cuts to New York City parks at Union Square Park on Tuesday, May 7 at 6 p.m. In addition to our demand to protect jobs for parks workers, we are fighting for safe, clean, and green parks for our city. The coalition will be celebrating parks and parks workers with raffles, games, prizes, dancing, and community resources! Register HERE today!

Support Your Union Political Action Fund! 

Have you signed up for PEOPLE yet? DC 37 members are making a difference in important races. PEOPLE contributions are used to do Get Out the Vote campaigns, lobbying around member issues, directly supporting pro-workers candidates, and other important activities that we are restricted from using dues money to conduct. 

Join at the MVP level of $8/month and get a free AFSCME PEOPLE hoodie! Become a PEOPLE contributor now by clicking HERE. 

Attend Political Action Committee Meetings 

Join us for our monthly Political Action Committee Meetings to find out more about what’s happening in City Hall and Albany. Meetings take place on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. via Zoom. 

The next PAC meeting is on Thursday, May 9. To register, click HERE. 

DC 37 EDUCATION FUND

Register For Spring 2024 Ed Fund Classes!

Registration for the Spring 2024 semester with the union’s Education Fund is still available on the DC 37 website. For information on classes and schedules or to register for a program, click HERE. 

DC 37 Education Scholarship Now Accepting Applications!

The DC 37 Education Committee Scholarship application is currently available. You are eligible to apply if you are an active member, the child or grandchild of an active member, or the child or grandchild of a retiree who belongs to DC 37’s Retiree Association.

The deadline to submit a scholarship application is May 10, 2024.  
Scholarship winners will be announced by June 10, 2024. 

For more information on available scholarships and to submit a scholarship application, click HERE.

The DC 37 Green Jobs Training Program is Expanding! 

The DC 37 Education Fund is happy to announce the Green Jobs Training Expansion Program, a grant-funded training program for eligible DC 37 members to receive free, hands-on instruction in areas of need within the green economy and energy sector. 

Training courses include Energy Auditing, Multifamily and Commercial Building Analyst, Carbon Accounting, LEED Green Associate, Energy Benchmarking and Construction Management. These courses and more will prepare members for certifications and licenses offered and recognized by the Building Performance Institute, Urban Green Council and Association of Energy Engineers. 

If you are interested in more information on these courses and what this training can provide for you, please click HERE. 

Free Social Worker Workshops For Local 768 Members

The District Council 37 Education Fund in conjunction with the National Association of Social Workers, New York City Chapter plans to host continuing education workshops for eligible Local 768 licensed Social Workers. These workshops are:

• Maintaining Appropriate Professional Boundaries: Exploring Ethical Obligations of Mental Health Professionals
  • Tuesday, June 18 from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
  • Registration deadline Tuesday, May 28

If you are interested in attending this virtual workshops, please enter the following link into your web browser and complete the online application:

June Workshops register HERE.

If you have any questions regarding the online application or the workshop, please send an email to dtelemaque-Peschier@dc37.net, kking@dc37.net or lpolimine@dc37.net.

Changes to Tuition Reimbursement Benefit 

Beginning with classes, courses and workshops taken on or after Jan. 1, 2024, eligible DC 37 members can now be reimbursed up to $1,500 by the DC 37 Education Fund as long as the requirements for reimbursement are met. Additionally, tuition reimbursement applications can now be submitted completely online. 

For more information on the changes to the reimbursement benefit, please click HERE.

Education And Career Counseling

Do you need guidance on selecting a class from our offerings, updating a resume, or need assistance reaching a career or educational goal? 

Contact an Ed Fund counselor HERE to schedule a virtual appointment.

Free College Programs For Local 372 Members In Specific Job Titles

Local 372 Paraprofessionals can earn 18 credits annually towards a degree in Human Services through a partnership with Monroe College. 

To begin the process of enrolling for the Spring 2024 term, complete an online application by clicking HERE. 
For questions, email: ppunch@dc37.net.

Local 372 Members Working in School Food can earn an associate’s degree in Nutrition and Culinary Management through a partnership with LaGuardia Community College. 

To begin enrolling for the Spring 2024 term, complete an online application HERE. 
For questions, email: lpicano@dc37.net.

Leap to Teacher (LTT) Program for Local 372 Members

Local 372 Members in the following titles: Parent Coordinator, School Neighborhood Worker, Community Associate, Community Assistant, Community Coordinator, School Aide/Health Aide, SAPIS Worker may take advantage of our Leap To Teacher (LTT) Program offered in partnership with CUNY School of Labor & Urban Studies. 

LTT provides free specialized support services for DC 37 school workers at seven CUNY campuses with options in all five boroughs. The program offers pre-admission advisement, college prep courses, tutoring, writing support, assistance with financial aid and grants, NYS Teacher certification test prep, and more.

For further information, please complete the following survey by clicking HERE.

Please note: Attending these college programs requires a high school diploma or equivalency. Transfer credits may be accepted.

Retirees Education Courses For Spring 2024

The Ed Fund is currently accepting applications for classes for the Spring 2024 cycle. Apply online HERE or visit: https://www.dc37.net/benefits/education/deptclasses/retirees.

For questions, please contact Manuel Gomez-Rosa at mgomezrosa@dc37.net or call (212) 815-1700. 

NON PROFIT AND PRIVATE SECTOR

DC 37 Non-Profit and Private Sector Members represented by Locals 95, 205, 215, 253, and 389 are eligible for the following exciting education-related opportunities in 2024. 

Workshops

• School Violence Prevention & Intervention
  • Monday, May 6 from 6-8 p.m. 
• Continuing Teacher Leader Education
  • Spotlight on Sensory Play
  • Thursday, May 9 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. 
• Child Abuse and Maltreatment
  • Monday, May 13 from 6-8 p.m. 
• Dignity for All Students (DASA)
  • Monday, May 20 and Tuesday, May 22 from 5-8 p.m.
  • You must attend BOTH sessions 

You can register for these workshops by clicking HERE.

Classes and Prep Courses 

• Content Specialty Test (CST) – English Language Arts & Science
  • Tuesdays and Wednesdays, May 7 to May 21, 6-8 p.m. 
  • Total of 5 sessions to complete the course 
• General Shop Stewards Training
  • Wednesdays, May 8 to June 12, 6-8 p.m. 
  • Shop stewards or chapter chairs are required to attend this training. 

You can register for these classes and more by clicking HERE.

For more information about these programs, call (212) 341-4991 or email mhunte@dc37.net. 

HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY (HSS)

 HSS Has Your Back!

Do you have back pain when sitting? Learning the correct way to sit with proper posture can help prevent back pain and lower back problems from occurring. Learn from the experts at HSS what you can do to reduce your back pain whether sitting at home or at work by clicking HERE. 

If you or a family member are experiencing back pain, HSS can help. The HSS Perform team will connect you with in-network care at one of our convenient locations in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut. 

Connect with HSS TODAY:
Call: 212.606.1105
Email: HSS4DC37@hss.edu
Visit: HSS.edu/DC37

MSK DIRECT

Caring For The Caregiver 

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed by caregiving, but you’re not alone. Join MSK’s clinical psychologist Allison J. Applebaum, PhD as she teaches about approaches to help get your needs met as a caregiver including: finding meaning and purpose in the caregiving experience, navigating changing roles and relationship dynamics, connecting to support, and working with your healthcare system. 

Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 1 p.m. | Register HERE.

IMPORTANT REMINDER

 If you are a DC 37 member, you should be receiving DC 37 Action Alerts & News at your non-work email address, definitely NOT your work email address, as this can be a violation of workplace rules. If you signed up using a work email address, please change it to a non-work email.