As you may know by now, DC 37 has moved out of our temporary office space at 55 Water St. in preparation for the move back to our home at 125 Barclay. The Water Street location served its purpose as our headquarters during some of the union’s most challenging and historic times. Together, we weathered the worst of the pandemic, continued to provide services to our members without interruption,  and negotiated contracts that respond to the new world of work.

We now turn our eyes to DC 37’s iconic building at 125 Barclay St., where our members will soon enjoy a modernized, state-of-the-art union hall. In our house of labor at 125 Barclay, we will be prepared to fight for a better future for you, your families, coworkers, and fellow New Yorkers. We can’t wait to welcome you home this fall.

In the meantime, DC 37 has opened a temporary Member Service Center at our satellite office located at 420 W. 45th St. in Midtown Manhattan. You can drop by any time between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday to speak to a staff representative, no appointment necessary. All of our phone numbers remain the same if you prefer to give us a call. You can reach our switchboard at 212.815.1000.

The New York State budget passed, and I’m proud to report that we achieved several significant victories.

Thanks to our lobbying efforts with other public employee unions, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state legislature agreed to necessary Tier 6 pension system improvements. Reforming Tier 6 will make public service a more attractive career choice for the new generation of workers and will help reduce the current staffing vacancy crisis faced by state and city agencies.

The state budget includes $40 million for operations aid and capital improvements at the City University of New York (CUNY), and allocates $38 million for wage increases due to CUNY workers in our recently negotiated contract. We also secured great wins for our non-profit workers, including a cost-of-living adjustment and additional funding for health care.

Now we turn our attention to the City’s FY 2025 budget. City Council hearings are underway and we continue to push for adequate staffing and funding for public services.

As the Adams administration reports increased tax revenue, we are fighting for reversal of the Mayor’s previously announced budget cuts.

Reductions to our three library systems last year caused cutbacks in service and hours of operation. Along with our museums and zoos, our libraries are integral to the cultural heartbeat of New York City.

We have witnessed the depletion of resources allocated to our park system for years. Budget cuts, hiring freezes, and attrition threaten staffing levels, further reducing the availability of safe, clean green spaces for New Yorkers and visitors alike. We are advocating for the Council to reverse these service cuts and calling for 1% of the budget to be devoted to Parks.

Negotiations with the Adams administration have resulted in a far-reaching agreement on behalf of health and human services workers in New York City. This includes approximately 10,000 private sector workers represented by DC 37. The deal closely follows the citywide pattern and we are negotiating with each non-profit agency to implement the terms, which include retroactive pay and bonuses for active DC 37 members. This also will strengthen the services of these providers who render critical support for individuals and families in most need.

Despite a significant move this summer and all it entails, we are maintaining momentum in our efforts to continue to serve you. I look forward to welcoming you home this fall, in time to celebrate our 80th anniversary as the union that makes this City run.