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Breaking Ground Workers Win First Contract By MIKE LEE Workers at Breaking Ground were joined by union activists and supporters protesting management’s slow-walking contract negotiations on Oct. 19, 2023. Two years after gaining recognition as a bargaining unit and starting negotiations with management, 400 workers at Breaking Ground ratified their first contract on Aug. 17. With sites in four boroughs, Breaking Ground is New York City’s largest nonprofit developer and operator of supportive housing. In addition to managing more than 4,400 housing units, the agency also provides support services and case management to help clients find permanent housing. The Breaking Ground contract covers nearly 20 titles, including 311 Dispatchers, Case Managers, Engineers, Harm Reduction Specialists, Housekeepers, Housing Advocates, Housing Reporting Specialists, Housing Specialists, Maintenance Workers, Office Managers, Outreach Case Managers, Painters, Porters, Rent Administrators, and Residential Aides. The workers began their union campaign during the summer of 2021, filing for recognition on Aug. 27. Breaking Ground management agreed to recognize the union in early October, making it the first non-profit to agree after the New York City Labor Peace Agreement was signed into law earlier that year, enabling workers of the City’s human services contractors to organize without fear of retaliation. However, when it came time [...] — Dec 16
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Detective Work Solves Local 374 Grievance By MIKE LEE A Custodian at the New York Public Library (NYPL) won a grievance for several Local 374 Quasi Public Employees members thanks to intensive detective work. It began with a grievance the Local filed challenging the square footage of several of the larger New York Public Library branches. When the square footage is above a specific number, the Custodian assigned gets a title upgrade and, therefore, more money. In the course of investigating the grievance, Roland Blowe, Assistant Library Custodian at the Hamilton Grange branch and DC 37 Chapter Chair for Local 374, examined the layouts of larger branches, including the Mid-Manhattan Library, to determine whether workers at those branches deserved to be promoted to a higher title. “The contract language says that if it’s between a 20,000- and 40,000-square-foot building, these workers are supposed to be a Level II, and if it’s over 40,000 square feet, they are supposed to be a Level III,” Blowe said. After Blowe passed the information to the union, Local 374 confronted NYPL. “At first, management put up a fight,” Blowe said. “I thought it would be a clear-cut case because they have the numbers. These are your blueprints.” The Library stalled [...] — Dec 16
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Snapshots DC 37 Celebrates Italian Heritage The union and supporters packed the house for the 26th DC 37 Italian Heritage Celebration. The Oct. 6 event honored the contributions of Italian-Americans, including their central role in the growth of the U.S. labor movement. “Our heritage is a tapestry woven with stories of courage, resilience, and passion,” said Michael DeMarco, President of NYC Traffic Employees Local 1455 and Chair of the DC 37 Italian Heritage Committee. “From the early immigrants who crossed the ocean in search of a better life to the countless individuals who have enriched our society with their talents and hard work, the Italian-American journey is one of inspiration and pride.” Honoring Latino Heritage The DC 37 Latino Heritage Committee hosted a Latino Heritage Month Finale Celebration on Sept. 27. Pictured are SSEU Local 371 President Anthony Wells and Executive Vice President Doris Murphy who chairs the Committee with members of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) NYC Chapter. Local 2507 Member Honored for Service At an Oct. 17 ceremony, the Fire Department of New York honored Deputy Chief Inspector Michael Reardon for his 40 years of service. From left: DC 37 Director of Strategic Initiatives Barbara Edmonds, Reardon, [...] — Dec 16
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DC 37 Attorneys Continue Tradition of Crafting “Labor Law Bible” By ACACIA RODRIGUEZ Assistant General Counsel Terry Buck and Seth York with the Lefkowitz on Public Sector Labor and Employment Law textbook they contributed to. Fans of the textbook “Lefkowitz on Public Sector Labor and Employment Law” will be pleasantly surprised to see contributions from two DC 37 Legal Department staffers in Chapter Three: Employee Rights Under The Taylor Law and Chapter Six: The Representation Process. Assistant General Counsel Terry Buck and Seth York poured their practical knowledge into the updated “labor law bible,” as it’s known to familiar readers. The whopping two-volume, $500 text is used as a reference to guide attorneys practicing law in the public sector within academic, union, and municipal legal departments. DC 37’s legal staff is uniquely qualified for this task. Previously, Associate Counsel Audrey Browne, who currently serves as a consultant for the DC 37 Benefits Fund Trust, co-edited a supplementary update to the 1998 edition. “We are taking our rightful place in history in doing this,” said Robin Roach, DC 37 General Counsel. “Our staff should be contributors to anything with regard to public sector labor law in this state because we have a lot to say. District Council 37 represents over a [...] — Dec 16
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Day Care Workers Score Big in New Agreement By JUSTINA RAMLAKHAN Members of Locals 205 and 95 rally outside of Highbridge Advisory Council Headquarters in the Bronx in July to demand the paychecks owed to them from the day care centers. Photos by Robert R. Ramos In recent years, scientific research has provided overwhelming evidence of the long-term effects of early childhood experiences on a child’s development. The unsung heroes who look after children in their early years are tasked with educating, protecting, and enriching the youngest New Yorkers. Members of Local 205 Day Care Employees provide quality, affordable child care in more than 300 facilities across the five boroughs. For the past two years, these employees have worked under an expired labor agreement, leaving wages and benefits static as they continue to show up and provide professional care. In addition to not receiving a raise, some members also reported wage theft after paychecks were severely delayed. DC 37 advocated to address missing wages at Highbridge Advisory Council centers earlier this year. Raising the Standard On Oct. 16, the City of New York announced a tentative agreement between DC 37, Local 205, and the Day Care Council of New York (DCCNY) to raise wages for thousands of child [...] — Dec 16