The Unionist January 2012

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Volume 42 Number 1January 2012

Ofcial Publication o Social Service Employees Union Local 371-DC 37 AFSCME, AFL-CIO www.sseu371.org

The Future of TASA Holiday Parties EEO Laws Explained

Page 3 Pages 4-5 Page 7

It is well known that the City is acing anunemployment crisis. Since the econo-my crashed in 2008, people throughout

the region have continued to lose theirjobs, and not enough new jobs have beencreated. More and more people are com-ing to the Family Independence Admin-istration (a part o the Human Resources

Administration), where SSEU Local 371members are dedicated to helping them.

But over the last several months,members have reached out to the Union

Fixing the hRA/FiA

Union Addresses Overcrowdingand Overtime at Job Centers

Continued on page 3

Union President Anthony Wells, joined by other ofcers and members, conronted FIA management about overtime and overcrowded issues at the job centers.

complaining o managers who are violatingovertime protocol, by orcing continuedhours on employees at the end o theirshits. Then when workers try to assist oneanother by covering the overtime, manage-ment wont allow it. Security on locationshas been lacking, overwhelming members

who are dealing with rantic clients and ris-ing caseloads at one end, and are also deal-ing with heavy-handed managers. Many othese problems stem rom the act that theront-line workorce has been stretched too

thin. As Kirby Lindell, a Sup II in employ-ment services, said, They really need tohire more people.

Meeting the Bosses

On Dec. 20, SSEU Local 371 ofcers,including President Anthony Wells, joineddozens o FIA workers or a second labor-management meeting with FIA ofcialsat District Council 37 to address theseconcerns. Weve been very patient, but


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2 The Unionist | January 2012

JAnUARY

17 Alumni Association: 2:00 p.m.Union Ofce, 12th Floor

18 Delegate Assembly: 6:30 p.m. AdvanceRealty Building, 235 W. 23rd St., Manhattan

19 Black Heritage Committee: 6:30 p.m.Union Ofce, 12th Floor

24 Shelter Chapter: 6:30 p.m. Union Ofce,12th Floor

25 Political Action Committee: 6:30 p.m.Union Ofce, 12th Floor

30 Next Wave Committee: 6:30 p.m. UnionOfce, 12th Floor

31 Civilians in Law Enforcement:6:30 p.m. Union Ofce, 12th Floor

FeBRUARY

1 Executive Committee: 6:30 p.m.Union Ofce, 12th Floor

3 Black Heritage Celebration: 6:30 p.m.DC 37 Headquarters, 125 Barclay Street,Manhattan

9 Committee of Concerned SocialWorkers: 6:30 p.m. Union Ofce, 12th Floor

15 Delegate Assembly: 6:30 p.m. AdvanceRealty Building, 235 W. 23rd St., Manhattan

21 Alumni Committee: 6:30 p.m.Union Ofce, 12th Floor

22 Political Action Committee/WomensCommittee: 6:30 p.m. Union Ofce, 12thFloor

CALENDAR

Published monthly except or a combined issue in July/August and a Supplement in January by the SocialService Employees Union Local 371, District Council 37,

AFSCME, AFL-CIO. Subscription Price $2.00 annually.Periodical postage paid at New York, N.Y.

POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: TheUnionist, SSEU Local 371, 817 Broadway, N.Y., N.Y. 10003.

USPS# 348990 (212) 677-3900ISSN# 0041-7092

President

Anthony Wells

Executive Vice President

Yolanda Pumarejo

Secretary-Treasurer

Joe Nazario

V.P. Negotiations & Research

Rose Lovaglio-Miller

V.P. Organization & EducationIngrid Beaumont

V.P. Grievances & Legal Services

Lloyd Permaul

V.P. Publicity & Community Relations

Patricia Chardavoyne

V.P. Legislation & Political Action

Michelle Akyempong

Trustees

Vincent Ciccarello Yolanda DeJesusMelva Scarborough

Editor

Ari Paul

Visit us on the web at www.sseu371.org

Welcome to 2012

T

he new year always brings a renewed hope that this year will better than

the last. Resolutions are made with vows to achieve goals that will improveour lives and the lives o people around us. To those o you who participatein this annual ritual, good luck.

Too oten, as we all know, those goals are setaside as lies challenges and temptations wearus down. At SSEU Local 371, we do not makeresolutions lightly. We believe that resolve isnot just something you do, but something youhavethe strength and willpower to continue tofght back.

The challenges we aced in 2011 did not disap-pear on New Years Eve. Our goal is to continuestanding up and working or our members toprotect their jobs, wages and benefts, and saety.

For example, we continue to fght back to savethe CASA program and the more than 700 jobs atrisk. We also continue to fght back to save TASAand those members who provide vital services topregnant teenagers and their amilies.

In jobcenters, we ace many challenges such asovercrowding, daily stress, hostility and long

workdays. We are working to fnd the solutionsbut grow weary with the agencys responses.

We are determined like never beore to passan assault bill that will keep our members sae.

Members have been strengthening our eortsby participating in a letter writing campaign

to get the attention o state legislators. Finally,elected ofcials in Albany are getting the mes-

sage that our members need more protection. Its a priority or us and we are notgoing away.

In 2012, this Unions agenda is clear. The fght back is to protect jobs and ben-efts, improve working conditions in every location and keep our members sae.

You can eel confdent knowing that these resolutions that will not be broken.

Anthony Wells

Our goal is to

continue standing

up and working for

our members...

Join us!

BlACK heRitAge CeleBRAtion

Mark your calendar! The annual Black Heritage Celebration willtake place Feb. 3, at DC 37 headquarters. The keynote speaker will

be activist and scholar Angela Davis. This event will also highlight

and celebrate the life and leadership of our departed president,

Charles Ensley.


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January 2012 | The Unionist 3

they have got to x it, Wells told mem-bers beore the meeting. At the end othe day, we need more workers. But in themeantime FIA management has to comeup with a plan o action.

It was a heated exchange between theUnion and management, to be sure. VicePresident o Negotiations and ResearchRose Lovaglio-Miller impressed upon FIAmanagement that the rising caseloads andorced overtime were having a drastic e-ect on sta morale.

Members are complaining becausethere is too much overtime. People aresaying they need medical leave because itsso crazy, she said. Its getting to the point

where your workers are saying, enough isenough. They have hit a brick wall.

Ludicrous Actions

In a caucus with members, she notedthat it came to the point where a workerinormed the Union that she was writtenup because she had the temerity to leaveater she worked overtime and her clientspaperwork was done. Managers have been

demanding that all workers stay untilall clients have let the buildings. I toldmanagement thats ludicrous and unac-ceptable, Lovaglio-Miller said.

Indeed, many SSEU Local 371 membersspoke o the problems on the job. MiriamRamos-Ortiz, an AJOS II based in theBronx, noted that at her location nearly40 potential clients on the line are turnedaway at the end o the day because the

workers dont have time to get to every-one. Those people come back the nextday, just making that days client load thatmuch larger. The problem, workers said, isgetting out o control. We dont have thesta, Ramos-Ortiz said.

As ar as stang goes, the agency canonly make new hires i City Hall lets it, sothe Union will have to apply pressure to theBloomberg Administration to hire morepeople to address the growing problem o

joblessness in the City. The Union is alsoworking with Communications Workers oAmerica Local 1180, which represents Di-rectors in this agency, in order to improverelations on the shop foor.

Progress Made

While members believed the meetingproved valuable in showing the agencyhow low morale had gotten, many thoughtthe agency ocials didnt show adequateconcern or making things better.

However, HRA/FIA management didhear the Union and its members. On Dec.22, two days ater the labor-managementmeeting, a memo to job center Directors

was issued addressing two pressing top-ics: conducting on-site labor-managementmeetings and overtime guidelines that

would not orce everyone to stay until thelast client leaves.

Continued from page 1

Fixing the hRA/FiA

Union Addresses Key Concerns for Front Line Staff

The Future of TASAthe tASA pRogRAma vital part othe Administration o Childrens Ser-

vices that addresses the needs o teenageparentscould be phased out o existencethis summer as a part o the Governors

Medicaid Redesign plan. SSEU Local 371is hard at work to preserve the jobs andunctions o the program.

According to the ACS website, TASAscase managers help mothers and athersunder age 22 to manage their new responsi-bilities, take control o their lives, and learn

how to provide better utures or them-selves and their children. TASA workershelp clients on dealing with the challengerso teenage parenthood while also assistingthem in getting access to education, healthcare, job training and public benets.

Short on Answers

Last month, SSEU Local 371 ocialsmet with ACS management to determine

whether the phase-out could be stopped

and to ensure that i it goes through thatUnion members will be put to work else-

where in the agency.The Union let the meeting with more

questions than answers. ACS has statedthat TASA employees will be moved intoother jobs, but details about this are stilllacking. Vice Presidents o Negotiationsand Research Rose Lovaglio-Miller notedthat it is unclear that a state-mandatedprogram like TASA can legally be phasedout in this way.

Our bottom line is always keepingpeople employed, she said. I theyre go-ing to keep people working, we are alwaysavailable or discussions about that.

However, she pressed that the Unionsstance is that TASA is an eective program

with dedicated workers, and should bekept as it is, saying, We hope that ACS

will understand the importance o whatTASA does, not just or the agency, but orthe teens.

People are saying they need medical leave because its so crazy...Its

getting to the point where your workers are saying, enough is enough.

They have hit a brick wall.VP Rose Lovaglio-Miller


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4 The Unionist | January 2012 January 2012 | The Unionist

One of SSEULocal 371members

favorite traditions is set-ting up holiday partiesat their locations forthe families they serve.Across the boroughs,members decorate theirlocations, serve foodand give out presents,complete with onemember dressed as old

St. Nick himself.Its a tradition that

forges a unique rela-tionship between theclients and SSEU Local371 members. Its thetype of bond that issealed through genuinefriendship and is harderto achieve in the day-to-day routine of socialservices.

Kids Light Up

Its for the kids. Yousee them light up, saidCaseworker WalterFields, a Brooklyn-basedmember at HASA, whoplayed the part of SantaClaus this year.

He noted that themembers greatly enjoyputting on the parties.It really brings theirmorale up. It helps the

workers. It brings them

Above, Warrnia Rumph (left) and Abby Campbell helped organize tparty at Amsterdam HASA, where Deborah Finkelstein, at left, set

a gift table for the children (photos by Pat Arnow).

Cynthia Ocean, bottom, served food at the Queens HASA holiday party,

as members put gifts out on display, at right (photos by Dave Sanders).

together. We shouldhave more of this.

Members chip in toput on the parties, butalso receive donationsfrom the Union andfrom local vendors.

A Hectic Time

This year the holidayparties occurred in theafternoon, right whenchildren were getting

out of school. Its ahectic time for SSEULocal 371 members, asthey scramble to put onthe parties while work-ing on their cases andtalking to their clientsat the same time. Butas always, things cametogether this year. Cas-sandra Young, an SSEULocal 371 AlternateDelegate at the Brook-lyn HASA site, said itwas easy for the workersto come together to puton such an event.

Its a family-likeatmosphere here, shesaid.

Joy in the Air

The joy among thechildren was highlypalpable. At one pointat Brooklyn HASA,

a small child stopped

Fields, in his Santa out-fit, coming out of one ofthe offices back rooms.

Is that your SantaClaus room? the boy

asked, overwhelmedwith joy.

It is, Fields replied.Is that where you

keep all the presents?

the boy inquired.Fields stopped for a

second.Theres something in

there for you, he said.

Below, Walter Fields played the part of Santa Claus while his co-

workers at Brooklyn HASA gathered around him to celebrate anot

successful holiday party (photo by Andrew Hinderaker).

Holiday Parties 2011!


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various company representatives told her er-roneously that they had no medical recordsto back up the claim. Everybodys droppingthe ball, one ater the other, she said.

Finally, the company called her totell her that it would process the claim.Ciprians persistence got the job done, inthe end.

Thats the good part, she said.

But the rewarding part, Ciprian said, iswhen she is able to fnally get the claimsprocessed. In act, just this month she hadan insurance company that denied a claimshe submitted, and when she ollowed up,

Your Union, Your politics

T

he new year is nowupon us, and the

Union has its workcut out or it politically.

We are already oto good start, as theUnions leadership thismonth met with JasonHelgerson, the states

Medicaid Director, to urge him toblock the Medicaid Redesign Teamsplan to end the CASA program.

The elimination could mean theunnecessary risk o 700 SSEU Local371 members jobs, as well as movingelderly clients rom in-home care into

nursing homes and hospitals.

Lobbying Effort

The Union is continuing to lobbyon the Assault Bill, a measure that

would make it a elony to assault a

social service worker, a protectionalready aorded to many other civil

servants. Members did a great job in2011 writing their State Senators and

Assembly Members urging them topass this bill. Now its 2012, and whilethe bill already has substantial support,

we have to step it up.

Get Involved

We urge members to get involvednot only by continuing these eorts,but by coming to the Unions Politi-cal Action Committee meetings eachmonth to get inormed about how youcan organize your ellow members to

make political gains or social serviceworkers.

When members attend these meet-ings they have a chance to present ourelected ofcials with issues they aceon the job. Members are empowered

when they see frsthand that theirvoices are being heard.

You can also get involved in yourown communities: go to CommunityBoard meetings, talk to your localelected representatives, and spread theUnions message through other orga-nizations, like political clubs, churchesand parents associations.

Furthermore, we continue to urgemembers who have been the victim oassault on the job or have witnessed ithappen to other members to contactthe Unions Legislation and Political

Action section, as we need lawmakersto hear directly rom members.

Remember, we are the Union! Themore you participate, the stronger this

Unions political power will be.

-Michelle Akyempong, VP ofLegislation and Political Action

Hiro Ciprian and her co-workers make sure insurance company payments come through to the hospital.

DeAling with health insurancecompanies about ones coverage is nevereasy, and SSEU Local 371 member HiroCiprian does it or a living as a HospitalCare Investigator at Metropolitan Hospitalin Manhattan.

Ciprian applied or the job fve years agowhile working in the non-proft world. Shesaid she wanted to come to City servicebecause o the benefts and the union.

HCIs are responsible or handling patientinsurance claims and making sure the insur-ance company payments come through tothe hospital. It can be an arduous process,involving having to speak to many dierentpeople at a given insurance company to getthe fles processed properly.

Most insurance companies providegood quality ollow ups with the claims,Ciprian said. Some o them give you therun around.

She continued, Thats the hardest part,when the companies dont want to coop-erate. My concern is when the claim getsdenied.

on the FRont lineS

Fighting For Patients Everyday

PatArnow


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January 2012 | The Unionist 7

eeo lAwS

Job Discrimination and How to Confront It

F

ederal, State andCity laws provideall City workers

with important legalrights to protect against

workplace discrimina-tion and hostile work en-

vironments, commonlyknown as Equal Em-ployment Opportunity

laws (EEO). You may not be discrimi-nated against, which means sueringan adverse employment action such asdischarge, demotion, denial o overtime,denial o promotion etc., solely because

o your race, gender, national origin, age,religion or disability that does not pre-vent you rom perorming the essentialduties o your position.

It is unlawul or any managementsta, your supervisors or co-workers tomake unwelcome sexual advances toward

you, or to require any sexual avor romyou as a condition or your obtainingany beneft at work or maintaining yourpresent position. In addition, neither

your supervisors nor any co-worker mayengage in any discriminatory conduct(such as making racial or religious slurs,

posting sexually oensive pictures orother images, etc.), which creates a hos-tile work environment or you. A hostile

work environment is one that a reason-able person would fnd to be oensive.

You can fle a lawsuit to make it stop.

Ways to Seek Help

I you are a victim o discriminationor o a hostile work environment, thereare many available legal avenues youmay pursue. Moreover, you may notbe retaliated against by the agency or

the perpetrator or availing yoursel othese remedies. I anyone attempts toretaliate against you, that is a separate

violation o law or which you mayobtain legal vindication.

Complaints o discrimination orretaliation may be made initially to youragencys Equal Employment Opportu-nity ofce. Please bear in mind that suchcomplaints must be based upon the typeo discrimination reerred to above (race,

gender, national origin, age, religion,disability, hostile work environment). I

your complaint is not addressed to yoursatisaction, you may fle an administra-

tive complaint with the Federal EqualEmployment Opportunity Commission(EEOC), the New York State Divisiono Human Rights (NYSDHR), or theNew York City Commission on HumanRights (NYCCHR). In addition, insteado fling an administrative complaint,

you may fle a lawsuit in the SupremeCourt o the State o New York.

I you fle an administrative complaintwith the Federal EEOC, you must flewithin 300 days rom the date o thediscrimination or retaliation. I you fle

with the State or City Division o Hu-man Rights, you must fle within one yearrom the date o the discrimination orretaliation. I you fle a lawsuit in court, itmust be fled within three years rom thedate o the discrimination or retaliation.

Keeping Notes

I you have been, are or may becomethe victim o discrimination or retalia-tion or complaining about it, you shouldkeep a diary or other notes to which youcan reer later, recording the dates, timesand individuals involved and witnesses,as well as detailing exactly what has oc-

curred. You should also keep all docu-ments that support your case. Theserecords will become an important parto your case. And you should keep all othese materials at home. Your workspacebelongs to the City, not you, and it canbe searched and materials can be seized

without your knowledge or consent.I you are successul with your dis-

crimination complaint, you may obtainmonetary damages or any fnancial lossor emotional distress you have suered.

You may also obtain an Order prohibit-ing urther discrimination or retaliation

and placing you back in the position youwere in prior to the unlawul acts.As always, you should contact the

Grievance Section o the Union withany questions you may have regardingthese or any other legal matters, or orassistance in pursuing corrective ac-tion to protect your rights. Dont be a

victimassert your rights to be ree odiscrimination, hostility or retaliation in

your workplace.Lloyd Permaul, VP of Grievances

and Legal Services

2012 Holiday ScheduleThe holiday schedule is out, and members should take note:

New Years Day, Observed: Monday, Jan. 2, 2012

Martin Luther Kings Birthday: Monday, Jan. 16, 2012

Lincolns Birthday, Observed: Monday, Feb. 13, 2012

Washingtons Birthday: Monday, Feb. 20, 2012

Memorial Day: Monday, May 28, 2012

Independence Day: Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 3, 2012

Columbus Day: Monday, Oct. 8, 2012

Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012

Veterans Day, Observed: Monday, Nov. 12, 2012

Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012

Christmas Day: Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012

New Years Day: Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013


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Social Service Employees Union

Local 371

817 Broadway

New York, N.Y. 10003

Periodicals Postage

Paid at New York, NY

SYDneY weiSS, who became active in theUnions early days, retired rom his Sup II jobat HRA, ending a 48-year civil service career.

Weiss started his career in April o 1963 ata Brooklyn welare oce, where he met Stu-art Leibowitz, who was leading the emerg-ing Social Service Employees, which wouldlater become SSEU Local 371.

Weiss began his Union activism by signingup workers or the Union, and worked outo the Unions Broadway ocewhich hedescribed as a beehive o activityprint-ing leafets that he and others distributed atCity work locations.

There was very good involvement, he re-called. Everyone was concerned, interested,spending time in the eort. Very spirited.

He said o the leafets, They were astand urious, and explosive, had a lot to sayabout the Citys ineciency and its hostilityto the Union.

Weiss ondly remembered how members

Sydney Weiss Retires After A HalfCentury of Activism, Service

for sale- An Admiral washing machine or sale,heavy duty, 8-cycle, 2-speed, combination white/blue,used once, under warranty. $325 or negotiable. I inter-

ested, call (347) 499-0223.sWaP- Caseworker at HHC at 3424 Kossuth Avenue inthe Bronx would like to swap with Caseworker in Manhat-tan or Brooklyn. I interested, call (718) 642-7451

sWaP- Sup I at Long Term Home Healthcare Programat 30 Rockwell Place in Brooklyn would like to swap withSup I, no feld positions, in lower or midtown Manhattan.I interested, call (718) 330-2293.

sWaP- Bronx/CASA Caseworker at 530 West 135thStreet would like to swap with Caseworker in Brooklyneven i not CASA position. I interested, call (347) 510-0136.

sWaP- Community Assistant at 78 Catherine Street wouldlike to swap with Community Assistant at 300 SkillmanAvenue, Brooklyn, NY. I interested, call (212) 877-4434.

sWaP- AJOS at (Center 67) 45 Hoyt Street, Brooklyn, NYwould like to swap with AJOS at (Center 54) 165-08 88thStreet, Jamaica, NY. I interested, contact (347) 995-6127.

sWaP- Caseworker at OCSE in Manhattan would like toswap with Field Caseworker in HASA in Brooklyn or anynon-feld position in Brooklyn or Manhattan. I interested,call (917) 723-0956.

sWaP- Caseworker at HASA in Manhattan Homemak-ing Unit non-feld position. Would like to swap with Case-worker in Queens. I interested, contact (212) 620-9817.

sWaP- AJOS worker at (Center 99) in Richmond, StatenIsland would like to swap sites to 109 East 16th Street,New York, NY. I interested, contact (347) 398-4891.

sWaP- Caseworker at HASA Queensboro Ofce located at33-28 Northern Blvd, LIC, would like to swap to HASA/Green-wood or HASA/ Brownsville. I interested, call 917 226-5931.

BULLETIN BOARDMEMBERS

Condolences are extended to Shirley Gray, Execu-

tive Assistant to President Wells at SSEU Local

371, on the death o her sister, Dorothy Gray-

Clarke, who died in December. Condolences may

be sent to: The Gray Family 41 W Railroad Street,

Jacksonville, North Carolina 28540

Condolences are extended Roberta Sowell, Fraud

Investigator at BFI 151 West Broadway in Manhat-tan, on the death o her mother, Bessie Sowel,l in

December. Condolences can be sent to the Sowell

Family: 9 Tapscott Street, Apt 1A, Brooklyn, New

York 11212.

Condolences are extended to Family and Friends

o Harold Greene, Caseworker at The Ofce o

Child Support Enorcement (OCSE) in the Brooklyn

ofce, who died on December 20. Condolences

may be sent to The Ofce o Child Support

Enorcement 481 Hudson Avenue, Brooklyn, New

York 11201.

Condolences are extended Lois Gillenwater-

Green, Child Welare Specialist in Manhattan on

the death o her ather, William Lee Gillenwater,

who died on December 16. Condolences can

be sent to: Lois Gillenwater-Green. 79 WoodruAvenue, Apt 1C. Brooklyn, New York 11226

Condolences are extended to Victoria Aikhuele,

Sup I at HRA CASA Homecare in Jamaica, Queens,

and her brother, Caseworker Benedict Aikhuele,

on the death o their ather, Chie Rius Aikhuele,

who died in December.

were active in Union demonstrations, andhow many o them volunteered to take partin the Civil Rights Movement. He also not-ed that the Unions roots were in advocatingor welare clients, not just the workers.

The Union had a two-pronged approachor social justice and employee betterment,

Weiss said.

Condolences

Sydney Weiss: A founding brother.

Remembering Rodney Carroll, Union ActivistRoDneY CARRoll, a ormer member oSSEU Local 371, passed away Nov. 19. He

worked at the Union oce as an Organizerrom 1998 to 2004, and was dedicated toairness in City service.

He will be remembered as an energeticand exuberant ghter or workers, saidUnion President Anthony Wells. He wascommitted to helping people in any wayhe could. He spoke ast but was not aast talker.

Carroll was well known or being a Har-lem community activist, working closely

with the neighborhood children.He enjoyed electoral politics, and ran or

City Council in 2005. A cancer survivor whowas dedicated to both his Union activity andcareer in social services, he was known orbeing passionate about helping others andcreating a more just society.

He was married to Shirley Aldebal-Carroll, a ormer Union Executive VP.

Rodney was a great community andUnion activist and a wonderul human be-ing, said long-time SSEU Local 371 mem-ber Shirley Gray. He will be missed.

Documents

The Unionist January 2012