The Unionist September 2012

8/13/2019 The Unionist September 2012

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Volume 42 Number 8September 2012

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

New Delegate Training Labor Day Parade Crisis Intervention Unit Page 3 Pages 4-5 Page 8

GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMOhas re-

ceived a waiver from the Federal governmentfor $10 million in order to go forward withMedicaid reform, which among other thingswould privatize CASA. The news is a harshblow to thousands of senior citizens who relyon home care and could now be transferredinto managed care facilities. SSEU Local 371represents 900 CASA workers.

The Union is committed to fighting anylayoffs. We will continue to fight, Presi-dent Anthony Wells said. There is timefor them to make changes.

With the waiver, Governor CuomosMedicaid Redesign Team can take the next

steps in its recommendation to privatize the

CASA program. The Union has lobbiedhard against this. In December, hundredsof members descended upon an MRTmeeting in Albany to express how privatiza-tion would hurt workers and seniors alike.

The Fight Ahead

The Union will also keep members up-dated as new information becomes available.

Were going to fight it every way wecan, Wells said, noting that the Unionwould reach out to state lawmakers andpeople in the Governors office to makesure that CASA stays intact.

This isnt the first time the Union has

had to pull out all the stops to save thisimportant program. Twenty years ago, thestate tried to phase out CASA, but becauseSSEU Local 371 was able to organize com-munity members and workers against suchan inhumane cut, the Union was able tosave CASA.

This Union is fighting to keep all of ourmembers employed, Wells said. There isnothing more important.

DESPITE WAIVER, WE WILL PREVAIL

Our Fight to Save CASA WorkersNow Enters the Next Critical Phase

Defending Collective Bargaining

Preserving Our Triborough RightsGovernor Andrew Cuomo ran for thestates top office on a platform that washostile to public sector unions. Thankfully,Governor Cuomo has given up his wrong-headed goal of holding a constitutional

convention to get rid of the TriboroughAmendment, which mandates that whencontracts with public sector unions expirethe terms continue until a new contract issettled. This is to counter-balance the partof the states Taylor Law that bars unionslike ours from striking.

However, the Union has learned thatthe State is looking into creating so-calledemergency panels for municipalities that can

declare fiscal emergencies that could haltexpired contract terms from continuing tocover workers. This would be a sneaky wayaround the Triborough Amendment.

The Union is working with the rest of

the labor movement to stop this initia-tive, and reaching out to state lawmakersto stop such a measure. This is the sameright-wing agenda that has been imposedin Michigan to break unions, which hasinfuriated public sector workers.

The labor movement is united instopping this from happening, PresidentAnthony Wells said. Hopefully, this isjust chatter that isnt going anywhere, but

were going to make sure that this doesntprogress. This is an important part of thestates labor law that ensures that workerscollective bargaining rights are protected inaddition to ensuring labor peace.

Wells stressed, An attack on the Tribor-ough Amendment is an attack on collectivebargaining.

StopUnionBusting


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The Assault Bill Will Be Enacted!Governor Cuomo has signed the Assault Bill, one of this unions top legislative

priorities. The bill will go into effect on Nov. 1. After that, assaulting a social

service worker will be a felony offense.

We thank everyone who contributed to passing this bill. It took commitment

and leadership at every level of the Union.

Now, we no longer have to fight for this legal protection.

2 The Unionist | September 2012

SEPTEMBER

18 Alumni Association:2:00 p.m.Union Office, 12th Floor

19 Delegate Assembly Meeting:6:30 p.m.Advance Realty Building, 235 West 23rdStreet in Manhattan

26 Political Action Committee:6:30 p.m.Union Office, 12th Floor

Civilians Law Enforcement Meeting:6:30 p.m. Union Office, 15th Floor

OCTOBER

3 Executive Committee:6:30 p.m. UnionOffice, 12th Floor

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

11 Womens Committee:6:30 p.m.Union Office, 12th Floor

16 Alumni Association:2:00 p.m.Union Office, 12th Floor

17 Delegate Assembly Meeting:6:30 p.m.Advance Realty Building, 235 West 23rdStreet in Manhattan

24 Political Action Committee:6:30 p.m.Union Office, 12th Floor

Civilians in law Enforcement:6:30 p.m.Union Office, 15th Floor

CALENDAR

Published monthly except for 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

PresidentAnthony Wells

Executive Vice PresidentYolanda Pumarejo

Secretary-TreasurerJoe Nazario

V.P. Negotiations & ResearchRose Lovaglio-Miller

V.P. Grievances & Legal ServicesLloyd Permaul

V.P. Publicity & Community RelationsPatricia Chardavoyne

V.P. Legislation & Political ActionMichelle Akyempong

TrusteesVincent CiccarelloYolanda DeJesusMelva Scarborough

EditorAri Paul

Visit us on the web at www.sseu371.org

Our Vote Is Our Voice

T

his November we are faced with some daunting

challenges. The upcoming elections are the most

important in our lifetime. We often say that about

national elections, just as we did about the 2008presidential election. But this one truly is, not just because

of the outcome, but because of the need to protect the

voting process itself.

In more than 25 states, laws have been passed that

disenfranchise millions of voters. There are laws requiring

state-issued ID cards to vote. In some states, the time to

vote has been shortened. Still others have ended weekend or

early voting. These changes are intended to control the national elections and

take the decision away from voters. The victories of the civil rights movement

are in danger. The biggest victory, the right to vote, is under direct attack.

So once again we must become energized tofight back. The strategy is clear: mobilize all

registered voters to vote and register all those

not yet registered. We must encourage, cajole

and insist that those registered voters get out and

vote. Thats the only way to save our democracy.

We have seen the positive results when

people are energized to participate in the

political and electoral processthe first

African American President and the passage of the Assault Bill.

We understand the challenges are many. We are fighting back to secure

livable wages and a contract that meets our needs. We are fighting back toprotect our pensions and benefits. We are fighting back to strengthen our

rights and improve the working conditions in our work locations. We are

fighting back to maintain the dignity of all working woman and men and their

ability to put food on the family table.

It is clear that if we do not participate and vote in this election, these

challenges will multiply. We must believe that we can make a difference, no

matter how small. We have in the past, and we will again in the future.

Anthony Wells

We must believe

that we can make

a difference, no

matter how small.


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September 2012 | The Unionist 3

ON THE FRONT LINES

Leading a Family in Brownsvillecane Irene last year. On Sept. 11,2001, she stayed in the communitycenter overnight with the children

because many parents were unableto get home.The families know us, so they

treat us like family, Sanders said.Its a rewarding job, she said,

because she gets to watch a lot ofchildren in the community growup and benefit from the programsthat she leads.

Ive had a lot of influence ona lot of young people who comethrough my center, Sanders said.

She added with a laugh, Some

get city jobs and are making morethan me. Thats a reward you get.

Sanders, a member of theUnions Executive Committee, la-mented that public housing has of-ten been neglected, but noted thather job proved that investment inpublic housing and especially incommunity programs for youngresidents was vital.

We should be investing more inour children, she said. My goal is

to make sure Im doing the best jobI can do.

Sadie Sanders: Building family values for nearly three decades.

New Delegate TrainingThe Union will host another Delegate Training open to all new Delegates and Alternates on Oct. 6, 2012 at DC 37

headquarters at 125 Barclay St. in Manhattan from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you would like to attend, please fill out the coupon below and return it by Sept. 21 by faxing it to (212) 477-4863.

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________

Cell Phone:_______________________________________________________________________________

Email: __________________________________________________________________________________

Location: ________________________________________________________________________________

Delegate:__________________ Alternate:___________________ Shirt Size:_____________________

Sadie Sanders is more than just aCommunity Coordinator in theHousing Authority. For more

than 27 years, she has been like a secondmother in the Howard Houses in Browns-ville, Brooklyn.

Sanders leads community programs forchildren who live in public housing. Weoversee after-school and evening programs.We do homework help, Sanders explained.

She also organizes community gardensand leads summer trips to the museumsand amusement parks. These things helpeducate and entertain children, and createa sense of community. Because she lives inthe area, she doesnt feel like its just an-

other civil service job, but rather a lifetimeresponsibility. She checks childrens reportcards to makes sure children are doingtheir best in school.

We are like another family to them,she said, noting that Community Coordi-nators are often invited to birthday partiesand other family events in the area. Itsnot work and then you go home.

She should know. Sanders noted thatwhat the public doesnt often see is thatworkers in her title put in the extra effort

during emergencies. She spent the nightin the community center during Hurri-

AriPaul


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4 The Unionist | January 20124 The Unionist | September 2012

M

ore than 50 SSEU

Local 371 membersand their family mem-bers came out despite the rain tomarch in the annual Labor DayParade up Fifth Ave. Sept. 9,joining their sisters and brothersfrom across the New York Citylabor movement.

The yearly affair is to cele-brate the contributions of labor,but in an election year, whereworking people are under at-tack by right-wing politicians

around the country, unionistsrenewed their commitment topolitical organizing. The mes-sage this year: We are one.

And SSEU Local 371 notonly let its collective voice

roar through the corridors or

the most 1 percent neighbor-hood in the City, but flexed itspolitical muscles. As membersmarched, President AnthonyWells was constantly ap-proached by elected officialswho voiced their support forsocial services and the civil ser-vants who operate them.

Days like this are a celebra-tion, but also a reminder of allthe work we have to do, saidWells after the march, which

was just two days before teach-ers in Chicago went on strike.Working people are under at-tack. We have to let the powers-that-be know that we are aforce to be reckoned with.

LABOR DAY MARC

Above, Monsignor Rober t Ritchie of S t. Patricks Cathedral greets SSEU Local 371

members. At right, members gather in Union Square near the locals headquarters

before heading up to the parade.

WORKING PEOPLE

ARE UNDER ATTACK.

WE HAVE TO LET THE

POWERS-THAT-BE KNOW

THAT WE ARE A FORCE

TO BE RECKONED WITH.


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January 2012 | The Unionist 5September 2012 | The Unionist 5

, 2012

Left: Members march up FifthAve.; at right, Joe Locust leads

the delegation; below, from left

to right, Local 1549 President

Eddie Rodriguez, Local 371 Exec.

VP Yolanda Pumarejo, President

Anthony Wells, DC 37 Executive

Director Lillian Roberts and State

Senator Diane Savino.PhotosbyAriPaul


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In November, the Choice is Clear

The two nationalparty conventionsare over, and in

a month and a half wewill head to the polls inthe presidential election.In one corner, we havea candidate who madea fortune destroying

middle class jobs and a runningmate who wants to destroy the socialservices Americans depend on. Inthe other, theres a president who hasfought to save the middle class andworking America.

The choice is clear: All of us have towork to ensure that President BarackObama is re-elected.

This administration has reformed thehealth-care system to make it more af-fordable. It has introduced new regula-tions in the financial sector in responseto the economic downturn. And theObama administration worked hard tohelp the ailing auto industry to recover.

By contrast, the Republican Partyticket finds its inspiration in Scott

Walker, the Koch Brothers andSheldon Adelson, who have made ittheir goal to destroy unions, the key

defender of the American workingclass. When Mitt Romney and PaulRyan talk about reducing the size ofgovernment, they arent talking aboutwasteful contracts or military spend-ing. They are talking about destroyingthe safety net millions of Americansdepend on, and social service workerslike us who provide those vital services.

Save Voting Rights

Worse, the Republican strategy tounseating President Obama focuseson imposing dubious voter ID lawsin swing states. Watchdog groups saythat there have been few actual cases ofvoter fraud, and that these new lawswould make it harder for low-incomeand people of color to vote.

President Obama has affirmedhis commitment to job creation andreforming the tax system to make itmore equitable. Vice President JoeBiden addressed the AFSCME con-

vention this summer, a clear indica-tion that the administration sides withpublic sector workers.

Of course, New York is a blue state;it doesnt seem that important to goout to the polls. But there is more wecan do. We can volunteer to do phonebanking and door knocking in swingstates. We can encourage our friendsand family to vote, to make sure thatthe victory is decisive.

And above all, voting is the processthat connects us to this democracy.When our grandchildren ask us aboutthis historical election, we can say con-fidently that we were an active part.

Michelle Akyempong, Vice Presidentof Political Action

President Obama has

affirmed his commitment to

job creation and reforming

the tax system to make it

more equitable.


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September 2012 | The Unionist 7

With Stu, I Found a Common Ground in the Union

The best way for me to honor thememory of Stu Leibowitz is to reflectupon our initial encounter. We both

worked in a downtown Brooklyn WelfareCenter in the mid-1960s. Suffice it say, wewere opposites that did not attract.

I perceived myself a product of thetimes: liberal, radical and militant. I per-ceived Stu as a conservative, right wingRepublican with whom I had nothing incommon. Stu called me another worthlessanarchist.

Those who knew us well thought the

consequences of a confrontation betweenus could be analogous to matter meetsanti-matter. Hence, our encounters wereinfrequent and brief.

Learning About Respect

Stu left the location after a few monthsto become the negotiator for SSEU Local371, and over the next decade became alegendary labor leader. While I still hadguarded personal feelings, I respected,admired and benefited from his abilities as

a negotiator, and always supported him inthat position.

I became a Grievance Representativefor the central union in the mid-1970sand, after a few months, the long avoidedconfrontation occurred. Stu called meinto his office and said, I was opposed toyour coming here, and I was wrong aboutyou. He went on, You are very goodat what you do. I replied, So are you.Our common ground, the Union, was thefoundation upon which our friendshipwas built. This friendship had a positiveimpact on my life, because I leaned not to

focus on our differences but on what wehad in common.

Over the years, Stus talents continued toinspire and amaze me, and our friendshipflourished. Every City employee has somehow benefited from his talents. His retire-ment was not an end, but a new beginning.As the president of the DC 37 RetireesAssociation, he cornered the market onobtaining benefits for retirees, such as the

COLA Medicaid Part B reimbursement.I was deeply saddened by his passing,

occasionally wondering what we will dowithout Stu. However, I know exactly whatI will do with the Stu within.

I will continue to fight for the dignity ofworking people and be very proud to beone of the acorns from the Mighty Oak,Stu Leibowitz.

-Shirley Gray

Remembering a Union IconSTUART LEIBOWITZ, who diedAug. 23, made his mark during his tenureas president of the DC 37 RetireesAssociation. But for members of SSEULocal 371, he stood out as a charismaticVice President for Research andNegotiations of this Union, who cameinto that position in 1967 and retiredfrom the local in 1994.

Stu used to say were all retirees intraining, said President Anthony Wells.I take that to heart. He fought hard sothat working people could retire with dig-

nity. SSEU Local 371 members have whatthey have today because people like Stufought for dignity in the civil service.

Among many of his accomplishmentswere pushing for DC 37 members to beplaced in a Tier 1 pension. As The Chief-Leaderreported, as a a co-chair of theDC 37 pensions committee, he helpedwin pension cost-of-living-adjustmentsand reimbursement of Medicare Part Bpayments for retirees, and developed theassociation into a stronger political forcewithin the union. Stu Leibowitz, right, with City Comptroller John Liu.

Leibowitz advocated for retirees until the very end.

PhotosfromD

C37


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Social Service Employees Union

Local 371

817 Broadway

New York, N.Y. 10003

Periodicals Postage

Paid at New York, NY

SSEU LOCAL 371has launched a crisisintervention unit to deal with the increase intraumatic episodessuch as deaths, illnesses,assaults, etc.at worksites, and to give ourmembers an empathetic setting to expressthemselves and deal with these issues.

Licensed social workers (represented bythe Union) are available to intervene withcrises at work locations. They are expe-rienced professionals who are certified towork with diverse populations.

These social workers will facilitate one-time group counseling to members who are

PILOT PROGRAM:

Crisis Intervention Unit

CondolencesCondolencesare extended to Ms. Tobi King-Coo-

per, Delegate for HASA at 400 Eighth Avenue on

the death of her mother-in-law, Ms. Ethel Cooper,

who died in September. Condolences can be sent

to Tobi King-Cooper, 2171 Madison Avenue, #6-B,

New York, NY 10037.

Condolencesare extended to the family and

friends of Stuart (Stu) Leibowitz, former VicePresident of Research and Negotiations at SSEU

Local 371 and President of DC 37 Retirees As-

sociation, who died in August. Condolences can

be sent to his daughter, Julianne Leibowitz, c/o DC

37 Retirees Association, 125 Barclay Street, New

York, NY 10007.

Condolencesare extended to Belinda Brathwaite,

Caseworker at Long Term Health Care Program

in Queens, on the death of her sister, Gail Brown.

Condolences can be sent to Belinda Brathwaite,

HRA/LTHHCP, 92-31 Union Hall St., 2nd Floor,

Jamaica, NY 11433.

Condolencesare extended to Avon Wilson-

Pinckney, Job Opportunity Specialist at Job Center

#52, and Bridgette Browning, Caseworker in HASA

Concourse, on the death of their uncle, Herman

Ryan Jr., who died in August. Condolences can

be sent to Ms. Avon Wilson-Pinckney, 1410 Wood

Road., #1D Bronx, NY 10462.

Condolencesare extended to Lucy Lane, Griev-

ance Representative at SSEU Local 371, on the

death of her mom, Wendy. Condolences can be

sent to Lucy Lane, SSEU Local 371, 817 Broadway,

14th Floor, New York, NY 10003.

CongratulationsCongratulationsto Michelle Akyempong, Vice

President of Political Action at SSEU Local 371,

on the marriage of her daughter, Ebony, to Jamal

Lenard on September 9.

experiencing crisis or trauma at their work-site, and they will help members identifybetter ways of coping with stress at theirworksites and help members to identify theirstrengths. The crisis intervention unit willalso provide referrals for outreach servicesand information about community resources.

The units goal is to assure SSEU Local371 members that they can have a healthyand safe work environment.

For more information about the program,please contact Alexis Davis at (212) 777-9000, ext. 3068.

Most SSEU Local 371 members

know Ron Cook as a dedicatedUnion organizer. But on Sept. 16, he

was installed as a Pastor of Christian

Faith Tabernacle at the Bethlehem

Baptist Church in Brooklyn.

We congratulate him and recognize

all the hard work he put into making

this goal happen. We wish him luck

and hope he can bring the spirit into

our mighty Union!

The

Reverend

Is In!

Filing ExtendedThe Department of Citywide Administra-tion has issued a Notice of Examination for

Exam No. 3000, Juvenile Counselor.

It reads, The Notice of Examination

is amended to extend the end of the

filing period from September 7, 2012 to

October 26, 2012 and change multiple-

choice testing from the week of October

22, 2012 to the week of January 7, 2013.

For more information please contact

Denise Barr at the Welfare Fund. AriPaul

Documents

The Unionist September 2012