DC37

  • Early Retirement Incentive Battle Begins in Albany
    By MIKE LEE DC 37 and other New York City unions are engaged in lobbying the state legislature for temporary Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) legislation that would allow the City’s long-serving public workers in certain tiers the option to retire early without a reduction in their benefits. The bill is an important part of the union’s effort to stave off a repeat of the threat of potential layoffs of 22,000 New York City public workers. Last September, the New York City Central Labor Council negotiated a last-minute agreement with Mayor Bill de Blasio to suspend threatened layoffs until the end of this June. More recently, the passage of the American Rescue Act and related funding for New York City guaranteed layoffs will be delayed an additional year through at least June 2022. The ERI, however, would add further protection from a new administration and a future chance of layoffs. An ERI for City public workers who qualify will allow them the option to retire early, thus reducing budgets in various departments while also providing a younger generation of workers a pathway to enter civil service with good, stable jobs and strong benefits. The bill authorizes a retirement incentive for public [...] — Mar 31
  • DC 37 Workers #GetVaccinated at Citi Field Event
    By MIKE LEE The early spring weather was sunny, appropriate for the occasion as hundreds of DC 37 members joined other New Yorkers to get the COVID-19 vaccine at a “Vaccination Day” event held at Citi Field, in Flushing Meadows, Queens. The event, heavily promoted by the union in social media and on www.dc37.net drew more than 500 union members to get the life-saving vaccine at the home stadium of the New York Mets on March 27. DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido spoke of the importance of the “Vaccination Day” event, which is part of an ongoing effort to vaccinate tens of thousands of DC 37 members.  “In honor of the more than 200 DC 37 members who died from COVID-19, we pledged we would do everything possible to protect them and their families, get benefits for those who passed away and to protect those living and continue to provide public services,” said Garrido. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also spoke at the event. “It has to be a recovery for all of us, and that means our city workers getting vaccinated. The people have been our heroes, getting what they need to be safe for the families to be [...] — Mar 29
  • APRIL NEWS and UPCOMING EVENTS
    NEWS, UPCOMING EVENTS and SERVICES COVID-19 VACCINES LET DC 37 BOOK YOUR COVID-19 VACCINE APPOINTMENTS: DC 37 can help you book your COVID-19 vaccine appointment. Please fill out this form and a DC 37 representative will call you to book your appointment. What you need to know: * To confirm eligibility, you can check nyc.gov/covidvaccinedistribution. * Proof of eligibility required: 1. Members who are eligible by virtue of job function must bring proof of employment. This can include an employee ID card, a letter from an employer or affiliated organization, or a pay stub. 2. Members who are eligible by virtue of underlying conditions or comorbidities will be asked to provide proof of NYC residence and will be asked to attest to their condition during the scheduling process. 3. Members who are eligible by virtue of age will be asked to provide proof of NYC residence and proof of age. * Employees are granted 4 hours excused leave to go to their vaccination appointment if the appointment is during work hours and, upon receiving the second dose, employees at mayoral agencies only will get 3 hours compensatory time. The 3 hours of comp time for the second dose of vaccine excludes employees at libraries, cultural institutions, authorities (MTA, [...] — Mar 29
  • Union Backs Eric Adams for NYC Mayor at Queens Press Conference
    By MIKE LEE District Council 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido announced today that the City’s largest municipal labor union is endorsing Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams for Mayor of New York City. Endorsing the Brooklyn Borough President at a morning press conference held at Roy Wilkins Park in Jamaica, Queens, Garrido said the endorsement is a culmination of a long process within the union in choosing from 24 candidates running in the Democratic Primary on June 22, including hosting an online Mayoral Forum on Jan. 25. “We started our screening process with the principle that we need a mayor who understands our values, who understands the importance of essential workers for the City, and who also understands our people are putting their lives on the line right now in order to do their jobs,” said DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido at the March 24 event. “We need a mayor who understands that DC 37 makes this city work and that our workers need to be protected just like everyone else. That mayor is Eric Adams, and DC 37 is proud to endorse him.” “This is a city made up of workers,” Adams said. “This is not a startup. This is a city [...] — Mar 24
  • WATCH DC 37 on the FACEBOOK LIVE COVID VACCINE WEBINAR with Q&A
    On March 25, District Council 37, AFSCME Executive Director Henry Garrido, 32BJ SEIU President Kyle Bragg, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Deputy Commissioner Dr. Torian Easterling and AdvantageCare Physicians President & Chief Medical Officer Dr. Navarra Rodriguez discussed the COVID-19 vaccine. They answered questions from DC 37 and 32BJ SEIU members, and shared resources to help you make an appointment to get vaccinated. Click here to watch the event:  https://bit.ly/3sfPKpl — Mar 23