District Council 37

  • Going Home
    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. Executive DirectorHenry Garrido 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 [...] — Jun 12
  • Snapshots
    2024 Black History Month Celebration On Feb. 29, the DC 37 Black History Committee presented an evening of education and entertainment at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. The event, “African Americans and the Arts: Our Impact on Society,” kicked off with ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ and was followed by a member-led Hip-Hop culture and dance program, a discussion about the history of Black hair care, and a keynote speech from American Federation of Teachers Vice President Anthony Harmon. 2024 Women’s History Month The DC 37 Women’s History Committee held its annual event in March in observance of Women’s History Month. The celebration featured guest speaker Ellen Cassidy, the founder of 9to5, the National Association of Women Office Workers, and author of Working 9 to 5: A Women’s Movement. 2024 Pride Parade On June 2, the DC 37 Pride Diversity Interest Group (PDIG) celebrated Pride Month at the Queens Pride Parade. DC 37 attendees marched down 37th Avenue to commemorate LBGTQ+ history, music, and culture. — Jun 12
  • Local 983 Titles Ratify New Contracts
    By ACACIA RODRIGUEZ The five-and-a-half-year contracts provide wage increases and ratification bonuses for Local 983 members in blue collar roles who were unable to work from home during the pandemic. “I’m happy to have these new contracts resolved,” said Local 983 President Joe Puleo. “These are equitable contracts that our members deserve.” Each title plays a major role in eliminating potential safety hazards for the public. High Pressure Plant Tenders and Plant Maintainers ensure boilers, furnaces, and cooling units are running properly in hospitals, transit, school settings, and City facilities. Traffic Enforcement Agents keep streets safe by patrolling and enforcing parking codes. Urban Park Rangers, who maintain the city’s parks, beaches, pools, and recreation centers, are crucial in keeping park patrons informed and protected. Local 983 President Joe Puleo and NYC Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion. Photo: Thea Setterbo “It’s a good contract in my eyes,” said Associate Urban Park Ranger Joe Oro. “I’ve been here 37 years and haven’t seen one as good as this. Patience is a virtue, so I’m glad the contract is here finally.” Eligible members are entitled to 16.21% compounded wage increases during the contract term, a $3,000 ratification bonus, retroactive pay awarded [...] — Jun 12
  • State Budget Gains. City Battle Continues
    NYC Attendants, Park Service Workers, City Park Workers & Debris Removers Local 1505 President Dilcy Benn (center) with Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and members at a Fair Play for Parks rally at Union Square on May 7. Photo: Susan Chin BY MIKE LEE After months of negotiations, including debates over affordable housing and tenant protections, legislators in Albany passed the New York State budget for Fiscal Year 2025 on April 20, nearly three weeks past the April 1 deadline. The union made progress on several priorities as a result of momentum gained from member participation in advocacy events, including the March 12 Lobby Day at the state capitol. Tier 6 Reform Passes After lobbying by DC 37 and other New York public sector unions, Gov. Hochul and State legislators agreed to pass critical changes to the Tier 6 pension plan. Moving forward, Tier 6 employees’ pensions will be calculated on an average of their last three years of earnings rather than five. The union’s efforts paid off, with a $400 million investment increasing the Final Average Salary for Tier 6 members upon retirement. The final budget also includes a two-year extension of the Overtime Exclusion benefit, which was due [...] — Jun 12
  • Worker Solidarity Prevails in the Workplace
    By MIKE LEE at Care for the Homeless After a concerted organizing effort kicked off in October 2021, the union recently secured DC 37 representation at 21 of 24 locations at Care for the Homeless, a non-profit that provides services and shelter for thousands of at-risk New Yorkers. The non-profit was founded in 1985 and operates sites across all five boroughs. Care for the Homeless workers at Susan’s Place in the Bronx. From left: Registered Nurse Tiffany Bigwitch, Medical and Office Assistant Melika Fagan, and Senior Eligibility Enrollment Specialist Francheska Romero. The campaign’s success centered on a large-scale effort requiring four highly trained internal organizing committees comprised of workers representing the locations. The campaign was unique because each site required a separate certification election. District Council 37 brought in more than 100 workers after each certification vote passed by an overwhelming majority. The organizing committees were crucial to the campaign’s success, maintaining unity and focusing efforts on winning recognition. “The workers realized they were robust in numbers and would win,” Organizer Tanya Miller said. “They believed in one another. They had a plan to prepare for each vote and stuck to it.” By taking on leadership during the struggle to unionize, Care [...] — Jun 12