Volume 41 • Number 2

February 2011

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

Pensions: Reform or Regression?

L onger years of service, higher con-
tributions and less pay out: That’s
what’s in store for Local 371 mem-
bers and other civilian municipal workers’
pensions if the Bloomberg administration
has its way.
Labor leaders met February 2 to dis-
cuss an administration proposal for ci-
vilian workers in the NYCERS plan to
increase employee contributions from
4.85 percent in the first 10 years—and
going down to 1.85 percent—to a 5
percent contribution in all years. In ad-
dition, the proposal would raise the
retirement age to 65 and eliminate over-
time hours being counted towards pen-
sion calculations. The proposal would
also make pensions “a mandatory subject
of bargaining under the Taylor Law.”
Current Workers Affected
What is different about the administra-
tion’s rhetoric on pensions this time around
is that these changes, if enacted by the State
Legislature, would affect current employees.
The move comes after another administra-
tion proposal to scrap a wide range of civil
service protections (see the January issue of
the Unionist for more details).
“The City wants to undo all the pen-
sion work this Union has done over the
years,” Local 371 President Faye Moore
said. “In spite of the rhetoric that this is
being done in response to the fiscal crisis,
this plan achieves no savings for the City
upfront.”
State Senator and former Local 371
VP Diane Savino predicted that any pen-
Continued on page 2

Delegate Training Focuses on Defending Against Mgt.

GUY GLADDEN, an Associate Correc-
tions Counselor I based at Rikers Island,
sensed something was fishy when man-
agement began shifting workers between
facilities at the detention complex. Nor-
mally, moving workers around locations
involves collectively bargained protocol,
but management insisted that Rikers
Island was considered one location, so
such rules didn’t apply.
After Gladden investigated, it turned out
this wasn’t the case. He confronted a man-
ager about it, he recalled, and the arbitrary
shifting of workers ceased.
It was this kind of incident that encour-
aged Gladden to become more active in
the Union and run for Delegate, and he
attended his first Delegate Training, with
more than a hundred other Delegates, at
DC 37’s headquarters January 22.
“I wanted to get involved in something,”
he said. “I feel like I can get workers in-
Pat Arnow

volved. I realize how important this is to

us, and how we’ve been getting the shaft all
along.” Continued on page 4 Local 371 Organizer Aubrey Norris (right) discusses Union tactics and issues facing members with Delegate Richard Bond.

Piven Under Fire Jon Peek Retires Union Meets with NYPD
Page 3 Page 6 Page 8
CALENDAR
FEBRUARY
14 Black History Committee Meeting:
6:30 p.m. Union Office, 12th Floor
15 Alumni Association Meeting: 2 p.m.
Union Office, 12th Floor
16 Delegate Assembly: 6:30 p.m.
Advance Realty Building, 235 West 23rd
Street in Manhattan
21 President’s Day: an official City holiday
22 Black History Committee Meeting:
6:30 p.m. Union Office, 12th Floor
23 Political Action Committee: 6:30 p.m.
Union Office, 12th Floor
Civilians in Law Enforcement Chapter
Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Union Office, 15th Floor
25 Black History Celebration: 5:30 p.m.
DC 37, 125 Barclay Street in Manhattan
MARCH
2 Executive Committee Meeting: 6:30 p.m.
Union Office, 12th Floor
9 Women’s Committee: 6:30 p.m.
Union Office, 12th Floor
11 Social Work Month Event: 5:30 p.m. DC 37,
125 Barclay Street in Manhattan
13 Daylight Savings Time begins
15 Alumni Association Meeting: 2 p.m.
Union Office, 12th Floor
16 Delegate Assembly: 6:30 p.m.
Advance Realty Building, 235 West 23rd
Street in Manhattan
23 Political Action Committee: 6:30 p.m.
Union Office, 12th Floor
Civilians in Law Enforcement Chapter
Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Union Office, 15th Floor
28 Mass Membership Meeting: 6:30 p.m. School
of the Future, 127 East 22nd St., Manhattan
Published monthly except for a combined issue in July/
August and a Supplement in January by the Social
Service 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: The
Unionist, SSEU Local 371, 817 Broadway, N.Y., N.Y. 10003.
USPS# 348990 (212) 677-3900
ISSN# 0041-7092
President
Faye Moore
Executive Vice President
Yolanda Pumarejo
Secretary-Treasurer
Joe Nazario
V.P. Negotiations & Research
Anthony Wells
V.P. Organization & Education
Beverly Mallory-Brown
V.P. Grievances & Legal Services
Lloyd Permaul
V.P. Legislation & Political Action
Michelle Akyempong
V.P. Publicity & Community Relations
Michelle Conklin
Trustees
Michael Ballesteros
Yolanda DeJesus
Melva Scarborough
Editor
Ari Paul
Associate Editor
Jessica Ramos
Visit us on the web at www.sseu371.org
2 The Unionist | February 2011
Pensions: Reform or Regression?
Continued from page 1 scientist Glenn Pasanen pointed to a recent
sion reform would have to be approved by Independent Budget Office report saying that
organized labor, noting that pension reform there will be a “1.7-billion surplus this fiscal
is hardly ever legislated without a negotiated year” that would shrink “the city’s projected
agreement between the employer and the budget deficit for 2012 to $1.1 billion—a
unions. nominal figure at this date in a projected
“The Mayor’s posturing,” she said. “If the $67.5-billion budget.”
Mayor wants real changes, he knows how to And he added of Bloomberg’s refusal to
raise taxes on the wealthiest resi-
“The City wants to undo all the pension work dents, “This decision not to raise
this Union has done over the years.” taxes on the most affluent New
Yorkers takes hundreds of mil-
Local 371 President Faye Moore lions of dollars off the budget
table.” Amy Traub, the director of
get them, by talking to the relevant parties.” research at the Drum Major Institute, said,
And more and more research is coming “New York right now has more millionaires
out supporting the Union’s argument that than it has ever had in its history. So I reject
the Mayor’s doom-and-gloom view of the the idea that we balance the budget on civil
fiscal situation is overblown. Writing in the servants, the last bastion of the middle class
Gotham Gazette, Lehman College political in New York City.”
25 YEARS AGO February 1986 the Municipal Labor Committee contract by a vote
“SHELTER VIOLENCE PROMPTS CITY TO EFFECT of 4,884 against and 471 in favor in a mail ballot
UNION SECURITY DEMANDS counted by the American Arbitration Association on
The Union has been demanding increased security January 29. The membership of District Council 37
for the past year, but the shooting of a 19-year-old as a whole, however, according to Executive Director
client on the main floor of the shelter January 15 Stan Hill, approved the contract 19, 513 to 14,438.
brought the issue to a head. After the acceptance of the contract, which was
At an emergency meeting...Union President Charles sold to the membership on the basis of a three-year
Ensley told management: ‘We don’t enjoy being right job security clause, Ensley asked about the specific
on these kinds of issues. We warned you the situation language of the job security clause. Dennis Sullivan,
was dangerous, and now we need immediate action.’ DC 37’s chief negotiator, admitted there was no writ-
Union negotiator Tony Serlin outlined a series of ten agreement on job security...
demands...increasing the number of Special Officers At a Delegate Assembly meeting February 21,
to 15 per shift, reducing the client population to Ensley gave a full report on the contract and compli-
eliminate overcrowding, placing metal detectors at mented Local 371 members ‘for upholding the grand
democratic tradition of the labor movement.’”
each entrance point...”
20 YEARS AGO February 1991 10 YEARS AGO February 2001
“UNION PLANS FEB. 21 DEMONSTRATION TO PRO- “IMMIGRATION ISSUES TOP LIST OF 2001 UNION
TEST SENIOR CENTER PLANS INITIATIVES
Workers from the Centers have been meeting at the The New York City Central Labor Council recently
Union office to develop a strategy to protest the hosted a press conference that brought together
contracting out, which they say will result in cuts in labor leaders, immigrant advocacy groups and
services and possible closing of centers... elected officials to discuss immigrant and immigra-
Seniors at the centers have signed petitions de- tion legislation and initiatives.
nouncing the changes and sent them to government Participants expressed their support of initiatives
officials. According to workers, currently contracted that will improve the working and living conditions
of immigrants. A ‘wish list’ of short and long-term
centers provide a minimal breakfast for 35 cents,
whereas HRA-run centers provide a full, hot break- issues was unveiled, which leaders hope to see
fast for 20 cents.” improvements on in the future. The list, which was
developed by a subcommittee of the Commission
15 YEARS AGO February 1996 on the Dignity of Immigrants, included: ...repeal em-
“LOCAL 371 MEMBERS OVERWHELMINGLY REJECT ployer sanctions, suspend INS raids during labor dis-
CONTRACT putes, restore section 245(i) completely, improve
Local 371 members voted overwhelmingly to reject conditions and practices in INS detention centers.”
FOX VS. FOX
The Attack on Piven and
Social Work
F ox News pundit Glenn Beck’s re-
lentless assault on CUNY Graduate
Center Professor Frances Fox Piven
has moved into dangerous territory, as
right-wing activists posing as students
have requested access to her home while
she is also receiving death threats.
Piven is famous for devising, with her
late husband Richard Cloward, a strategy
for the Democratic Party in the late 1960s
calling for the organizing of the urban
poor into the existing social service and
welfare system, in turn forcing the party
to push for more investment in a national
safety net.
Getting Full Benefits
She recently described her theory on
the TV/radio show Democracy Now!:
“It proposed that people on the left help
poor people in the cities get their full
benefits from welfare.”
But Beck and others have labeled her, at
the tamest, a radical who wants to create a
European-style welfare system that would
implode the government, and at worst, an
anarchist calling for violence. Given how
the recent tragedy in Tucson, Arizona fol-
lowed the vitriol of Sarah Palin and the
Tea Party, it isn’t too extreme for Piven
and her loved ones to be unnerved.
The claims about her are preposter-
ous, but the targeting of Piven is directly
related to the vilification—both here in
the City and elsewhere—of civil ser-
Election Committee Notice
Official notice is hereby given for the nomination
and election of three (3) members of the Election
Committee to be elected by the membership for
the General Officers Election. To be eligible to run
for election as committee member, one must be a
member in good standing.
The nomination and election of these three (3)
members of the Election Committee will be held
at the General Membership Meeting on Monday,
February 28, 2011, 6:30 p.m. at the School of the
Future, 127 East 22nd Street, Manhattan.
February 2011 | The Unionist
“ [T]he far right’s fear is not
that the expansion of the
social service system will
bankrupt the system. They
”
fear that it will work.
vice workers, especially social service
employees, as they are the back-bone of
the welfare system people like Beck hate Social service advocate Frances Fox Piven under fire.
so much. As Piven’s colleague Stanley
Aronowitz told the Unionist, “[She] is a
democrat with both a small and a big d. At the end of the day, the far right’s
They didn’t pick on her because she’s a fear is not that the expansion of the
radical. They picked on her because of social service system will bankrupt the
her work on social welfare.” system. They fear that it will work. The
expansion would increase the power
An Attack on Clients of unions such as Local 371, and cre-
The fact of the matter is that when ate middle-class jobs. But it would also
Mayor Michael Bloomberg seeks cuts— use the public treasury, financed by
whether it’s at the Administration for the wealthiest citizens, to provide vital
Children’s Services, Department of services to the most vulnerable people,
Homeless Services, or HRA—he is not who could use such services to climb the
only attacking the Union’s members, but socio-economic ladder.
the millions of struggling people in the For Union members and working fami-
five boroughs who can better their situ- lies this doesn’t sound so bad. But for
ations through these programs, just like the class that directly benefits from the
Piven advocated. Local 371 members, yawning gap between rich and poor, it’s a
dedicated to social services, are joined in nightmare.
a struggle with their clients. – Ari Paul
15-Day Election Notice
Official 15-day notice is hereby given that the membership meeting of Monday, March 7, 2011
will hold the following nominations and/or elections. The meeting will be at the School of the
Future, 127 East 22nd Street, Manhattan, at 6:30 p.m.
Nomination of candidates for the Union positions of President, Executive Vice President,
Secretary-Treasurer, Vice President for Research and Negotiations, Vice President for
Organization and Education, Vice President for Grievances and Legal Services, Vice President
for Publicity and Community Relations, Vice President for Legislative and Political Action and
three (3) Trustees of the Local.
Nomination of candidates for three (3) positions of Trustee of the Welfare and Education Funds
for the two-year term commencing in 2011.
Nomination of candidates for the twenty (20) positions of Delegate to the District Council 37
Delegates Council.
Nomination of candidates for nine (9) positions of Delegate to the Central Labor Council.
3
Jon Peek, Grievances Assoc. Dir., Retires After 28
Years at Union
T he City may hope to save some
money with the retirement of Jon
Peek, who liked nothing better than
to educate members about their rights
and to get them the pay they deserved.
Whether filling out-of-title grievances
for Fraud Investigators and Community
Associates, or negotiating settlements
for members who had been brought up
on disciplinary charges, Peek engineered
payments of thousands of dollars in hard-
earned money to workers who would
otherwise have lost out.
Peek started his career with the City
at the Department of Social Services in
Brooklyn on March 13, 1967. He then
worked in GSS, before that program
evolved into APS, CASA and HASA.
He was a Delegate at Nevins Income

Maintenance Center in Brooklyn, where
he met his wife, Dorothy, who was a
Supervisor I there.
Peek was thrust into Union affairs in
1981, when a Grievance Representative
by the name of Charles Ensley got kicked
out of the Union Office. Peek was among
Ensley’s early supporters as he mounted a
successful campaign against Joe Sperling,
Pat Arnow
Jon Peek shared some wisdom about grievance procedure during the annual Delegate training January 22.
During the AIDS epidemic of the Many of the workers were underpaid.
1980s, Union members in the Health Peek said he helped sort out the job
Department were working in grant- descriptions, and “got a lot of money” for
funded AIDS programs at Health Stations the underpaid workers.
scattered throughout the City. Peek

“
Peek chose to work in
Grievances because he
was told it involved arguing
launched an organizing campaign with
these workers, and it became apparent
that some of them were performing job
duties well above their job descriptions.
He initiated a group grievance on their
The Go-To Guy
Peek continued to fight for the workers,
pushing for the movement of the civil
service list for the Fraud Investigator
title, and then pushing for more tests to

”
with managers.
and was elected Union President in 1982.
Content with his job in social services,
Peek turned down Ensley’s initial request
that he work for the Union. But the calls
kept coming. Ensley asked him to help
“bring us back to civilization,” as Peek
recalled. It was a turbulent time in the
Union’s history. “People hated us,” he
said. Fellow Union activist Betty Harris
told him, “Charles needs you.” And
Peek’s wife said, “You have to go. He
needs you, Jon.”
After a fourth call from the President,
Peek agreed to take a position at the
Union. Peek chose to work in Grievances
because he was told it involved arguing
with managers. He became well versed in
civil service law and an expert on Union
contracts.
behalf for out-of-title work, which be scheduled. He even got the City to
resulted in a substantial increase in pay appoint all of the candidates in list order,
for those workers. so that none from that 1999 list were
Peek won a similar Union victory when “1-in-3’d”.
Local 371 gained representation of the As an Associate Director of Grievances,
Fraud Investigator title series in the newly Peek has been the “go-to” person for
established EVR program. He went the interpretation of our contracts and the
extra mile to represent the members, grievance process. He has represented
meeting with Fraud Investigators at 7:00 many Union members at arbitration
a.m. because they had to leave the office hearings, and was known for successfully
at 8:30. Peek discovered no one knew the negotiating a settlement when others
difference between a Fraud Investigator I thought the case was hopeless.
or II, or an Associate Fraud Investigator. – Michelle Conklin
FYI: Floating Holiday
Lincoln’s Birthday falls on a Saturday this year, and is observed on Friday, Febru-
ary 11. Local 371 members hired prior to July 1, 2004 are entitled to one floating
holiday, in lieu of Lincoln’s Birthday, to be used during the 2011 calendar year. The
floating holiday accrues on Lincoln’s Birthday. A request to use the holiday must be
made 30 days in advance.

6 The Unionist | February 2011

 Loan Forgiveness for
Social Workers
The New York State Higher Education Services
Corporation has begun a new student loan
forgiveness program for social workers in the
fields of “health, mental health, substance
abuse, aging, HIV/AIDS and child welfare or
communities with multilingual needs.”
Among the critical needs areas of the State where
social workers qualify for the program are Manhat-
tan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens. The website
for the program says, “The maximum award under
this program will be $26,000.00 or the applicant’s
eligible student loan indebtedness at the time they
apply, whichever is less. Awards will be paid in
annual disbursements for each period of qualified
service. Annual disbursements will be equal to
$6,500 or their remaining loan indebtedness.”
The deadline for filing is March 15. For more
information about the program and eligibility, call
the HESC’s Scholarship Unit at (888) 697-4372,
or log on to www.hesc.com/content.nsf/SFC/2/
NYS_Licensed_Social_Worker_Loan_Forgiveness
Pat Arnow
_Program.
Social Work Celebration
Featuring Noted CUNY Professor
The Union’s annual Social Work Month
Celebration will be held Friday, March 11 at
DC 37 headquarters. Dinner begins at 5:30
p.m., and a program featuring music and
Hunter College social welfare Professor Mimi
Abramovitz as the keynote speaker.
Musical guest this year will be 19 South.
Professor Abramovitz is a prolific writer on
not only social work and addressing poverty,
but on the role of women in working class
organizing.
If you graduated from a school of social
work in the last year, please contact Yolanda
Pumarejo at (212) 598-7053 to have your
name featured in this year’s journal.
All members are welcome to the event.
19 South will perform at this year’s social work
celebration.
February 2011 | The Unionist 7
TransitChek: Taken for a Ride?
Some Local 371 members have run into problems with their City-issued TransitCheks. The
employer-benefit was originally designed to allow workers to save money on transit costs by
deducting pre-tax dollars to pay for MetroCards, VP of Research and Negotiations Anthony Wells
explained, but noted that members have complained about it.
“First TransitChek was not charging us the whole $89, which was the MTA charge in 2010. They
were only charging us $41.08 every two weeks, which comes to $82.16 because they were
giving us a group discount,” explained Jeffrey Wilson, a Community
Associate in the Department of Records. “This discount also
included one MetroCard a year as opposed to receiving a debit card
and having to go get your own MetroCard each month using a debit
card. Now we are paying an additional $21.84 more than what we
were paying. Not just the $15 increase.”
Wilson added, “Now with the new way, we will be paying the entire
$105 a month and in addition to that, after—I believe—June 2011, we
will have to pay an additional $1 to get an unlimited card because unlimited MetroCards do not
renew, they expire.”
If members encounter problems with the system, they are advised to contact the Union’s
Research and Negotiations section at (212) 598-7042.
Black History Celebration
The Union’s Black History Celebration—which will take place
Friday, February 25 at 5:30 p.m. at DC 37 headquarters—
will feature keynote speaker Herb Boyd, the noted journalist,
author and CUNY educator.
The theme of this year’s celebration is making connections
between different generations. Performing will be the Impact
Repertory Theatre, Brass Construction and DJ Debonair.
All members are welcome.
Herb Boyd
UNION EDUCATIONAL FUND OFFERS ONLINE PREP COURSE
The Union’s Educational Fund will offer an Online Civil Service Examination Preparation Course for the
Associate Investigator exam # 1047 (open competitive) and exam #1508 (City workers holding a permanent
competitive appointment) scheduled for 3/12/2011. The online course will be available on the Union website,
http://civil-tt.sseu371.org from 01/24/11 through 03/12/11.
Study guides will be available for members who have filed for the exam.
Guides may be picked up at the Welfare Fund Office located at 817 Broadway, 15th Floor, Manhattan from
8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning Wednesday 01/26/11through 02/8/11. Please
bring ID and proof of filing for exam, along with completed coupon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coupon for Study Guide
Please indicate: Associate Investigator exam #1407_____ or #1508_____
All information must be clearly printed to be processed.
Members Name __________________________________________________________________
Print Last First
Social Security Number ___________________________
Home Address ____________________________________________ Zip____________________
Work Phone ( )___________________________ Home Phone ( )_________________________
Work Location _____________________________ Title __________________________________
Please return coupon at the time you pick up guide, along with agency photo I.D. and proof of filing.
Condolences Periodicals Postage
Paid at New York, NY
Condolences are extended to Joy Miller, Super-
visor I at the Office of Child Support Enforcement, Social Service Employees Union
on the death of her son, George Andrew Peck, on Local 371
November 22. Condolences may be sent to Joy 817 Broadway
Miller, 229 Village Avenue, Elmont, NY 11003. New York, N.Y. 10003
Condolences are extended to the friends
and family of Elizabeth Montgomery, former
Caseworker and Union Delegate, on her death
on January 10. Condolences may be sent to
her daughter, Cherie Braxton, 3125 Tiemann
Avenue, #1, Bronx, NY 10469.
Condolences are extended to Union member
and activist Alan Block of HRA Home Care,
250 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, on the death
of his mother, Florence Block, on January 23.

Union Meets with ACS and NYPD

Condolences may be sent to Alan Block, 66-25
103rd Street, #2N, Forest Hills, NY 11375.

on Worker Safety Initiative

Condolences are extended to the family and
friends of Union member Tammi Fortes, JOS
at the Richmond Model Center, who died on

January 26. Condolences may be sent to Ms.
Charles, Director, Richmond Model Center, 201
Bay Street, 2nd floor, Staten Island, NY 10301,
and also to Jaime Renta, 60 Hamilton Ave,
#4N, Staten Island, NY 10301.
Condolences are extended to Michelle Rollins,
Associate Fraud Investigator at HRA/BEV in
Brooklyn, on the death of her father, Phillip
Mack, on January 28. Condolences may be
sent to Michelle Rollins c/o HRA/BEV, 250 Liv-
ingston Street, 5th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
Members’
BULLETIN BOARD
FOR SALE- Large ceiling fixture, dolly, luggage, dishes,
pots, glassware, gift items, never worn size small ladies’
clothing including dark brown Borghese faux fur jacket,
never worn boots and shoes size 8, large American flags,
books, new cordless telephone with clock radio, electri-
cian’s meters and tools, lots more. Call (718) 430-1769
and leave a message.
FOR SALE- More than one thousand Jazz records in
excellent condition, including Duke Ellington, Miles Davis,
John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald and more. Call Gertrude at
(718) 379-6401.
SWAP- AJOS I at FIA, 2 Washington Street in Manhattan
would like to swap with AJOS I in Brooklyn. If interested,
please call (212) 495-5667 or (718) 856-1393.
SWAP- Caseworker at HRA Domestic Violence Shelter in
the Bronx would like to swap with Caseworker in HRA, in
Brooklyn or Manhattan, any program. If interested, please
call (917) 690-2563.
SWAP- Caseworker at Kingsbridge HASA would like to
swap with Caseworker at Waverly HASA. If interested,
please call (917) 379-2581.
CLASSIFIED ADS are free to Union members
and agency shop fee payers in writing only to
THE UNIONIST, 817 Broadway, New York, N.Y.
10003. Include your work phone with ad copy,
but work phone numbers will only be printed with
swap transfer ads. No real estate or business
ads accepted. The Union neither endorses nor is
responsible for these offerings.
L
ocal 371 leaders met with Administra- Counsel Joseph Cardieri said there has been
tion for Children’s Services and NYPD increased collaboration between agencies
representatives January 10 to discuss a since that time, with a corresponding benefit
joint effort to improve worker safety and to to children.
foster inter-agency cooperation. Police Department representatives
President Faye Moore represented the acknowledged that the June 30 incident
Union, along with Executive Vice President pointed to a need for better communication
Yolanda Pumarejo, VP of Research and and for additional training in the area of
Negotiations Anthony Wells, VP of “tactical preparation.”
Publicity Michelle Conklin, and Union staff The discussion included constructive
Glenda Lee and Rose Lovaglio-Miller. suggestions for improvement, including
The meeting was part of an ongoing effort fostering better relationships by bringing
to bring about a meaningful change in the together ACS workers with police personnel
interaction between ACS and the NYPD
in the wake of a June 30 incident in which
who work in the same neighborhood;
finding better ways for police to identify
two Child Protective Specialists, Virginia ACS workers during a crisis; and identifying
Vaca and Tamekka Thomas, were assaulted training needs in both agencies.
by Police Officers while on a child protec- The meeting couldn’t have been better
tive removal case (for details, see the July/ timed: A CPS worker making a home visit
August 2010 issue of the Unionist). The was placed under arrest by officers serving a
incident drew media attention, and reso- warrant at the same location as the Unionist
nated with Union members citywide and went to press.
across agencies, sparking a rally at City Hall Moore said, “There continues to be an
Park on November 8 to demand respect, urgent need for clear communication and
inter-agency cooperation, and a safe work respect between workers and across City
environment. agencies. The Union will continue to
Noting that the day happened to be the pursue this issue until the City provides
anniversary of the tragic death of 7-year-old the safest possible work environment for
Nixzmary Brown [in 2006], ACS General our members.”
ACS Lawsuit Update
The City has been ordered to give Local 371 documents this month in regards to 109 layoffs at Admin-
istration for Children’s Services, Union attorney Joel Spivak said.
In December, a Manhattan Supreme Court Justice ruled in the Union’s favor in terms of revealing infor-
mation about the terminations, after the Union charged in its lawsuit filed in late May that the City was
also hiring provisionals at the same time.
8 The Unionist | February 2011