Volume 39 • Number 5

May 2009

Union Denounces Layoffs,

Program Cuts in ACS and
Other Agencies
Charles Brown

NYC Comptroller
William Thompson
Speaks Against Budget

Jessica Ramos
Cuts at PAC Meeting
Story on page 3
TV Reporter Melissa Russo interviewed ACS workers Deatrice Wilson and Lucy Lane for her NBC News Channel 4 story.

M
Union Organizing ayor Bloomberg announced his
Drive for fiscal year 2010 budget on May
1, May Day, and it was bad news
Addiction for workers and the clients they serve. The
Mayor proposed a total headcount reduc-
Counselors tion of 13,500 — 3,759 through layoffs, and
Comes the rest through attrition. In addition, he
included savings of $200 million to come
to Vote from health benefit givebacks and $200 mil-
Story on page 4 lion from a Tier 5 pension.
By far, the largest number of Local 371
layoffs are scheduled for the Administration
Happy 90th Pete! for Children’s Services, where children will
Pete Seeger be put at additional risk. Local 371 layoffs
turned 90 on are also scheduled in the Department of
May 3, and his Homeless Services, with the contracting out
birthday was of the Family Hotel Program; the Health
celebrated by a and Hospitals Corporation, with the closing
sold out crowd at of a number of clinics; the Department of
Madison Square Records; Department of Youth and Com-
Garden. They munity Development; and the Department
came to honor of Housing Preservation and Development.
a man who never sold-out, a man who The proposed effective date is June 27, 2009,
is the greatest ambassador of peace and before the start of the fiscal year on July l.
social justice through music alive today. A ACS is planning to eliminate 1,100 posi-
campaign is underway to secure the Nobel tions through attrition and layoffs, including
Peace Prize for Seeger. 349 layoffs of Local 371 members. In addi-
tion 159 members are scheduled to be laid
off because of State approval of the Improved
Outcomes for Children (IOC) initiative. ACS
will be filling 84 positions in IOC and hiring
Child Protective Workers while these layoffs
are in progress.
“It is unconscionable that the agency could
hire at the same time it is laying off workers
and not fill the available slots with workers
who will be laid off,” said Union President
Faye Moore. The Union met with the agen-
cy on April 29. “At risk” layoff notification
letters were scheduled to be sent out May 8
to the 349 non-IOC workers in ACS, ironi-
cally the same day ACS held its Employee
Recognition event for 2009 (the letters were
delayed and sent on May 12). The Mayor
took threatened layoffs in protective services
off the table after the press broke the story
and he appeared on television and admitted
he had committed to adequate staffing to
keep caseloads down.
The Union continues to battle to save the
ACS jobs. ACS worker Deatrice Wilson
and Union President Faye Moore appeared
on NBC Channel 4 (see story on Page 5)
Continued on page 4
 g O f f Public Worker s
Layin
Is a Bad Idea
ile at the

W
lay off public workers wh
hy would New York City blic
kin g job s for W all Str eet executives? Laying pu
same time see Workers
rs off in an ail ing ec on omy doesn’t make sense.
worke on its feet.
th mo ne y to sp en d he lp the economy get back
wi jobs and health
w car s, foo d, fur nis hin gs, etc. Workers without
They buy ne urance
the ec on om y, oft en see king unemployment ins
care may further strain aid. Also, social service wo
rkers
an d oth er go ve rn me nt
benefits, Medicaid, es in child
t of tro ub le, pr ov idi ng critical preventive servic
keep others ou here.
less programs, and elsew
welfare programs, home te over 600 Local 371
e Ci ty Ad mi nis tra tio n is planning to elimina and
President Faye Moore
Th
nu mb er — ne arl y 4 pe rcent of our membership
titles, an inordinate layoff notices

“
of th e tot al nu mb er of City workers receiving
over 50 percent proposed for the
nt ro un d. Ov er 50 0 of the Local 371 layoffs are Along with the job
in the curre planned
ild ren ’s Se rvi ce s, bu t a significant number are
Administration for Ch s, HHC, HPD, DYCD
, and the losses and the
t of Ho me les s Se rvi ce
for the Departmen tical to the
s. Cu tti ng th is many workers that are cri
Department of Re co rd
are other ways to service losses that
y to pr ov ide ser vic es is unconscionable. There
City’s abilit us cuts.
these cruel and dangero this budget would
raise funds that will avoid S will effectively end ch
ild welfare
d pr og ram cu ts in AC
The layoffs an professionals create, there would
Be sid es pu tti ng ov er 500 trained child welfare
as we know it. programs,
os al eli mi nates preventive ser vice
on the str ee t, th e pr op
po ns ibi lities and slashes suppor
t ser vices be left an image of
na ge me nt res
contracts out case ma iting of
rke rs. It eli mi na tes a center for supervised vis a City that forces
for protective wo o as a model,
an d th eir pa ren ts th at was hailed not long ag
foster children respected program its workers, its poor
mi na tes sib lin g reu nifi cation units. It slashes a
and it eli r hearings, day care,
d cu ts court liaison workers, fai
for tee na ge pa ren ts an
kin g. Case management respo
nsibilit y and its children to
on an d ho me ma
family preservati to further the
ch ild ren is als o be ing eliminated at this time shoulder the burden
for all foster ounts for 159 of the
Ou tco me s for Ch ild ren initiative which acc
Improved t children and their of a failing economy
s. Al l tol d, th ese pr og ram cuts and layoffs pu
layoff
vices back by decades.
families at risk and set ser is budget would that none of them
th th e job los ses an d the ser vice losses that th
Along wi its workers, its
wo uld be lef t an im age of a City that forces had any part in
create, th ere that none
en of a failing economy

”
to sh ou lde r th e bu rd
poor and its children creating.
creating.
of them had any part in –Faye Moore

2 The Unionist | May 2009

 Mayoral Candidate Thompson Visits Local 371 PAC CALENDAR
N ew York City Comptroller William
Thompson, a Democratic candidate for
Mayor, visited Local 371’s Political Ac-
tion Committee (PAC) on April 22 to address
the budgetary issues pummeling the City’s
May
19 Alumni Association Meeting: 2 p.m. Union

economy. Thompson cited overpriced homes
and bad loans as key reasons why the budget
is in trouble. “The budget cannot be balanced
on our backs alone. We need to tax wealthy
New Yorkers. Everyone has to pay their fair
share,” Thompson said to a crowded room
of about 75 Local 371 members. Thompson
praised Vice President Michelle Akyempong
and members of the Committee for urging
City Councilmembers to stop close to 7,000
City workers from being laid off.
Members of the audience asked Thomp-
son several
questions,
including
his position
on City
pensions,
which are
often placed
Photos: Charles Brown
Union members questioned Thompson on a variety of issues.
invested in affordable housing, meaning the
money is being put to good use now.
In discussing the affordable housing crisis,
Thompson spoke about his daughter who,
upon graduating from college, was forced
to move in with a roommate in Jersey City
because she couldn’t afford a New York City
apartment. Thompson added that he would
also support a citywide inclusionary zone to
ensure affordable housing is a part of every
city project.
Thompson, a former president of the Board
of Education, said he supports charter schools
Office 12th Floor
BCW Chapter Meeting: 6:30 p.m. School of
the Future, 127 East 22nd Street in Manhattan
20 Delegate Assembly: 6:30 p.m. 235 West
23rd Street in Manhattan
25 Memorial Day (an official City holiday)
27 Political Action Committee Meeting:
6:30 p.m. Union Office 12th Floor
Civilians in Law Enforcement Chapter
Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Union Office 15th Floor
28 Latino Heritage Committee Meeting:
6:30 p.m. Union Office 12th Floor
June
3 Executive Committee Meeting: 6:30 p.m.
Union Office 12th Floor
8 General Membership Meeting: 6:30 p.m.
235 West 23rd Street in Manhattan
9 Committee of Concerned Social Workers
Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Union Office 12th Floor
10 Women’s Committee Meeting: 6:30 p.m.
Union Office 12th Floor
16 Alumni Association Meeting: 2 p.m.
Union Office 12th Floor
17 Delegate Assembly: 6:30 p.m. 235 West
23rd Street in Manhattan
18 Latino Heritage Committee Meeting:
6:30 p.m. Union Office 12th Floor

under scru-
tiny during
budgetary
crises. “You
Thompson responds to a question from an won’t hear
audience member.
me out
there demonizing City pensions because the
reality is you would make more money in the
private sector,” he responded. “The average
City pension is not going to allow you to re-
tire in luxury.” He later added that everyone’s
City pensions are safe and currently being
25 Years Ago – May 1984
“Workers in Special Services for Children have once
again come under attack in the media with the
release April 24 of an HRA Inspector General’s report
criticizing the handling of 22 cases in the Brooklyn
Field Office between 1978 and 1981...In a statement
released to the press, President Charles Ensley
stated, “The release of this kind of report gives the
wrong impression of our workers in SSC. Our workers
are doing the most extraordinary job under the
most difficult circumstances. The IG’s report diverts
attention from the critical issue which is the severe
and chronic understaffing in SSC....The Union has
been warning that more staff is an absolute necessity
to fulfill the legal and moral mandates required to
protect children...The real crime is not the failure of
the workers, but the failure of the City to allocate the
resources to do the job.”
as long as teachers are unionized. As president 19 Caribbean Heritage Celebration: 5:30 p.m.
DC37 125 Barclay Street in Manhattan
of the Board of Education, he also did away
with decentralization and brought focus to
the children. He expressed a personal concern
about New York City students’ performances
on biennial federal exams, where they have
Published monthly except for a combined issue in July/
fallen flat for the past four years. August and a Supplement in January by the Social
Many Local 371 members signed up to Service Employees Union Local 371, District Council 37,
AFSCME, AFL-CIO. Subscription Price $2.00 annually.
volunteer on the Thompson for Mayor cam- Periodical postage paid at New York, N.Y.
paign. If interested, campaign headquarters POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: The
Unionist, SSEU Local 371, 817 Broadway, N.Y., N.Y. 10003.
can be reached at (212) 608-6555.
USPS# 348990 (212) 677-3900
– Jessica Ramos ISSN# 0041-7092
President
Faye Moore
Executive Vice President
Yolanda Pumarejo
Secretary-Treasurer
Joe Nazario
20 Years Ago – May 1989 V.P. Negotiations & Research
“Union Gains Commitment from HRA for Extensive Anthony Wells
V.P. Organization & Education
Cleanup of Asbestos Hazards at 625 Fulton Street Beverly Mallory Brown
Work Location V.P. Grievances & Legal Services
The Union at a May 10 labor-management meeting Lloyd Permaul
won commitments from the Human Resources V.P. Legislation & Political Action
Michelle Akyempong
Administration to conduct an extensive asbestos V.P. Publicity & Community Relations
operations and maintenance program on the 6th Floor Michelle Conklin
of 625 Fulton Street in Brooklyn until all the asbestos Trustees
Michael Ballesteros
at that location is removed or abated.” Yolanda DeJesus
Melva Scarborough
15 Years Ago – May 1994 Editor
Martin Fishgold
“Agreeing with the Union’s position on the critical Director of Communications
importance of the Division of AIDS Services, the Linda Schleicher
Giuliani Administration has spared 750 workers Photographer
serving 16,000 clients with AIDS from the budget Charles Brown
Editorial Associate
ax. The Union has been battling to save this program Jessica Ramos
through two administrations, and once again its
efforts have been successful.” Visit us on the web at www.sseu371.org

May 2009 | The Unionist 3

Union Denounces
Layoffs
Continued from page 1
and Moore was quoted in an article in
The New York Times. The Union has
organized a letter-writing campaign (see
Page 5) and an ad campaign, including but-
tons that say “ACS Cuts Hurt Children”
(see graphic on Page 5). The buttons will
be distributed at a City Council Budget
Hearing on Tuesday, May 26 in the Coun-
cil Chambers that the Union is urging
members to attend. The hearing will focus
on HRA at 10:00 a.m., ACS at noon, and
DHS at 2:00 p.m.
In the Department of Homeless Ser-
vices, 174 formerly targeted workers in
Community titles have been spared. At the
same time, the Family Hotel Program is
being eliminated, and 24 Supervisor I lines,
19 Caseworker lines, and 13 Community
Liaison Title Series Worker lines are being
eliminated, with the resulting bumping and
layoffs, if the budget is passed in its present
form (see story above right).
In the HHC, 19 Local 371 members in
a variety of titles are scheduled to be laid
off due to the closing of a number of clinics
around the City. In HPD, 16 workers are
at risk, in the Department of Records nine
Community Assistants are targeted for lay-
off, and in DYCD seven workers are at risk.
In Mayoral agencies, the layoff procedure
involves bumping of workers from higher
titles to lower ones and transfers of perma-
nent workers to replace provisionals in the
same title across agency lines – which will
result in a lot of movement and disruption
for workers who are remaining. Seniority
for layoff purposes for competitive titles
is based on the first day an employee is
appointed permanently from a civil service
list; for non-competitive titles, seniority is
based on time in title in the affected agency.
Addiction Counselors To Vote on Union Representation
Nearly 80 credentialed alcoholism and
substance abuse counselors (CASACs)
working for NADAP (National Associa-
tion on Drug Abuse Programs), a private
agency, will vote May 21 on whether they
want to be represented by Local 371.
Local 371 and DC 37 submitted a peti-
tion to the NLRB last month seeking to
represent these private agency workers. The
City’s Human Resources Administration
4 The Unionist | May 2009
174 DHS Jobs Saved, Fight Continues
many Local 371 members showed up at
the City Council budget hearing March
23, where President Faye Moore testified
against social services cuts. Since then, the
jobs of 174 Community Assistants have
been taken off the chopping block.
Community Assistants provide direct
services to the homeless population in City
shelters, maintaining a clean, safe environ-
ment for an often fragile population. The
loss of these jobs would have put career
civil servants, with more than 15 years of
experience, out of work.
However, other job cuts in DHS are
planned, including the elimination of
Local 371 workers in the Hotel Program.
The program is staffed by Supervisor I
(Social Services) workers that help families
find permanent housing and jobs, and deal
with underlying issues including domes-
tic violence and substance abuse. If civil
service workers in the Hotel Program are
eliminated, the private hotel owners will
be responsible for providing social services.
Something Is Rotten in NYCHA
When the New York City Housing
Authority laid off 132 workers last Febru-
ary, some got jobs in other City agencies
and in the private contract agencies that
took over the operations. At the time, the
City closed down several youth and senior
centers throughout the City and con-
tracted out work previously done by Local
371 members. The City promised that the
centers would run smoothly.
According to Sadie Sanders, chair of the
Community Service Workers Chapter and
a Community Coordinator in Howard
Houses Community Center in Brooklyn,
many centers have been left with one
year-round NYCHA worker when there
were two or three in those centers in the
(HRA) contracted with NADAP to provide
services of CASAC workers, who would fall
under Local 371’s Counselor (Addiction
Treatment) or Addiction Counselor titles if
they worked for a City agency.
For several years, these CASACs have
worked alongside Local 371 members in
HRA agencies in every borough except
Staten Island. Despite their hard work and
professionalism, they have been forced to
DHS plans to re-assign 12 permanent
Sup. I’s from the Hotel Program to backfill
vacancies within the agency.
Letters went out to 24 provisional Sup. I’s,
stating their jobs are at risk of being elimi-
nated after June 27. Six of the 24 at-risk
supervisors are pure provisionals, with no
underlying civil service title to fall back on.
Of the remaining workers, 16 would revert
back to their Caseworker title, and 2 would
revert back to their Fraud Investigator title.
DHS also plans to eliminate 19 perma-
nent Caseworker positions, 9 Commu-
nity Liaison Workers, 3 Senior CLW’s, 1
Prinicipal CLW, and 2 Fraud Investigators.
If workers are laid off, they will be placed
on a special transfer list, and will displace
any provisional workers in their title in oth-
er Mayoral agencies. Any laid-off workers
who do not transfer to other agencies will
be placed on a preferred list for their title.
The Union continues to fight to pre-
serve these jobs, and will be meeting with
DHS regarding the proposed layoffs.
past. Sanders says that although the same
programs are continuing in those centers,
there is a “severe staffing shortage” that is
not helped much by the non-union, un-
derpaid consultants hired by NYCHA to
work 20 hours a week without benefits in
some of the centers. “We are not allowed
to leave these consultants alone in the
centers with the children. We can’t leave
the center for our scheduled lunch because
there are ongoing programs.”
Most of the Community Associates
working in the senior programs work
alone and also cannot take a break or leave
the center for scheduled meals. There will
be a more detailed story on these problems
in the June issue of The Unionist.
endure the substandard wages and benefits
that come with non-union employment.
Local 371 President Faye Moore re-
marked, “If the City is going to continue
to contract out work that our members
have been doing, the City should expect
that we will organize those workers too.”
Voting will take place at the New York
Film Academy on 17th Street and Park
Avenue in Manhattan from 8:00 a.m. to
9:30 a.m., from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m.,
and from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Union Denounces Child Welfare Cuts in the Media
L ocal 371’s campaign to stop the
City from laying off hundreds of
child welfare preventive and protec-
tive workers is attracting extensive media
coverage. NBC’s Chuck Scarborough and
Melissa Russo interviewed President Faye
Moore and Child Protective Specialist De-
atrice Wilson on Scarborough’s 7:00 p.m.
news show on April 22. Earlier, Russo re-
ported on NBC’s 6:00 p.m. Evening News
that according to new information more
than 100 protective service workers were
being added to the 516 preventive workers
already on the chopping block. Russo in-
terviewed Mayor Michael Bloomberg and
Wilson on the 6:00 p.m. local news show.
Wilson, who was interviewed earlier in
the day by Russo in the Union office, has
worked for ACS for 16 years. She says she’s
seen a lot of changes in that time. “When
you take workers away, you’re putting
families at risk. I have 14 cases now, and it’s
a lot. They come in as education neglect
cases, but there’s usually more to it than not
going to school, like parents and children
with drug abuse, financial problems, physical
abuse. It’s a big responsibility because you’re
caring for someone
else’s life besides
your own.”
When Russo
asked her
if she had
anything
to say to
Mayor
Bloomberg,
she stated:
“Please do not
lay off these 100 peo-
ple. They’re needed. Families will suffer.”
President Moore told Russo that she
was “disappointed and angry” when she
learned of the plan to layoff more than 100
protective service workers in addition to
the 516 preventive workers already slated
for layoffs. “They are shredding child
welfare as we know it,” said Moore. “The
City needs to move away from layoffs and
make cuts in other areas. The cuts that
are scheduled are all for direct services for
children and families. We know from past
experience that if you don’t have sufficient
workers, children are more at risk of seri-
ous harm or death.” (The Mayor subse-
quently took the protective services cuts
off the table.)
May 2009 | The Unionist 5
Jessica Ramos
Local 371 President Faye Moore is interviewed by Melissa Russo for NBC News Channel 4.
Union Initiates Letter-Writing
Campaign to Save Jobs
The following is a sample letter to members of the New York City Council urging them to stop lay-
offs and program cuts. Use any parts of the sample letter to write to your Councilmember. You may
find out who represents you in the City Council by visiting the unionist website www.sseu371.org.
Dear Councilmember (fill in your Cou
ncilm ember’s name):
I am writing this letter to inform you
of how outraged I am in hearing that
Mayor Bloomberg is cutting our Civ
il Service jobs in ACS, DHS, and the
Community Centers. Some of us hav
e worked for 15 years or more for the
of New York. As public employees City
we have been placed in harms way.
because we are passionate about help We do it
ing those in need of services.
We have stabilized families whose chil
dren would have been removed
permanently; and we have removed
children from homes that were not
them. We have referred teens to plac safe for
es where they are given the opportu
a second chance. We have kept shel nity for
ters clean, orderly and safe. We hav
youth off the street corners, assisted e kept the
their parents by being homework help
babysitters and Counselors. The you ers,
th enjoy being part of community acti
in their neighborhoods with adults vities
they know. We make sure families obt
care for their toddlers. (Fill in your wor ain day
k program or services received)
How is it possible to lay off over six
hundred employees? Our families,
communities and those left behind
to do the work, will be greatly affected
is Union busting!!! Why are the cuts . This
almost solely to social service program
These cuts adversely affect commun s?
ities of color and women. These two
are the target of social service job layo groups
ffs.
The Improved Outcomes for Childre
n program (IOC) has received millions
of dollars. Why wasn’t this program
defunded? This money could have
allocated for social service program been
s to save our jobs. (Use if applicable)
As a City Councilmember you are to
look out for the best interest of the
community and its constituents. No
w is the time to assist your (fill in wha
community you reside in. ie. Bed
ford Stuyvesant) community and
t
We are requesting you to look at the con stituents.
budget for FY’10 and tell the Mayor
your fellow Councilmembers NYC and
cannot afford to have us unemploye
d.
Sincerely,
Print & Sign Name & Address

Official Chapter Election
Notices (Rescheduled)
Official 15-day notice is hereby given that
the Housing Preservation & Development
and other Agencies Employees Chapter will
receive nominations for Chapter Officers
at a meeting Thursday, June 4, 2009, 6:30
p.m., at the Union office (817 Broadway).
HPD & Other Agencies Chapter Officers
are Chairperson, Vice Chairperson,
Secretary and Parliamentarian. The election
will be by mail ballot.
Official 15-day notice is hereby given that
the Community Service Workers Chapter
will receive nominations for Chapter
Officers at a meeting Thursday, June 4,
2009, 12 noon, at the Union office (817
Broadway).
CSW Chapter Officers are Chairperson,
Vice Chairperson, Publicity Chairperson,
Secretary, Grievance Coordinator, Director
Charles Brown
Caribbean Heritage to be Celebrated June 19
Local 371 will celebrate Caribbean Heritage on Friday, native of Trinidad and Tobago,
June 19 with traditional food and music. The program
begins at 5:30 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Pedro
made a big splash during the
1960 carnival with the song
Noguera, a professor of teaching and learning at NYU Garrot Bounce. Lord Nelson is
who has focused on researching economic and social known for his vigor on stage and
development in the Caribbean and Latin America. the sharpness of his delivery.
Lord Nelson
World-renowned calypso singer Lord Nelson, Brook- The vibe at his shows can be
lyn’s own reggae singers Anisha and Empress Tanisha, summed up by one of his most famous lyrics, “Let’s
and soca singer Raymo will perform. Lord Nelson, a have a good, good time.”
Women’s Committee Participates in Revlon Run/Walk
Local 371’s Women’s Committee participated in the 12th Annual Revlon Run/Walk for
Women on May 2, as they do every year. The fundraiser started in Times Square, where
tens of thousands gathered to raise awareness of breast cancer, as well as other cancers,
that threaten millions of lives each year. Funds raised by participants will contribute
to research, treatment, counsel-
ing and outreach programs. From
l-r: Faith Cochran, Team Captain
Lisa Turner, Tena Moye, Women’s
Committee Co-Chair Helen Wil-
son, Karen Phoenix, Kathy Sabater,

for Sanitation, Director for NYC Housing

Authority, Director for Department of Bridget Browning, Aurelis Canela,
Environmental Protection. The election will Avon Pinkney.
be by mail ballot.

HRA and ACS Honor 25-Year (+) Employees

Official 15-Day Election
Notices
Official 15-day notice is hereby given for the nomi-
nation and election of two (2) delegates and four (4)
alternates from the Department of Transportation
(DOT) Chapter to take place on Monday, June 1,
2009 at 6:30 p.m. in the Union Office, 817 Broad-

Charles Brown
way, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10003.
Official 15-day notice is hereby given for the
nomination and election of ten (10) delegates
and twenty (20) alternates for the Civilians in Law
Enforcement Chapter to take place on Wednesday,
June 24, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. in the Union Office, 817
Broadway, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10003.
Official 15-day notice is hereby given for the
nomination of eight(8) delegates and sixteen(16)
alternates for the New York City Housing Author-
ity (Citywide) on Monday, June 8, 2009 from

10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Union office, 817
Broadway, 12th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10003. This
also serves as 15-day notice for the election on
Monday, June 22, 2009 of eight(8) delegates and
sixteen(16) alternates from 9:00 a.m. To 7:00 p.m.
at the Union office, 817 Broadway, 12th Floor, New
York, N.Y. 10003.
Jewish Heritage Celebrated at DC 37
As The Unionist went to press, the DC 37 Jewish
Heritage Committee was preparing to hold its
Annual Celebration and Dinner on May 18 with
a Glatt kosher meal, music by world renowned
Israeli singers, and a keynote address on “Jewish
Values and the Administration of President Barack
Obama” by a top Washington lobbyist for the Jewish
community. A full report on the event will appear in
the June issue of The Unionist.
6 The Unionist | May 2009
A large group of Local 371 members were
among the workers honored at the annual
ceremony May 1 for Human Resources
Administration employees with 25 or more
years of service (top photo). The event was
sponsored by the HRA Quality of Work
Life Program. Among the honorees were
Local 371 officers Michelle Conklin and
Michelle Akyempong and staff members
Aubrey Norris, Andrea Walters and
Deborah Williams. Employees with 25
years or more of service in the Administra-
tion for Children’s Services were honored
on May 8 (bottom photo).
Charles Brown
The ACS/QWL Employee Recognition
Day ceremony was held on May 8, in the
shadow of 349 pending layoff notices to
Local 371 members in ACS. In her address
to the honorees, President Faye Moore
stated, “Those of you in the Caseworker
and successor titles know that you were
hired because this Union demanded more
staffing 25 years ago. We have always
struggled to make child welfare services
better; sometimes with management,
sometimes in spite of management, but
always on behalf of the children, our chil-
dren. And now, we will fight again...”.
Swap * Buy * Sell
EXCHANGE Periodicals Postage
WANTED- Top cash paid for your old jazz, soul, Paid at New York, NY
R&B and gospel albums. Call Howard at (212)
873-4016. (1)
Social Service Employees Union
SWAP- CPS worker at Manhattan Field Office,
Local 371
55 West 125th Street, would like to swap with
CPS at 110 William Street. If interested, please 817 Broadway
call (212) 280-4031. (2) New York, N.Y. 10003
SWAP- Caseworker at CASA 7, 2865 West
8th Street in Brooklyn, would like to swap with
Caseworker at CASA 3, 220 West 34th Street in
Manhattan. If interested, please call (718) 265-
5538. (2)
SWAP- JOS worker at Intensive Care Service
#71 109 East 16th Street in Manhattan would like
to swap with JOS worker in Queens at Jamaica,
Euclid or Rockaway locations. If interested,
please contact Harmeet at (917) 907-1785. (2)
FOR SALE- Car stereo (pullout) high power re-
verse cassette in very good condition. Price $40.
If interested, please call (917) 518-4317. (3)
HRA CHESS CLUB will meet on Tuesday eve-
nings at 6:30 p.m. at McDonald’s 355 8th Avenue
at West 26th Street in Manhattan. For more Women’s Committee Dance/Card Party Set for June 12

information, call Henry Brooks (347) 499-0223 or
(212) 971-2000. (3)
FOR SALE- Large ceiling fixture, clown col-
lection, dolly, luggage, dishes, pots, glassware,
gift items, tie rack, never worn size small ladies’
clothing including dark brown Borghese faux fur
jacket, boots and shoes size 8, large American
flags, books, new cordless telephone with clock
radio, electrician’s meters, lots more. Call 718-
430-1769 and leave a message. (4)
FOR SALE- Timberland Men’s Leather Bomber
Coat (size 5x) $175, Liz Claiborne Men’s Leather
Blazer Jacket (size 6x) $150, Mitchell & Ness NY
Mets Spring Jacket (size 5x) $125, Pelle Pelle
Plaid Spring Jacket (size 4x) $50. If interested,
please contact J. Thomas at (718) 963-5229 or
(347) 652-6847. (4)
Condolences
Condolences are extended to Oguchi
Irrechukwu, HASA Brownsville Center
#73, on the death of his mother, Clarice
Irrechukwu on April 22.
Condolences are extended to Adele
Anderson, DFTA, on the death of her
father, Ralph Anderson, a CASA retiree.
Condolences may be sent to Madeline
Anderson 83 Sterling Street, Brooklyn, NY
11225.
Condolences are extended to Karen
Tomlinson, Local 371 Staff, on the death
of her uncle on April 18. Condolences
may be sent to the Tomlinson Family 139-
25 224th Street, Laurelton, NY 11413.
Condolences are extended to Isabel
Santos, Council Respresentive at DC37
Professional Division, on the death of
her grandson, Shanta E. Gaines on April
30. Condolences may be sent to Isabel
Santos c/o DC37 Professional Division
125 Barclay Street, New York, NY 10007.
8 The Unionist | May 2009
E
very year, Lo-
cal 371’s Wom-
en’s Commit-
tee raises funds for
a different cause.
Contributions have
been made to many
non-profit organiza-
tions over the years,
including City Meals
on Wheels, a foun-
dation that prepares
food to be delivered
by community-based
agencies to the
homebound elderly;
Mother’s Voices, an
organization dedi- Thank you, Local 371! The Haitian Health Foundation was the recipient last year of a
cated to strengthening donation of a house and two goats from Local 371’s Women’s Committee.
family communication
about sex health; and El Puente, a human mittee’s donation provided one family with
rights institution that promotes peace and a house and two goats to help get them back
justice among young adults. Another year, on their feet (photo above).
the committee decided to purchase a brand All of the Women’s Committee’s contribu-
new computer for a New York City public tions are made possible through the partici-
school. Funds were also once used to help pation of Local 371 members and friends
imprisoned women by sending them per- at their annual Dance and Card Party. This
sonal care products and notebooks to use for year, their sixth annual, will take place on
their writing classes. Friday, June 12 from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight
Last year, however, the Atlantic hurri- at DC 37, located at 125 Barclay Street in
cane season was particularly tough on the Manhattan. DJ Hollywood will be spin-
people of Haiti. Hurricanes Fay, Gustav and ning your favorite music, and don’t forget
Hannah one after the other left thousands to bring your own refreshments. Tickets are
of Haitians hungry and homeless. The $10 in advance and $15 at the door. To pur-
Women’s Committee, co-chaired by Helen chase tickets or for more information, please
Wilson and Margaretta Mormon, decided contact Helen Wilson at (212) 777-9000,
to take action and work with the Haitian extension 3053, or Beverly Mallory Brown
Health Foundation’s program “Happy at (212) 598-7057.
Houses.” Through the program, the Com- –Jessica Ramos