DC 37 NOVEMBER EVENTS, SERVICES and NEWS YOU CAN USE
U.S. CITIZENSHIP VIRTUAL SEMINAR
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 2 at 6 PM
Interested in becoming a United States citizen? Learn about the benefits of becoming a U.S. citizen at a virtual presentation by the DC 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services (MELS), 32BJ SEIU Legal Services Fund, CUNY’s Citizenship Now! and the Emerald Isle Immigration Center at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, on Zoom. This seminar will answer how and when to file for citizenship, the requirements, preparing for the citizenship test, and more. A Q&A session will follow. Please register at: https://bit.ly/3LxVTHT or call 212-815-1111.
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MEHP HOMEBUYER ORIENTATION VIRTUAL WEBINAR
MONDAY NOVEMBER 7, at 6 PM
DC 37 Municipal Employees Housing Program (MEHP) will hold a free virtual Homebuyer Orientation Webinar for DC 37 members and retirees Monday November 7, at 6 PM. Housing and mortgage experts will discuss how to prepare to buy a home, affordable mortgage options, down payment and closing costs assistance, and more. Please register HERE or call 212-815-1814. Registrants will get a meeting link on Nov. 7.
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PLAN TO VOTE TUESDAY, NOV. 8
DC 37 members deserve to have a say in this year’s mid-term elections! Early voting began Oct. 29 and runs through Nov. 6, or vote at your polling site on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls are open from 6 AM to 9 PM. Contact 311 or 1-866-VOTE-NYC for more information about your poll site location and early voting. Stand up for your family and community by casting your vote!
Please support our union endorsed candidates in the Nov. 8 General Election for Governor, State Senate, State Assembly, and U.S. House of Representatives. The DC 37 membership is supporting a great group of candidates based on their commitment to protecting DC 37 members’ jobs and benefits. Find out which candidates DC 37 has endorsed in your area HERE.
This November, don’t forget to FLIP THE BALLOT AND VOTE YES on the 2022 ballot proposals. Help DC 37 fight for environmental and racial justice!
For information on the ballot proposals, click HERE and HERE.
Join the DC 37 Political Action Team! This election DC 37 will join our labor family at the NYC Central Labor Council and help get out the vote. Never volunteered before? No worries! Volunteering is easy and rewarding with our phone bank and canvassing program.
| SIGN UP HERE! |
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MELS
MELS VIRTUAL MATRIMONIAL WEBINAR NOV. 16 at 5:30 PM
GETTING DIVORCED IN NEW YORK STATE
MELS, the Municipal Employees Legal Services, will offer legal advice to members considering separation or divorce at the Getting Divorced in NY State virtual webinar on Wednesday Nov. 16, at 5:30 PM. Experts will answer questions about what the issues are in deciding to divorce; how to have MELS represent you; the advantages of using MELS; what documentation do you need to begin, and additional information sources. A Q&A session will follow. Register at www.dc37mels.com. For more information, call the MELS Screening Unit at 212-815-1111.
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SAVE THE DATE: DEC. 7 at 6 PM
MELS VIRTUAL WEBINAR:
FINDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NYC
MELS will host a virtual webinar on Dec. 7 at 6 PM with special guest Ana Ramirez, HPD’s Marketing Outreach Coordinator, who will discuss affordable housing options that DC 37 members can access through NYC Connect. MELS housing experts will share how they can help DC 37 members remain in their homes by challenging illegal rents, defending against eviction and advocating for rental assistance. Register at www.dc37mels.com. For more information, call the MELS Screening Unit at 212-815-1111.
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HEALTH CARE WORKER BONUS PAY UPDATE
In mid-October, New York State began processing payment of the Health Care and Mental Hygiene Worker Bonus covering the first two vesting periods, from Oct. 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2022. The program pays bonuses of up to $3,000 to eligible full and part-time employees, temporary and contracted workers. Read more about the HCW bonus program HERE.
Department of Education: Employees in the titles of Health Service Aides and Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialists will be included in the Department of Education submission to the State for vesting periods 1 and 2. No payment date available yet.
Mayoral Agencies: Employees in agencies other than Department of Health were submitted for vesting periods 1 and 2, including 3,300 EMS workers and 80 DC 37 members in several other agencies. Checks for vesting period 1, Department of Health, were issued on Oct. 13.
Health + Hospitals: NYC H+H submitted 9,000 employees’ names for vesting period 1, and checks are expected by the end of October.
Non-Profits: A number of agencies with employees in residential care units and those who were providing mental health care were submitted. Checks should be issued by the end of October or early November, depending on when the agency receives the funding.
The first vesting period covers Oct. 1, 2021 to Mar. 31, 2022. The second vesting period covers April 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2022. The union is aware that some employees may have been missed in vesting period 1 and therefore the employers will submit their names, if eligible, during the next submission period, which opened on Oct. 1.
If you believe your work was involved in direct patient care and did not receive an attestation letter from your employer, please contact your agency’s HR department first, and then your union representative. Employers must submit an application on behalf of eligible employees.
The HCWB program continues until Mar. 31, 2024, with a maximum of two vesting periods per eligible employee. DC 37 will continue fighting at the bargaining table for essential pay for all members who have continuously worked during the pandemic.
For program details, contact the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Call Center at 866-682-0077.
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APPLY for FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS UP TO $20K
The Biden Administration has kept its promise to cancel student loan debt. A federal loan borrower who earns less than $150,000 annually or a couple that earns less than $250,000 annually is eligible for up to $10,000 in debt cancellation or up to $20,000, if the borrower was a Pell Grant recipient. The application period is open now through December 21, 2023.
The simple online application process takes only minutes to complete. Your application will be reviewed by Federal Student Aid and matched with your FSA records to confirm eligibility. Although debt discharge is temporarily paused, FSA will process discharges when it is able to do so, and you will not need to reapply. Don’t miss this opportunity to relieve you and your family from the burden of student debt.
If you have any questions, please call the MELS Screening Unit at 212-815-1111.
| FSA APPLY HERE |
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DC 37 COMMITTEE MEETINGS
DC 37 WOMEN’S COMMITTEE MEETS NOV. 21 at 6 PM
The DC 37 Women’s Committee will meet virtually on Monday Nov. 21, at 6 PM, to discuss the theme, Encouraging, Empowering and Equipping Women for Union Leadership. Please register to attend here: dc37local.com/wcm. The committee meets every third Monday of the month. For more information, call Local 420 President Carmen Charles, Women’s Committee Chair at 646-302-9551.
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DC 37 LATINO HERITAGE COMMITTEE MEETS NOV. 28 at 6 PM
The DC 37 Latino Heritage Committee will meet virtually on Monday Nov. 28, at 6 PM on Zoom. To join click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
All District Council 37 committees, except the HOUSING COMMITTEE, have resumed monthly virtual meetings. Please check the meeting schedule at dc37.net.
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HEALTH and WELLNESS
COVID-19 UPDATE
DC 37 is taking measures to protect members’ safety and health at work, with the Safety and Health Department compiling information from the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on COVID-19, Monkeypox, Legionnaires’ disease, and polio, HERE.
DC 37 wants to help members stay safe during the pandemic by working together to lessen the spread of COVID-19 and its highly contagious variants. DOHMH urges people over 50 to get the latest COVID-19 vaccine booster. The new booster is stronger and can reduce COVID-19 spread and hospitalizations. The Health Department advises individuals to continue to take precautions like frequent handwashing, etc., to help stop the spread.
For COVID-19 protocols for City employees, testing sites for City employees, NYS Workers’ Compensation and short-term disability, FEMA COVID-19 burial assistance and other information, click HERE.
For the latest information on COVID-19, Legionnaire’s disease, Monkeypox and polio, visit the DOHMH website.
PSU CAN HELP YOU COPE with the WINTER BLUES
Sometimes our moods changes seasonally. People may start to feel down when the days get shorter in the fall and winter (referred to as “the Winter Blues”). Seasonal Affective Disorder, or S.A.D., is a common type of depressive disorder occurring seasonally with symptoms lasting a few months. Symptoms may include sadness, sleep changes, weight gain, fatigue, irritability, and isolation.
The DC 37 Health & Security Plan’s Personal Services Unit is here to support you. PSU suggests a few strategies to cope with Seasonal Depression that include having a regular routine of self-care, getting daily sunshine and exercise, eating a balanced diet, keeping a consistent sleep schedule, and staying in touch with others. Ask for help when you are struggling.
To speak with a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for confidential teletherapy, please call PSU at 212-815-1250 or 212-815-1260.
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WORKWELL NYC
FREE FLU SHOTS for CITY EMPLOYEES
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IN the KITCHEN with WORKWELL NYC
NOURISH YOUR WELL-BEING NOV. 9, 16 and 22 at 6:30 PM
Nourish your well-being with WorkWell NYC’s live virtual cooking demonstrations. Learn how to prepare seasonal and delicious dishes, including Roasted Carrot & Ginger Soup and Stuffed Acorn Squash. Participants can cook, watch and learn. See you in the kitchen! Register HERE.
DC 37 DENTAL CENTER
The newly renovated DC 37 Dental Center at 115 Chambers Street in Lower Manhattan is a 30-seat facility that offers full-service dental care and advanced dental and periodontal care to members, retirees, and their dependents. The center accepts appointments Mon. to Fri., 8 AM to 6 PM and Sat., 8 AM to 5 PM. To schedule a visit, please call 212-766-4440.
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NOVEMBER IS MSK LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
DC 37 and Memorial Sloan Kettering have partnered to help union members screen for cancer, and receive care from the esteemed professionals at MSK. Through MSK Direct, you can get personalized screening recommendations and tips on how to lower your risk for cancer HERE. If you or a family member are impacted by cancer and would like to discuss treatment options, call MSK Direct at 833-786-3365, Additional resources are on DC 37’s dedicated MSK Direct webpage.
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DC 37 EDUCATION FUND
REGISTRATION for WINTER 2023 SEMESTER IS NOW OPEN
Registration for the WINTER 2023 semester with the union’s Education Fund is now available on the DC 37 website. Many classes have just begun to accept applications. For information on classes, current schedules or to register for a program, click HERE.
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FREE WORKSHOPS FOR LOCAL 768 SOCIAL WORKERS
The DC 37 Education Fund in conjunction with the National Association of Social Workers, New York City Chapter, plans to host three (3) continuing education workshops between November and December for eligible Local 768 licensed Social Workers:
* Bridge to Peace: Gun Violence and Community Based Solutions (2 CE) Tuesday, Nov. 22, from 7-9 PM (Registration deadline is Oct. 28)
* Making the Tough Call: Legal & Ethical issues related to the Social Worker’s Decision to Report Suspected Child Maltreatment (2 CE) Tuesday, Dec. 6 from 7- 9 PM (Registration deadline is Nov. 14)
* Exposure Therapy (ET): Facing Your Fears Step-by-Step (3 CE) Thursday, Dec. 15 from 6-9 PM (Registration deadline is Nov. 23)
To attend these online workshops, please enter the following link into your web browser and complete the online application:
- November Workshops: www.dc37edfund.org/
socialworknov2022 - December Workshops: www.dc37edfund.org/
socialworkdec2022
If you have any questions, please email dtelemaque-peschier@dc37.net, kking@dc37.net or lpolimine@dc37.net.
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DC 37/CUNY LABOR CERTIFICATE & DEGREE PROGRAMS
The DC 37 Education Fund has partnered with the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU) to expand higher educational opportunities to develop the next generation of union leaders. The Education Fund will cover tuition for 4 courses (up to 16 credits where applicable) in certificate and degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, excluding books and a one-time application fee required by CUNY. Eligible members may opt to participate in one of the following tracks:
- Undergraduate Certificate in Labor Relations
- Bachelor’s Degree in Urban and Community Relations
- Graduate Certificate in Labor Relations
- Master’s Degree in Labor Studies
For information or to register to attend an information session, please click HERE.
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EDUCATION AND CAREER COUNSELING
Do you need guidance selecting a class from our offerings, updating a resume or need assistance reaching a career or educational goal? Contact an Ed Fund counselor HERE to schedule a virtual appointment.
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CUNY COUNSELING IS HERE FOR YOU!
This is the ideal time to plan for WINTER 2023 enrollment at the CUNY college of your choice. Let Worker Education at the CUNY School of Labor & Urban Studies (SLU) help guide you through the process of finding the best CUNY program to match your education and career goals.
Expert advisors offer FREE one-on-one phone sessions on academic requirements for specific jobs; choosing a CUNY campus and major; applying to and financing a CUNY degree; certificate and non-credit options at CUNY, transferring previous credits, and more. Each session is free and catered to your specific goals and needs.
View the calendar and schedule your CUNY advisement session here: https://cunydays.eventbrite.
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UPDATE: THE GED IS BACK!
Since January 2022, the High School Equivalency exam is the GED again. However, there are changes to the exam and the way you schedule your test. There are four subtests. In addition to Mathematical Reasoning, Social Studies, and Science, the Reading and Writing are combined in a subtest called Reasoning Through Language Arts. The good news is that passing scores from the tests taken between 2002 and 2021 count towards earning your diploma.
The main change is you must create your own GED account to schedule an exam. Information about the GED exam can be found at www.ged.com. The exams are primarily offered online and must be taken at an official GED testing center. DC 37 offers prep classes for eligible members online, in person and hybrid through our partner colleges. Register for a class here: https://ged.com/. For additional information or to schedule an appointment with an Educational Counselor, email ppunch@dc37.net.
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STAY in TOUCH with DC 37
It’s important to stay in touch with your union. Read the latest quarterly edition of PEPtalk magazine arriving soon in your mailbox digitally or by USPS. Prefer to receive the digital version of PEPtalk (formerly the Public Employee Press)? Click HERE to sign up. Visit our website, DC37.net. Connect on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @dc37nyc.
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