DC 37 NEWS, EVENTS and SERVICES YOU CAN USE in MAY
DC 37 NEWS, EVENTS and SERVICES YOU CAN USE in MAY
ECONOMIC CONTRACT PAY DATES
Now that the citywide economic contract is ratified, dates for pay increases and bonuses for most units are set. View the pay dates for DOE, H+H, NYCHA and Mayoral Agencies here. Libraries and Culturals will be announced when finalized. The latest information about the economic contract can be found here.
If you have additional questions about pay dates, please contact your DC 37 Division Rep.
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HIRING HALLS
Looking for a career change? Join DC 37 and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) at the following NYC Government hiring halls this month! Some City agencies plan to meet, interview and hire on the spot. Others will have information on job openings and civil service tests for specific titles. Come dressed in business attire and bring multiple copies of your resume.
- Friday, April 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., York College Gymnasium, 160-20 Liberty Ave., Jamaica, NY 11433 (Registration encouraged)
- Saturday, May 6, Betances Community Center, 550 E. 147th Street, Bronx, NY 10455
- Thursday, May 11, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Gerard Carter Center, 230 Broad Street, Staten Island, NY 10304
- Saturday, May 20, 31 Chambers St, Surrogates Court, New York, NY 10007
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DC 37 POLITICAL ACTION
DC 37 COMMUNITY ALLIANCE
Are you interested in working with other union members to make changes in your neighborhood? Join the DC 37 Community Alliance!
The DC 37 Community Alliance is a member-led group of union activists working to improve conditions in neighborhoods across New York City. Community Alliance meetings are an opportunity to discuss local issues and concerns impacting DC 37 members and our families.
Please use one of the links below to register for a virtual meeting this May.
- Manhattan/Bronx – May 2, 6 p.m.
https://www.mobilize.us/afscmedc37/event/557286/ - Queens – May 2, 6 p.m.
https://www.mobilize.us/afscmedc37/event/557285/ - Brooklyn/Staten Island – May 3, 6 p.m.
https://www.mobilize.us/afscmedc37/event/557287/
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VOLUNTEER TO GET OUT THE VOTE!
You can play a big role in the 2023 New York City Elections. Join our Political Action VMO team to help us get candidates elected who will fight to protect jobs and services in our community! Volunteers will participate in member-to-member door knocking, phone banking, and leafletting. Members selected for the VMO team will receive a stipend for their volunteer time.
Sign up here.
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HEALTHCARE WORKER BONUS PROGRAM UPDATE
In 2022, 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. Most eligible DC 37 members received their bonus amounts in the first two six-month periods.
Period 3 closed on March 31, 2023 for work done between October 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023. Period 3 will include more recently-hired employees, and clean up to include employees in eligible titles who should have been included in an earlier period. We expect these payments in July.
If you believe your work was involved in direct patient care and you did not receive an attestation letter from your employer, please contact your agency’s HR department first, and then your union representative.
The HWB program continues until March 31, 2024, with a maximum of two vesting periods per employee. DC 37 continues to push for the expansion of eligible titles and employers.
For more details, click here or contact the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Call Center at 866-682-0077.
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MELS
REAL ESTATE WEBINAR
The DC 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services will hold a Real Estate Webinar on Thursday, April 27, at 6 p.m. Topics covered include:
- Retaining and Working With A Realtor
- Seller Concerns
- Purchaser Concerns
- Financing
- Home Inspections
Register HERE.
For more information, call the MELS Screening Unit at 212-815-1111 or email MELSscreeningunit@dc37.net.
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COMMITTEE MEETINGS
DC 37 LATINO HERITAGE COMMITTEE
Please join us for the Latino Heritage Committee meeting on May 23 at 6 p.m., where we discuss issues and plan events of interest to our Latino community.
Join Zoom Meeting :
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 824 8674 9812
Passcode: 639138
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LOCAL 372 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS BANQUET DINNER
Please join us at the Local 372 Scholarship Awards Banquet Dinner on Friday, June 16, starting at 6 p.m. at Glen Terrace in Brooklyn. For more information, please contact Yvonne Williams at 212-815-1372.
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FAMILIES
CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES AVAILABLE
The income thresholds for Child Care Facilitated Enrollment have increased to 300% of Federal Poverty Levels (FPL) and now have much lower co-pays. The increase means more DC 37 members may be eligible for subsidized daycare programs for working families in New York City and Suffolk County, Long Island.
The increased FPL for the Child Care Facilitated Enrollment Project is retroactive to April 2022. On June 1, 2022, the cap on parental co-pays were lowered to one percent of a family’s income over the FPL. An updated fact sheet with the new income thresholds is available at dc37.net/about/services/
Funds are available for income-eligible, working families who reside in the counties served by WDI, including Suffolk County, Long Island. The subsidy can be applied to licensed, registered or legally exempt daycare, after-school or summer camp programs. Apply at wdiny.org/childcare or call 631-743-0914.
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PAID FAMILY LEAVE BENEFIT
The New York State Paid Family Leave benefit is expanded to include care for siblings as eligible dependents for leave. The PFL benefit is 12 weeks. The maximum weekly paid benefit is $971.61 or $1,943 bi-weekly. The contribution rate dropped from .511% of payroll to .455% of payroll. This union-negotiated benefit is available to nearly all DC 37 members, including members in the nonprofit and private sector locals.
For more information, visit https://paidfamilyleave.ny.
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HEALTH and WELLNESS
DC 37 DENTAL CENTER
The 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 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. To schedule a visit, please call 212-766-4440.
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MSK DIRECT
BE SUN SMART
Healthy skin starts by being sun smart to protect yourself and reduce sun exposure. Some of the essential steps you can take to keep your skin healthy are to keep an eye out for changing spots and moles during monthly self-exams and apply sunscreen daily. By increasing your skin IQ, you can take an active role in reducing your chance of developing various forms of skin cancer and detecting it early. Watch for more information about melanoma and the signs to look for when checking your skin: https://www.msk.cc.org/direct/
DC 37 has a partnership with MSK Direct to provide employees, and their families dedicated access to exceptional cancer care, support, and expert resources from the world’s leading cancer specialists at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). If you or a family member are impacted by cancer and would like to discuss treatment options at MSK, call the dedicated MSK Direct phone line for DC 37 employees: 833-786-3365 or https://www.mskcc.org/direct/
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FREE AT HOME COVID-19 TESTS
Every U.S. household is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests. Visit COVID.gov or call 800-232-0233.
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EDUCATION
DC 37 EDUCATION FUND
SPRING 2023 SEMESTER COURSES AVAILABLE FOR REGISTRATION
Registration for the SPRING 2023 semester with the union’s Education Fund is now available on the DC 37 website. For information on classes and upcoming schedules or to register for a program, click HERE.
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THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SCHOLARSHIPS DEADLINE IS MAY 3 – APPLY NOW!
The DC 37 Education Committee offers several scholarships for members and dependent children and grandchildren of eligible DC 37 members and retirees. These scholarships are for applicants who are graduating high school seniors who will be entering their first year of college or college students entering their first or second year of undergraduate study, and each scholarship award is $1,000. The Lillian Roberts Scholarship and the Dwayne Dugger Memorial Scholarship are the only scholarships available to active members, and each is awarded $2,000. No applicant may receive more than one Education Committee scholarship. All applications must be submitted by Wednesday, May 3, 2023. For more information and to apply, please visit https://www.dc37.net/benefits/
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NYC CAREER MAPS
The DC 37 Education Fund and CUNY’s New York City Labor Market Information Service (NYCLMIS) have created career maps to promote the career development of the DC 37 members. These online maps identify, illustrate, and describe opportunities for advancement for selected covered job titles.
Career maps are available for the following fields: (1) Administrative and Data-Focused Health Care; (2)HVAC-R; (3) IT Networking; (4) Parks and Recreation; (5) Patient-Care Focused Health Care, and (6) Software Development. You can view these maps HERE.
Be on the lookout for more Ed Fund career maps soon. For information, call the DC 37 Ed Fund at 212-815-1700 or email edfund@dc37.net.
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FREE WORKSHOPS for LOCAL 768 SOCIAL WORKERS
The District Council 37 Education Fund, in conjunction with the National Association of Social Workers, New York City Chapter, plans to host a continuing education workshop in June for eligible Local 768 licensed Social Workers. The workshop is:
Hair Conversations: Ethnocentricity and Black Women’s Trauma (2 CE) – Wednesday, June 14, from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Registration deadline – May 23)
If you are interested in attending this virtual workshop, please enter the following link into your web browser and complete the online application:
June Workshop: www.dc37edfund.org/
For 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 education opportunities to develop the next generation of union leaders. The Education Fund will cover tuition for four 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, click HERE.
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EDUCATION AND CAREER COUNSELING
Do you need guidance selecting a class from our offerings, updating a resume, or 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 FALL 2023 enrollment at the CUNY college of your choice. Let Worker Education at the CUNY School of Labor & Urban Studies (SLU) help you find 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. There are still dates in December available to meet with an advisor.
View the calendar and schedule your CUNY advisement session here https://cunydays.eventbrite.
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RESUME WRITING AND INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES
Both of these virtual workshops are still available and accepting applications. As a follow-up to attending the workshops, an appointment will be scheduled for each attendee to assist with updating their resume and conduct a mock interview with the instructor. To register for Resume Writing, click HERE. To register for Interview Techniques, click HERE.
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UPDATE: THE GED IS BACK!
Since January 2022, the High School Equivalency exam has been the GED again. However, there are changes to the exam and how you schedule your test. There are four subtests on the exam instead of five. In addition to Mathematical Reasoning, Social Studies, and Science, Reading, and Writing are combined in a subtest called Reasoning Through Language Arts. The good news is that passing scores from the tests between 2002 and 2021 count towards earning your diploma.
You must create your own GED account to schedule an exam. Information about the GED exam can be found at 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 and are available in English and Spanish. For additional information or to schedule an appointment with an Educational Counselor, email ppunch@dc37.net.
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FREE COLLEGE PROGRAMS FOR LOCAL 372 MEMBERS IN SPECIFIC JOB TITLES
Local 372 Paraprofessionals can earn 18 credits annually towards a degree in Human Services through a partnership with Monroe College. For more details on the program, see the flyer HERE. To begin enrolling for the Fall 2023 term, complete an online application: www.dc37edfund.org/
Local 372 Members Working in School Food can earn an associate’s degree in Nutrition and Culinary Management through a partnership with LaGuardia Community College. For more details on the Nutrition & Culinary Management Program, see the flyer HERE. To begin enrolling for the Fall 2023 term, complete an online application at www.dc37edfund.org/
PLEASE NOTE: Attending these college programs requires a high school diploma or equivalency. However, transfer credits may be accepted.
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TEST PREP WORKSHOPS
This spring, we are pleased to announce that our Test Prep/Math and Test Prep/Reading will assist members in improving their test-taking skills in the two primary academic areas. These six-session workshops are not tailored to a specific exam but provide and support skill-building and strategies to improve your scores on competitive exams. Math/Test Prep will be offered on six consecutive Tuesdays starting May 9; Test Prep/Reading will be offered on Thursdays, beginning May 11; since these workshops are conducted virtually, a computer is needed to participate. To register for one or both, click HERE.
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Important Reminder: If you are a DC 37 member, you should be receiving DC 37 Action Alerts & News at your non-work email address, definitely NOT your work email address, as this can be a violation of workplace rules. If you signed up using a work email address, please change it to a non-work email.