DC 37 NEWS, EVENTS and SERVICES YOU CAN USE in FEBRUARY 2024

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

The DC 37 Black History Committee invites you to celebrate Black History Month during the following in-person and virtual events. This year’s theme is African Americans and the Arts: Our Impact on Society.

• DC 37 Black History Month Opening Ceremony 
  • Special Guest: Evangelist Selene Crawford of the Union Grove Missionary Baptist 
  • Thursday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. 
  • Bronx Library Center – 310 E Kingsbridge Rd, Bronx, NY 10458
• SSEU Local 371: Honoring Our Ancestors and Living Legends
  • Friday, Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. 
  • Join us on zoom by clicking HERE 
• Local 1930: Rhythm of Our Roots 
  • Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m. 
  • Grand Concourse Library – 155 E 173rd St, Bronx, NY 10457
• Local 1407: Black History Month Event
  • Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m. 
  • Join us on zoom by clicking HERE
• Local 372: African Americans and the Arts
  • Friday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. 
  • Join us on Zoom by clicking HERE 
• DC 37 Black History Month Finale 
  • Great African American Trade Unionists: A Discussion and Hip-Hop Culture 
  • Thursday, Feb. 29 at 5 p.m. 
  • Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture – 515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037

DC 37 POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

Special Elections on February 13

On Tuesday, Feb. 13, a special election will be held for two legislative seats in our area. The DC 37 membership is supporting Tom Suozzi to replace expelled Congressmember George Santos in the 3rd congressional district. We need your help to elect a pro-worker candidate in this district! Can you join us for phone banking or door-knocking to spread the word about this important election? Sign up to volunteer HERE.

A special election will also be held on Feb. 13 to replace Latoya Joyner, Former Bronx Assemblymember and Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee. Joyner announced her resignation from the New York State Assembly as of Jan. 8. The Democratic nominee is Landon Dais. DC 37 has not yet made an endorsement in this race. You can find your polling site for the special elections in the 3rd C.D. or the 77th A.D. by clicking HERE. The newly appointed chair of the Assembly Labor Committee is Harry Bronson of Rochester, New York. You can learn more about Assemblymember Bronson HERE.

Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 at 6 p.m.
Register HERE. 

2024 Voter Registration Deadlines

Are you and your family all set to participate in the 2024 elections? You may register to vote online HERE or check the status of your voter registration HERE.

Join Us for Our 2024 Albany Lobby Day!

Are you joining us for DC 37’s 2024 Lobby Day on March 12? We will travel to Albany to speak with state legislators about Tier 6 Reform, funding for nonprofit agencies, and other legislative priorities that impact our members. Sign up or get more information by clicking HERE.

Support Your Union Political Action Fund!

In 2024, wealthy corporations and individuals will spend millions trying to diminish our union rights and benefits. It’s important that we support candidates who will fight against attempts to cut jobs and the advances we’ve fought hard for. By joining the PEOPLE Program, our DC 37 political action fund, we can get leaders in office who will fight for and defend worker’s rights over corporate greed. PEOPLE contributions are used to fund Get Out the Vote campaigns, lobbying for member issues, directly supporting pro-workers candidates, and other important activities that we are restricted from using dues money to conduct. 

Learn more about the PEOPLE Program HERE and sign up to contribute to PEOPLE by clicking HERE today!

DC 37 HEALTH & SECURITY PLAN

Benefit Changes for Cultural Institution Employees

Great news! DC 37 proudly offers three enhanced Health & Security benefits in 2024:

• DC 37 Dental Center Access
  • Effective Jan. 1, 2024 
  • The DC 37 Dental Center located at 115 Chambers Street is now a state-of-the-art dental facility. 
  • To schedule an appointment at the DC 37 Dental Center, please call (212) 815-1006. 
• Short-Term Disability Benefit Increase
  • Beginning Jan. 1, 2024 
  • The weekly short term disability benefit will be increased from $200 to $300 per week for all eligible members for a maximum of 26 weeks. 
• Optical Benefit Increase
  • Starting Feb. 1, 2024 
  • The optical benefit maximum will be increased to $250 every two (2) years allowing participants to use either the current optical reimbursement process or voucher system. 

Who is eligible for these benefits? 

You are eligible for these enhanced benefits if you are a regular full-time active member of The Cultural Institutions and work in a job title that is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between Cultural Institutions and District Council 37, or if you are an eligible retiree, at the following institutions: American Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Cary Arboretum, El Museo del Barrio, Hall of Science, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of the City of New York, New York Botanical Garden, Queens Botanical Garden, Staten Island Historical Society, Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, Staten Island Zoological Society, Wavehill, and Wildfire Conservation Society.

Benefit Changes Coming for City Workers

Great news! Two enhanced DC 37 Health & Security Plan Benefits are coming soon to DC 37 members:

• Short Term Disability Benefit Increase
  • Starting Feb. 1, 2024 
  • The weekly short term disability benefit will be increased from $200 to $300 per week for all eligible members for a maximum of 26 weeks. 
• Optical Benefit Increase
  • Starting Mar. 1, 2024 
  • The optical benefit maximum will be increased to $250 every two (2) years allowing participants to use either the current optical reimbursement process or voucher system. 

Who is eligible for these benefits?

You are eligible for the enhanced benefits if you work in a DC 37-covered job title and are employed by one of the following agencies: Brooklyn Public Library, City of New York (Mayoral Agencies), City University of NY, Educational Opportunity Centers, Office of Court Admission, NYC Department of Education, NYC Health & Hospitals Corporation, NYC Housing Authority, NYC Off-Track Betting Corporation, NYC School, Construction Authority, NYC Transit Authority, NYS Rent Regulations Services Unit, Queensborough Public Library and Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.

NON-PROFIT AND PRIVATE SECTOR

DC 37 Non-Profit and Private Sector Members represented by Locals 95, 205, 215, 253, and 389 are eligible for the following exciting education-related opportunities in 2024.

Workshops

• Infectious Diseases
  • Wednesday, Feb. 7 from 5:30-8 p.m. 
• Dignity For All Students Act (DASA)
  • Monday, Feb. 26 and Wednesday, Feb. 28 from 5-8 p.m. 
  • You must attend both days

You can register for these workshops by clicking HERE. 

Classes and Prep Courses

• Computer Skills Upgrade: Basic Word
  • Saturdays, Feb. 2 to Mar. 3, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 
  • Total of four sessions to complete the class 
• CST Disabilities Prep
  • Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Feb. 20 to Mar. 12, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. 
  • Total of seven sessions to complete the course 
• Assessment of Teacher Assistant Skills (ATAS) Prep
  • Saturdays, Feb. 24 to Mar. 16, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Exam Prep
  • Saturdays, Feb. 3 to Feb. 24, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 
• CASAC Exam Prep
  • Thursdays, Feb. 1 to Feb 15, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

You can register for these classes and more by clicking HERE. 

For more information about these programs, call (212) 341-4991 or email mhunte@dc37.net.

DC 37 EDUCATION FUND

Last Call for Winter 2024 Ed Fund Classes!

Don’t miss your chance to register for the Winter 2024 semester offered by the DC 37 Education Fund! Classes begin in January.

You can check the website by clicking HERE for information on classes and schedules, or to register for a program.

The DC 37 Green Jobs Training Program is Expanding!

The DC37 Education Fund is happy to announce the Green Jobs Training Expansion Program, a grant-funded training program for eligible DC 37 members to receive free, hands-on instruction in areas of need within the green economy and energy sector. 

Training courses include Energy Auditing, Multifamily and Commercial Building Analyst, Carbon Accounting, LEED Green Associate, Energy Benchmarking and Construction Management. These courses and more will prepare members for certifications and licenses offered and recognized by the Building Performance Institute, Urban Green Council and Association of Energy Engineers. 

If you are interested in more information on these courses and what this training can provide for you, please click HERE. 

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 membership. These online maps identify, illustrate and describe opportunities for advancement for selected covered job titles.

Career maps are available for the following fields: 

• Administrative and Data-Focused Health Care
• HVAC-R 
• IT Networking
• Parks and Recreation
• Patient-Care Focused Health Care

You can view these maps HERE. Be on the lookout for more Ed Fund career maps in the near future. For information, call the DC 37 Ed Fund at (212) 815-1700 or email edfund@dc37.net. 

Women’s Leadership Academy Registration

The next Lillian Roberts Women’s Leadership Academy (WLA) cohort will begin in March. This training program is designed to support and develop women who desire to assume leadership positions within their profession, union or community. Courses will be held on Saturdays, Mar. 2 to May 18. To register for the next cohort, please click HERE.

Changes to Tuition Reimbursement Benefit

Beginning with classes, courses and workshops taken on or after January 1, 2024, eligible DC 37 members can now be reimbursed up to $1,500 by the DC 37 Education Fund as long as the requirements for reimbursement are met. Additionally, tuition reimbursement applications can now be submitted completely online. For more information on the changes to the reimbursement benefit, please click HERE.

Free Social Worker Workshops For Local 768 Members

The District Council 37 Education Fund, in conjunction with the National Association of Social Workers New York City Chapter, will host continuing education workshops in January for eligible Local 768 licensed Social Workers.

• Implementing “Just Practice” in your Social Work Practice (3 CE)
  • Tuesday, Feb. 27 from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
  • Registration deadline: Feb. 2
    

If you are interested in attending this virtual workshop, please complete the online application by clicking HERE.

If you have any questions regarding the online application or the workshop, please send an email to dtelemaque-Peschier@dc37.net, kking@dc37.net, or lpolimine@dc37.net.

Retirees Education Courses For Winter 2024

The Ed Fund is currently accepting applications for classes for the Winter 2024 cycle. Apply online HERE or visit: https://www.dc37.net/benefits/education/deptclasses/retirees.

For questions, please contact Manuel Gomez-Rosa at mgomezrosa@dc37.net or call (212) 815-1700. 

Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)

Back or Joint Pain? HSS Can Help!

DC 37 is partnering with HSS (Hospital for Special Surgery) to bring members and their families HSS Care Concierge, a program that offers guided access to the top specialists at the World’s #1 hospital for orthopedic care. For 160 years, HSS has specialized in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions. With locations in New York City, Westchester, Connecticut, Long Island, and New Jersey, surgical and non-surgical specialists provide the most personalized and innovative treatment options. Let the HSS team guide you and your family through the process of getting care at HSS from the appropriate clinician for you. To connect with a dedicated team member at HSS, please call (212) 606-1105, email  HSS4DC37@hss.edu, or visit us at hss.edu/DC37.htm. 

MSK DIRECT

Learn How to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer with MSK! 

MSK Direct is pleased to offer Nutrition, Wellness, and Reducing Cancer Risk, a webinar dedicated to the role nutrition and overall wellness play in reducing your risk of cancer. We will be joined by guest speaker Cara Anselmo, MS, RDN, CDN, as she answers your wellness questions and walks us through what foods to incorporate into a healthy diet, the benefits of daily movement, and nutrition myths and misinformation. We hope to see you there! 

Thursday, Feb. 15 at 1 p.m.To register, click HERE.

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.