Volume 43 Number 6 June/July 2013

Ofcial Publication of Social Service Employees Union Local 371-DC 37 AFSCME, AFL-CIO

www.sseu371.org

We Need a Contract, and We Need One Now!

Story on page 3
City workers from dozens of unions gathered at City Hall June 12 to demand fair and good faith bargaining.
Ari Paul

CALENDAR
JUNE
19 Delegate Assembly: 6:30 p.m. Advance Realty Building, 235 West 23rd Street in Manhattan 20 Next Wave: 6:30 p.m. Union Ofce, 12th Floor 26 Political Action Committee: 6:30 p.m. Union Ofce, 12th Floor Civilians in Law Enforcement: 6:30 p.m. Union Ofce, 12th Floor

To City Hall, Unions Spoke As One

n Wednesday, June 12, thousands of union members showed up outside City Hall. The union members said with their presence that they give a damn about their collective destiny. They loudly proclaimed that they are going to participate in their own destiny. The rally was organized by the Municipal Labor Committee, which is comprised of all of the unions that bargain with the City. The call was for all members, uniformed and civilian, to show up. And they did. There was great solidarity because we have a common issue: Every City union has been without a contract for at least three years. SSEU Local 371 ofcers want to thank our members who came out to the rally. It shows how much we care about the labor movement.

JULY
9 Executive Committee: 6:30 p.m. Union Ofce, 12th Floor 10 Womens Committee: 6:30 p.m. Union Ofce, 12th Floor 16 Alumni Association: 2:00 p.m. Union Ofce, 12th Floor 17 Delegate Assembly: 6:30 p.m. Advance Realty Building, 235 West 23rd Street in Manhattan 18 Next Wave: 6:30 p.m. Union Ofce, 12th Floor 24 Political Action Committee: 6:30 p.m. Union Ofce, 12th Floor Civilians in Law Enforcement: 6:30 p.m. Union Ofce, 12th Floor

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 Anthony Wells Executive Vice President Yolanda Pumarejo Secretary-Treasurer Juan Ortiz V.P. Negotiations & Research Rose Lovaglio-Miller V.P. Organization & Education Armenta Weekes V.P. Grievances & Legal Services Lloyd Permaul V.P. Publicity & Community Relations Patricia Chardavoyne V.P. Legislation & Political Action Michelle Akyempong Trustees Vincent Ciccarello Yolanda DeJesus Melva Scarborough Editor Ari Paul Visit us on the web at www.sseu371.org

The result of the rally was an energized, united workforce. There was also a clear message: We are organized and prepared to ght back. We will no longer stand for attacks on our salaries, pensions and benets. Our voices will be heard in the streets, in the boardrooms and at the ballot box. At the same time, the Union fought against the New York City Housing Authoritys plan to privatize Community and Senior Centers and worst of all, lay off as many as 300 of our members and another 200 workers. After reaching out to housing advocates and City Council Members, the City reached a budget that averted most of the layoffs, however, many of the centers will be transferred over to DYCD or DFTA. Members are organizing against any lay off or reduction in social service, including getting turnout for a City Hall rally July 2 at 5 p.m. We are still working with lawmakers and other coalition members. As with all of our ght back campaigns, we need the membership to be informed and involved. It doesnt matter whether you work or live in a NYCHA building, this ght back campaign affects you. Once again, an attack on any of us is an attack on all of us. Lets mobilize, lets speak up for our sisters and brothers in NYCHA. God bless you and God bless the Union. Anthony Wells

The result of the rally was an energized, united workforce.

The Unionist|June/July 2013

We Need a Contract, and We Need One Now!

President Anthony Wells got the crowd hollering with his blistering speech against Mayor Bloomberg.

SSEU Local 371 members made their presence felt.

SSEU LOCAL 371 members made their voices heard loud and clear alongside members from dozens of other City unions June 12 during a protest outside City Hall demanding that the next mayor bargain in good faith with labor. Union President Anthony Wells spoke thunderously before the rally, which extended from Barclay Street to Chambers Street on Broadway, leading the chorus against the Bloomberg administrations choice of stonewalling the unions, while doling out wasteful contracts to his fellow proteers. City labor is in a position quite unlike any other in recent memory: The unions have

been operating on expired collective bargaining agreements for three years, which means no one has gotten a raise. As rightwing governments in Greece and Spain enact painful austerity measures on the masses at the behest of the banking class, so too does New York Citys 99 percent feel the pinch from the 1 percent mayor and his parasitic cohort. Without raises, workers suffer hardships as rent, food prices and other necessities of life have all risen, and small businesses who depend on the patronage of middle class people suffer as a result. Mayor Michael Bloombergs stance is not just politically unpalatable, it is an unabashed act of class war.

Police were supportive of the rallys message.

But our message at the rally, organized by the Municipal Labor Committee, was clear: Whoever is the next mayor is going to have to sit down and speak with the unions and hammer out terms that do not threaten our health care or any other benets. The next mayor must also recognize the need for retroactive pay.

Peaceful Protests
The police on duty for the demonstration, who in the past had shown unrestrained brutality toward non-violent Occupy Wall Street protesters demanding economic justice, showed respect for the union members. In fact, Patrolmens Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch spoke passionately to the crowd about the need for fair bargaining with City unions. He noted that while the cops on duty were stoically guarding the barricades, They want to be inside standing with you.
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SSEU Local 371 members were front and center at this important rally.
June/July 2013|The Unionist

Photos: Ari Paul

2013 Union Audit

GOULD, KOBRICK & SCHLAPP, P.C., CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Empire State Building, 350 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10118-4309 To the Ofcers and Executive Board of Social Service Employees Union Local 371, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO

StateMents oF activities Years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT

We have audited the accompanying statements of nancial position of the Social Service Employees Union Local 371, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO as of June 30, 2012 and 2011, and the related statements of activities and cash ows for the years then ended. These nancial statements are the responsibility of the Unions management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these nancial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the nancial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes consideration of internal control over nancial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Unions internal control over nancial reporting.Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the nancial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and signicant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall nancial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the nancial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the nancial position of the Social Service Employees Union Local 371, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO as of June 30, 2012 and 2011, and the changes in its net assets and its cash ows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. New York, NY April 17, 2013

StateMents oF casH Flows Years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011

StateMents oF Financial Position June 30, 2012 and 2011

The Unionist|June/July 2013

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2012 AND 2011

NOTE 1 GENERAL Organization: The Social Service Employees Union Local 371, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO (the Union) is a labor union comprised of employees of the City of New York in social services and other titles. The objectives of the Union are the attainment and maintenance of fair wage rates and hours and proper working conditions for its members. The Union is a chartered local of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees International Union, AFL-CIO (AFSCME) and is afliated with District Council Number 37, A.F.S.C.M.E., the New York City Central Labor Council and the New York State Organization of the AFL-CIO. The nancial statements of the Union includes the Legal Assistance Committee, created to reduce the burden of legal fees and expenses incurred by the Union for the defense of members arising out of, or relating to, the performance of their duties as employees. Income Tax Status: The Union is exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) under the International Unions (AFSCME) group exemption. NOTE 2 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Accounting: The nancial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting. Basis of Presentation: The nancial statement presentation complies with FASB ASC Topic 958, Financial Statements of Not-for-Prot Organizations. Under Topic 958, the Union is required to report information regarding its nancial position and activities according to three classes of net assets: unrestricted net assets, temporarily restricted net assets, and permanently restricted net assets. Fixed Assets and Depreciation: Furniture, equipment and improvements are stated at cost less depreciation accumulated since acquisition and does not purport to represent replacement or realizable value. All assets are depreciated over estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Expenditures for normal repairs of equipment are charged to current operations. All other expenditures for xed assets are capitalized. Cash and Equivalents: For purpose of the statement of cash ows, cash is considered to be all petty cash, checking and money market accounts, participation certicates, and certicates of deposit with original maturities of one year or less. Use of Estimates: The preparation of nancial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the nancial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Combination: The accompanying nancial statements include the accounts of the Union and the Legal Assistance Committee. All intra-organization transactions have been eliminated in the combination. Dues receivables: Dues receivables are reported at their outstanding unpaid principal balances as determined from subsequent collections. Interest is not accrued or recorded on outstanding receivables.

Fund (a related organization) whereby the Fund will reimburse the Union for its pro rata share of ofce facilities and other expenses. Reimbursements were $334,789 (2012) and $334,789 (2011). The following is a schedule of the estimated future minimum rental income under this sub-lease agreement: NOTE 5 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Union and the Social Service Employees Union Local 371 Benet Funds (the Funds) share ofce facilities (see Note 4), personnel and other overhead expenses. These expenses are allocated based on estimated time and space usage. The Union receives a rebate of $69,179 per month from District Council 37 (see Note 1) as a reimbursement of per capita fees attributable to services provided to other afliated locals but not required or used by the Union (such as legal fees, grievance representation, etc.). Reimbursements for years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 were $830,152 and $830,152, respectively. Note 6 Concentration oF credit risk Financial instruments that subject the Union to concentration of credit risk are cash in bank accounts. The Union maintains accounts at high quality nancial institutions. While the Union attempts to limit any nancial exposure, its cash deposit balances may, at times, exceed federally insured limits. NOTE 7 ACCRUED PAYROLL The Union accrues unused sick pay and annual leave for staff and clerical employees. The liability is computed based on the number of days accumulated and unused at wage rates in effect at each year-end. No provision has been made for any possible increases arising from contractual increases in salaries subsequent to the balance sheet date. NOTE 8 EVALUATION OF SUBSEQUENT EVENTS The Union has evaluated subsequent events through April 17, 2013, the date the nancial statements

NOTE 3 FIXED ASSETS NOTE 4 LEASE COMMITMENTS The Union is obligated to lease the twelfth (12th), fourteenth (14th), and fteenth (15th) oor, under three (3) non-cancelable operating leases with Industrial Building Company for ofce facilities. These leases all expire on May 31, 2018 and include escalation adjustments for property taxes and operating expenses based on the 2010/2011 base year. Rent expense before reimbursements by the Funds (see Note 5) were $605,040 (2012) and $605,040 (2011).

were available to be issued.

The following are the Unions future minimum lease obligations under these leases at June 30, 2012 (excluding escalations): The Union has a sub-lease agreement with the Social Service Employees Union Local 371 Administrative

Continued on page 6 June/July 2013|The Unionist 5

2013 Union Audit

Continued from page 5 NOTE 9 ORGANIZING AND OPERATING EXPENSES

Delegations and Conferences:

NOTE 10 GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES NOTE 11 LEGAL ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE NOTE 12 PENSION AND SEVERANCE The Social Services Employees Union Local 371 Funds Staff Pension Plan (a dened contribution prot sharing plan) covers the Unions eligible clerical employees. Contributions to the Plan for the years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 were $51,739 and $52,838 respectively. The New York City Employee Retirement System NYCERS (a dened benet retirement plan) covers the Unions eligible professional employees. Contributions to the Plan for the years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 were $188,242 (which included payments for prior years), and $122,099, respectively. Eligible Union clerical employees are additionally covered by a collective bargaining agreement with Local 153. Under the terms of this agreement the Plan makes contributions to the Local 153 Pension Plan on behalf of covered employees. Pension plan expenses for the years ending June 30, 2012 and 2011 were $9,280 and $6,552, respectively.

On November 2, 2011 the executive board approved the creation of an annuity benet for employees of the Union staff on unpaid leave from the City of New York. This benet will be effective retro-active to January 1, 2011 and the Social Services Employees Union Local 371 Annuity Fund (a non-contributory dened contribution plan) will cover these employees. Contributions to the Plan during the scal year ended June 30, 2012 was $20,064. NOTE 13 CONTINGENCIES AND LEGAL MATTERS Christine Byeld vs. Lloyd Permaul, et al: On or about September 24, 2012, Plaintiff brought an action naming Defendants Lloyd Permaul, Anthony Wells and Joe Nazario in their capacity as Union ofcers and individually. It alleges that Permaul sexually harassed and retaliated against Plaintiff and Wells and Nazario failed to take action. This claim is being defended vigorously. However it is impossible at this time to determine the outcome of this matter. Similarly, requested damages, costs and attorney fees are not expressly stated and cannot be estimated at this time.

From Her Post, an Inspiration to Write

hen Kashana Ames moved from ACS to be a Caseworker at HASA, working directly with clients with HIV/AIDS, she was excited, but her friends and family werent. They were like, Are you crazy? she recalled. They were concerned about my health. I couldnt believe people were still thinking that way. That helped inspire her not only to work hard at her job helping the clients, based in the Bronx, but to write and self-publish the book Undetected, a novel about different people living with the virus. Based on her work but not based on clients, thereby protecting their identities, the novel is meant to depict how people from all walks of life get exposed to the virus and continue living. The characters are believable, Ames said. Anyone can put themselves in the characters shoes. Ames hopes that readers might look at the situation differently and change perspectives on HIV/AIDS, as people living with the virus are still ostracized from
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society. I love my work and I love my clients. I want to advocate on their behalf, she said. My clients have read the book and they love it. This is for them.

A Teaching Tool
Ames said, I had a client buy the book and gave it to her son. It was how she told him that she had HIV. The novel took six months to write, and even though Ames had no formal writing training, the process was easy. It came quite naturally, she said. Anyone interested in buying the book should email her at Sha_Ames@aol.com or call her at (646) 474-5888 or (917) 400-5433. The book can also be ordered online here: https://www.createspace. com/3805361.

Kashana Ames: Using the power of a novel, she wants to change attitudes about HIV/AIDS.

Ofcial 15-Day Notice

Ofcial 15-day notice is hereby given for nomination and election of six (6) delegates and twelve (12) alternate delegates for the citywide delegation from the Health Department on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at the Union Ofce, 817 Broadway, 12th Floor, Manhattan.
The Unionist|June/July 2013

Ari Paul

Electing a Peoples Mayor

or the past decade working New Yorkers have endured the cruel shock therapy imposed by the plutocracy, carried out by a mayor who embodies the 1-percent doctrine of greed and inequality more than any other of his ilk. The consequences, sisters and brothers, for working New Yorkers like us, have been dire. We have been without wage increase since our contract expired in 2010, and City Hall has stonewalled us on retroactive pay and has demanded draconian cuts to our health-care coverage. The social services that New Yorkers rely upon have withered amidst budget cuts, all while City Hall doles out cash for things like the corrupt and wasteful CityTime system and through tax breaks for his the mayors bloated cronies in the real estate sector. Three candidates for mayorComptroller John Liu (who has been endorsed by our parent union, DC 37), former Comptroller William Thompson and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, came to the SSEU Local 371 Executive Committee in early June to make their case why they should have the support of social service workers. City Council Speaker Christine

Examine the candidates for yourselves. Ask the tough questions. And on primary day, Sept. 10, show your support at the voting booth for a vision for a new New York.

Quinn was invited but could not attend. The Union hopes to hear from her in the future. This says something about the power of SSEU Local 371: The people who want to take back City Hall know that they have to listen to us, because we know what the problems are in City government and know how to x them. These people understand that we have been wrongly denied raises because of the intransigence of the Bloomberg administration while we work hard to make so many agencies function and serve the people of New York.

New Way Forward

All of the candidates who did attend offered an alternative vision of how the City should function. They support policies that serve the interests of all New Yorkers, not just the moneyed elite. And while those messages are indeed refreshing, we as union members need to make clear that we are not simply interested in a silver-tongued

orator, someone who can merely offer well-crafted platitudes about social equality. No, we are looking for a doer. We are looking for someone who has proven through years of public service that he or she believes that social services and public servants are a central component in a fair and just democracy. We are looking for a mayor who will guarantee retroactivity in our next contract. That is why we are asking members to take a deep interest in this race. Examine the candidates for yourselves. Ask the tough questions. And on primary day, Sept. 10, show your support at the voting booth for a vision of a new New York. Members should volunteer for the candidates we endorse. Lets make sure their agenda includes our agenda. We should be at the table, not on the menu! Michelle Akyempong, Vice President of Political Action

SIGN UP FOR DELEGATE TRAINING!

SSEU Local 371 will hold a weekend orientation session on Friday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013 for all registered delegates and alternates elected in 2013. The orientation will take place at The Villa Roma Resort located in Callicoon, NY. If you are interested in attending you must complete the coupon below and fax it to (212) 477-4863, attention Armenta G. Weekes, Vice President of Organization. Workshops, guest speakers and other events will occur. Materials will be distributed. Coupons must be received by Sept. 18, 2013. Name _____________________________________________ Last four digits of SS#__________________________________ Address____________________________________________________________________ Apt#______________________ City_________________________________________________ State____________ Zip Code__________________________ Phone (Work)__________________________ Phone (Cell/Home) __________________________ Cell_____________________ How long have you been a delegate/alternate_____________________________________________________________________ Shirt size_____________________ Borough to leave from_________________________________________________________ Emergency contact information_______________________________________________________________________________

June/July 2013|The Unionist

Condolences
Condolences are extended to Doris Dorilas, SUP II, at HRA/Fair Hearing, on the death of her mother, Augusta Balmir, who died May 12. Condolences may be sent to The Balmir-Dorilas Family, 211-20 93rd Avenue, Queens Village, NY 11428.
Social Service Employees Union Local 371 817 Broadway New York, N.Y. 10003

Periodicals Postage Paid at New York, NY

BULLETIN BOARD
SWaP- Child and Family Specialist at 150 William Street in Manhattan, would like to swap to Child and Family Specialist Bronx Field Ofce. If interested, please call (718) 710-1895. SWaP- Supervisor II at Brooklyn eld ofce, 2554 Linden Blvd., would like to swap to a Supervisor II Field ofce in the Bronx, or 55 W. 125th Street. If interested, call (718) 3486697 or (914) 548-8054. SWaP- Job Opportunity Specialist, FIA/HRA at Job Center #64 in Brooklyn, would like to swap to Job Center #70 in Brooklyn or Job Center #63 in Brooklyn. If interested, call (347) 446-4998. SWaP- Job Opportunity Specialist, FIA/HRA at Job Center #13 in Manhattan, would like to swap to Job Center #99 in Staten Island. If interested, call (718) 213-2111.

MemberS

A Partial Victory at NYCHA

City budget reached June 23 averted most of the layoffs SSEU Local 371 faced at the New York City Housing Authority, although the Union vowed to keep talking to management about ways to ensure no member faced termination. The deal announced by the Mayor and City Council placed 45 community centers and four senior centers under DYCD and DFTA administration respectively starting next year, leaving the rest under NYCHA control until Fiscal Year 2014. All the administrative jobs have been saved, and at present no one is facing the axe. Im condent we can save jobs and social services at NYCHA, said Union President

Ofcial 15-Day Election Notice

Ofcial 15-day notice is hereby given for the nomination and election of ten (10) delegates and twenty (20) alternate delegates for the Citywide delegation from Civilians in Law Enforcement on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at the Union ofce, 15th Floor, 817 Broadway, Manhattan.

Anthony Wells. The budget gives us time to negotiate and explore all of our options. Wells noted there were plenty of areas NYCHA could nd savings, including stopping the $70 million per year payment to the NYPD for policing services private landlords get for no extra cost. He added, Let me be clear: We are not going to be satised until every last layoff is off the table. During a Union meeting June 24, members at NYCHA organized a ght back campaign, including calling for participation in a July 2 rally outside City Hall at 5 p.m. We built this, said Amerigo Santiago, a director at the Cooper Park Senior Center, speaking of the agency. We have to stand up and ght. We have a ghting chance.

City Council Involved

The budget deal came on the heels of a devastating budget proposal by NYCHA management that would have laid off up to 250 of our members and another 250 workers. Wells and other advocates blasted the deal at a City Council hearing, in which lawmakers also condemned the proposed cuts. Wells noted that the deal could not have happened without the dedication of City Council Members and the Unions political lobbying efforts. While there is more work to be done in order to fend off the privatization of social services, Wells said, the budget deal was still welcome news. To weeks ago we were dead in the water, he said. One member responded, And now were oating. Members and ofcers laughed and clapped, then Wells added condently, No, were swimming.
The Unionist|June/July 2013

Update on Heritage Events

As many members are aware, District Council 37s lower Manhattan headquarters was badly damaged during Hurricane Sandy last year and was rendered inoperable. While DC 37 staff are expected to go back to the 125 Barclay Street building at the end of the summer, this has meant that no events since the storm were able to take place in DC 37s main meeting hall, including SSEU Local 371 heritage events. That has been an unfortunate consequence of the epic storm. But the Union is still running its heritage committees and looks forward to having its heritage events in the future when DC 37s building is fully running again.

Ari Paul

Anthony Wells testied testied in June.

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