LEGAL SERVICES STAFF ASSOCIATION National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320, AFL-CIO www.lssa2320.org

Gibb Surette Nataki Yee Loy President Brian Sullivan Vice Presidents

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ian Davie, (917) 751-5992, [email protected] Kate Whalen, (602) 432-5386, [email protected]

New York City Council Members Express Support for Striking Legal Services NYC Workers, Cite Concern over “Devastating Impact” of Cuts on Low-Income New Yorkers Given the Organization’s Projected Budget Surplus

May 24, 2013, , NY - The Council, in a letter signed by 42 members, expressed support yesterday for striking members of the Legal Services Staff Association, NOLSW/UAW Local 2320 (LSSA), the union representing attorneys, paralegals, secretaries, process servers, and other professionals employed with Legal Services NYC (LSNYC). The City Council raised concerns over the impact of the strike, triggered by drastic cuts to benefits proposed by management, on the more than 40,000 low-income New York City residents who annually receive free legal services from LSNYC, especially in the face of a projected budget surplus of at least $10.5 million.

“We are particularly troubled that the LS-NYC Board and management appear more concerned with forcing employees to accept benefit cuts than reaching a fair and equitable settlement,” said the letter, which originated from the Office of Finance Committee Chair Domenic Recchia (D, Dist. 47), and was delivered to LSNYC’s Executive Director, Raun Rasmussen; Board Chair, Joseph Genova (partner at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley and McCloy); and Board Vice Chair, Michael Young (arbitrator/mediator at JAMS Alternative Dispute Resolution).

The City Council letter raised additional concerns over LSNYC’s management, particularly the lack of job security protections for striking employees in the face of a 1 to 3 management to staff ratio. The Council noted that the Legal Aid Society maintains an advocacy-focused projection of only 1 manager for every 5 employees.

Workers at LSNYC, the nation's largest provider of low-income civil legal services, remain on strike for the first time in nearly 20 years. An overwhelming majority of the membership rejected LSNYC's proposal, which demanded financially unnecessary concessions, including significant cuts to health care coverage for particularly vulnerable members and families, higher employee payments to health care premiums, a 29% reduction to 403(b) retirement contributions, and zero cost of living increases to salaries. LSNYC employees have been working without a contract since July 1, 2012.

The demands for cuts appear to be led by Board of Directors Chair Joseph Genova and Vice Chair Michael Young. Union members expressed concern that Mr. Genova, a partner at a firm where compensation tops $2.5 million, is removed not only from the work that the organization performs, but also from LSNYC’s low-income clients and communities. “In over 16 years with the organization, I cannot recall ever seeing Joseph Genova visit our office,” said Nicole Salk, an attorney with the branch of Legal Services NYC. Members could not recall a time when Mr. Genova, a member of the Board for 13 years, visited a single borough office. -more-

Page 2 May 24, 2013

The Council was also critical of LSNYC’s unfounded reliance on projected budget numbers, noting that LSNYC’s own budget projections show a $10.5 million reserve at the end of 2013. The City Council emphasized that “management’s budget projections do not take into account any possibility that the cuts to LSC funding may be less than projected.” On top of projections, management has stated that LSNYC conservatively expects $2 to 3 million in new funding per year in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

After receiving updated numbers from the Legal Services Corporation, LSNYC this week acknowledged it would receive at least an additional $1.1 million in federal funding, an amount which is likely to increase depending upon resolution of sequestration cuts and the administration’s proposed increase in total Legal Services Corporation funding.

The City Council letter reflected these realities. Recognizing that “extracting these cuts at this moment in time would be harsh and imprudent,” the City Council urged LSNYC Executive Director Raun Rasmussen and the management bargaining team “to come to an agreement shortly” with its employees.

Meanwhile, employees on strike have received support from numerous community-based organizations and organized labor throughout the New York City area. Clients and individuals have also expressed support, as LSNYC employees have received over 5,000 signatures on petitions of support.

“We greatly appreciate the support of the and various community organizations,” said Heather Armijo, a paralegal at Staten Island Legal Services. “As we try to get back to work on behalf of our clients throughout New York City, it’s amazing to know that so many people have our backs.”

The Legal Services Staff Association (LSSA), a unit of the National Organization of Legal Services Workers/UAW Local 2320 (NOLSW), represents more than 200 attorneys, paralegals, clerical, and administrative staff at Legal Services NYC, the primary provider of civil legal services to the poor in New York City. In addition their members include the staffs of Brooklyn Legal Services Corp. A., and MFY Legal Services. NOLSW, a local of the United Auto Workers, represents 4,000 people working at legal services, advocacy, and human services organizations in 26 states.

###