Union of Clerical, Administrative & Technical Staff at NYU, Local 3882, NYSUT, AFT, AFL-CIO Volume 41 2020 Issue 1 Celebrating Black History Month and Women's Herstory Month History then

History now

The 2017 UCATS Contract Bargaining Team

Outsourcing issues Why can't I work from Planning for Retirement 2020 Census begins in

at NYU Bookstore home? March. Just DO IT! page 3 page 5 page 8 page 11 president's letter Ordinary people

“You have to know the past to under- signed by Al Shanker, founder of the stand the present” United Federation of Teachers! –Carl Sagen Last year at this time NYU was  Stephen Rechner, School of Law celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots and I was ebruary is Black History asked to recount the history of how month and March is Women’s NYU employees convinced NYU to History month. In this issue F provide marital benefits to same- of Momentum three of our writers sex domestic partners in 1993. I discuss these commemorations and certainly had no expectation that 26 some of the historical figures who years later I would be speaking at made them happen. An encyclope- Rechner at NYSUT School Related an NYU event as one of the histori- dia could be written about the rich Professionals Conference October 5 cal figures for my participation in histories of the many women, people that collective effort. I can tell you of color, and women of color in par- afternoon when my supervisor an- that it was lesbian women who got ticular, who were the driving force nounced that NYU security would the ball rolling on domestic partner for the establishment of these rec- be searching our desks over the benefits and who pushed it over ognition months, and we can barely weekend for union flyers/buttons, the finish line. They were, Carol touch on them in the few pages of etc., and if any were found we Alpert, a faculty librarian at the Law our newsletter. would be terminated. In retrospect, School, Trudy Rudnick, Local 3882 The articles presented in this even at that time I doubt NYU President, and Chris Straayer, a pro- issue did, however, cause me to re- would have terminated anyone, but (Continued on page 9) flect on the importance of women the threat was made and it had its’ and African-Americans in UCATS intended effect, which was to dis- history and how much of that his- courage union participation. tory has been lost. Our union came to be in 1979 when 12 women of UCATS and Al Shanker color working in the basement of NYU workers voted to form a 636 Broadway, Room 1219 New York, NY 10012 the main building approached New union in 1979 and our original Momentum is published by and for the mem- York State United Teachers organiz- members called themselves the bers of the Union of Clerical, Administrative, ing staff who were on campus trying United Staff Association. They ap- & Technical Staff (UCATS), at NYU, Local to unionize our adjunct faculty and plied to affiliate with the American 3882, New York State United Teachers, AFT, AFL-CIO. said, “what about us?” The names Federation of Teachers (AFT) and Local 3882 Office: (646)602-1485 of those 12 women of color have that’s who designated us “Local E-mail address: [email protected] been lost but what they did was truly 3882”. Then they negotiated and www.ucats3882.org courageous. NYU was virulently signed our first collective bargain- President Stephen Rechner Vice Presidents Diana Corzen anti-union then and those women ing agreement in 1980. We have Christopher Crowe risked their jobs when they spoke to a copy of our AFT charter and our Treasurer Shermaine Griffin NYSUT organizers. first contract, but I can’t find any- Secretary Rob Lesko one who knows who the signatories Organizers Anthony Pellino Risky (union) business Linda Wambaugh were for Local 3882. I present the Newsletter Denise Shavers I know about the risk they took signers of the AFT Charter here for because I started working at NYU remembrance just the same. The in 1986 and I remember one Friday cover letter to our AFT Charter was

2 Momentum | Union of Clerical, Administrative & Technical Staff at NYU, Local 3882 ucats in action Outsourcing on the rocks  Ben Carr, Bookstore The union did NOT agree to any bout two years ago NYU of the changes to schedules, job outsourced the manage- titles, roles, or pay grades, but our ment of the NYU Bookstore talks with NYU did achieve a posi- A tive outcome for our members at to Follett Corporation. UCATS raised concerns about outsourcing the bookstore. union jobs and secured an assur- Mitigating change ance from senior HR officers that the jobs of UCATS members in Our most important achieve- the bookstore would be preserved. ment was that all of our members Bookstore managers were given the in the bookstore were slotted into option of a severance package or to the new jobs without first being become employees of Follett. Ben Carr laid off and then having to reap- For the most part, NYU and ply. Usually, when NYU under- The new team in HR agreed takes a major reorganization or Follett held to their word as no to look into the matter and found restructuring within a unit, and UCATS members have been ter- that Follett was not living up to the job titles and job descriptions minated as a consequence of the the terms of their agreement with change substantially as a result, management change. This sum- NYU and they reasserted to Follett the whole unit is let go and im- mer, however, it became apparent that non-management positions at pacted employees have to apply that Follett was replacing UCATS the bookstore had to be filled ei- for the new jobs. While most of members who left the bookstore ther by UCATS members, by NYU our members in those rare situ- through natural attrition with a student employees, or, during peak ations do get rehired, there is no small army of low-paid, part-time periods, by temps employed for guarantee. UCATS fought hard to contingent workers. less than 90 days. That was the get NYU to agree to not go that practice before Follett assumed route at the bookstore. More surprises management of the bookstore. Furthermore, while some of the We, the bookstore employees, Of course, it took a lot more than newly configured jobs were a lower reported our observation to UCATS a phone call from UCATS to get grade than the UCATS member who again raised concerns and re- NYU and Follett to agree to a reset. assigned to it, UCATS was able to minded a new NYU management It took several meetings between guarantee that no one’s pay would team in HR of the assurances that July and October, an investigation, be reduced. had been made to us two years ago. and some delicate bargaining. Typically, employers decide what Two years may seem like a long Then in October, NYU noti- jobs are needed, what the duties are time to notice what was happen- fied UCATS of changes to the job for each job, how many people are ing, but turnover among staff at the descriptions, titles, and position needed to do the work, when peo- bookstore is extremely low because grades, that they, along with Follett, ple are needed to work, etc., based it is so unusual for retail workers were planning to implement based on the needs of their operation. to have jobs with union wages and on decisions involving what they Even union job descriptions and benefits of the magnitude provided were calling changes to operational duties evolve over time and “other in our collective bargaining agree- needs. UCATS questioned many of related duties” can be assigned as ment. How many retail workers the changes based on feedback from is stated in each job description. do you know who have full-time affected UCATS members working UCATS does not establish the job employment with a base wage of in the bookstore and my knowledge titles or write the job descriptions $54,000/year and benefits? as the shop steward for that district. (Continued on page 9)

Momentumm || VolumeVolume 4141 20202020 IssueIssue 11 3 4 Momentum | Union of Clerical, Administrative & Technical Staff at NYU, Local 3882 Member Questions

Answered by Stephen Rechner members into thinking that working off the clock was Our department just implemented a telecommut- a good thing (“allows you to catch up on your assign- ing policy but only for administrators. Why are ments”, or, “make up for chatting too long at the water UCATS members excluded? Does the Collective cooler”, or “we have a departmental deadline to meet Q: and we’re all in this together”). We even had members Bargaining Agreement prohibit telecommuting? who were mad at UCATS when MyTime was imple- There is not language in our contract that specifically mented because it prevented them from working off A:prohibits telecommuting. Technically, the prohibi- the clock – we were forcing them to be paid time-and- tion is a university policy, but it is rooted in Article 7 a-half OT! (I can’t make this stuff up.) – Hours – on page 5, which specifies that the base work These things are (technically) not issues for ad- week is 35 hours and time worked over 35 hours is paid ministrators because they are paid a salary to get a job at time-and-a-half overtime pay (OT). If the university done. By Law they are in a category called “Exempt allowed union members to telecommute it would be im- Employees” and are supposed to work for as long as possible to monitor the hours worked. Sure, they could it takes to get their job done BUT if they have to work set up MyTime to enable workers to sign in/out remotely, more than 35 hours some weeks during peak periods but from their perspective, with no one at home overseeing without additional compensation they are supposed to you it’s impossible to ascertain if you are really working be allowed to work short days/weeks during non-peak 7 hours on the day(s) you telecommute and, if you were periods without being docked – as long as their work to report OT, if that was necessary. From our perspective, gets done. Since their salary is predicated not on hours UCATS worked very hard to get the strong language we worked, but on getting a job done, where they get the now have on OT. Here’s a brief timeline: job done doesn’t really matter. Now, in reality, for most exempt employees the long weeks during peak periods 1. Until 1988, we had to work 40 hours at straight time are frequent, and good luck working a short week – they before being paid time-and-a-half, regardless of the may not get docked, but they increase their chances of fact that the base work week was 35 hours. being scrutinized, getting a negative performance evalu- 2. We also had to actually WORK 40 hours before OT ation (and consequently, a raise lower than the Annual kicked in, so if we worked OT during a week with Merit Increase established by NYU each year, or even no a Monday holiday, we had to work an additional 12 raise at all), and being reprimanded or terminated for hours at regular pay that week before being paid time- poor performance. and-a-half OT (7 hours to make up for the holiday plus Finally, time-and-a-half pay for OT isn’t just about 5 hours to get from 35 to 40). This was also true if we compensation; it’s about quality of life. It is intended to took a vacation/personal day during the week. discourage your employer from demanding unlimited hours of your time so that you can leave work at the end 3. Over several contracts that was reduced first to 37.5 of your normal schedule and go do the things that make hours and then to 35 hours. We also succeeded in life meaningful. whittling away the holiday/vacation/personal day ex- So, the bottom line is this: no one gets to have it ceptions in contract bargaining. all. If you want to telecom- 4. Prior to the implementation mute, you’ll have to apply for of MyTime, OT abuse by a job as an administrator, but managers was rampant and when you do that, you lose very difficult to dispute or the right to time-and-a-half control. Some managers just pay after 35 hours, as well erased OT off of our mem- as all of the other rights and bers time sheets, others bul- benefits you enjoy from the lied members into working UCATS Collective Bargaining off-the-clock, and still others Agreement that administra- brain-washed a few of our tors don’t.

Momentum | Volume 41 2020 Issue 1 5 This is what solidarity looks like  Marty Correia, Faculty Arts & Science  Vanessa Sejourne, College of Dentistry ebruary is Black History Month, so we’ll watch vid- eos and read articles about the amazing feats Black F people have achieved while battling racism. At UCATS, we experience first-hand the power of Black lead- ership. Two of our five union officers are Black women, vice president, Diana Corzen, and treasurer, Shermaine Griffin. On our executive council, several stewards are African-American, and during UCAT’s last contract nego- tiations in 2017, Black leaders made up almost half of the relentless team that fought for our wages and benefits. because of leaders who set the tone at a meeting where a "Admit her at once!" courageous young black woman came to the door during Who were the Dianas and Shermaines back when a crowded meeting of all white women. The doorkeeper unions were first forming in late nineteenth-century cried out, “A [black] sister is at the door.” The female United States? Black workers fought to join the unions, union president, overlooked strict parliamentary proce- let alone have a voice. After more than forty years of dure and called back, “I say admit her at once, and give mistreatment and exclusion from white-dominated her a hearty welcome.” The new member was received unions, black labor activists formed the first African- with enthusiastic applause. American labor union in 1925. The Brotherhood of This Black History Month, UCATS looks back proudly Sleeping Car Porters organized because the existing at the African-American labor movement. To give these union did not admit blacks. A. Philip Randolph became leaders their proper places in history, we acknowledge the leader of the black service staff of the Pullman rail- that there was a Black Labor Movement because the road cars. Later in 1941, Randolph was a prominent white-dominated Labor Movement did not typically in- spokesperson for African-American civil rights. Along clude Black workers. with Bayard Rustin and A. J. Muste, he proposed a Again, we will watch the videos and read the articles march on Washington. Future civil rights leader Martin this month, but what will we DO with these history les- Luther King, Jr. and other younger activists were influ- sons? Let’s take time during Black History Month to en- enced by Randolph’s peaceful methods and ideas. vision a Black Future. How are/will you be a black leader Back around 1900 in Chicago, Local 183 of the in your workplace, union, community, or family? How Amalgamated Meat Cutters was formed by women are/will you make room for a black leader, support them, workers. They were one of the first working women’s and fight against racial and economic inequalities? Just organization in the U.S. whose records show black as it was up to our ancestors to pursue justice, it’s our women initiated as full members. This was possible time to act now. “Solidarity forever!” ucats in action Union women, today and yesterday  Anna Kreienberg, Faculty Arts & Science ommended me to NYSUT to serve on this board when NYSUT NextGen Advisory Board Meeting it’s formation was announced after the 2019 NYSUT Representative Assembly. Alongside members of other had the pleasure of attending NYSUT’s Next locals associated with NYSUT, many of them new pub- Generation Advisory Board meeting on December lic school teachers, I learned about member benefits I 6th and 7th. Our president, Stephen Rechner, rec- (Continued on next page)

6 Momentum | Union of Clerical, Administrative & Technical Staff at NYU, Local 3882 has already decreased union membership in NYSUT. Losing our labor protections through laws that encour- Union women age free-riding and non-participation is a struggle facing NYSUT, and our sustained involvement and awareness of the issues at hand, from across the state, is vital. I look forward to receiving information from NYSUT to dis- seminate to our local, and I truly value keeping UCATS connected across the state to build solidarity with other locals. I encourage anyone who would like to discuss getting more involved in our union or provide me with feedback to bring to the next NYSUT NextGen advisory meeting to reach out to me at [email protected].

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Commemoration Every March, UCATS members gather on Washington Anne Trasciatti (l), President of the Remember the Triangle Place with the labor community and local government Fire Coalition Board of Directors, and Anna Kreienberg officials to commemorate the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. Now the site of NYU’s Brown building, this horrific (Continued from previous page) fire on March 25, 1911 resulted in the deaths of 146 work- (including a very helpful and intensive workshop on ers, mostly young Italian and Jewish immigrant women. student loans), how to increase engagement within our Despite the fact that the building had been ruled by an union, and all of the social justice initiatives NYSUT is inspector as a firetrap just three months before, Triangle supporting. This event was especially impactful as we packed the building to the brim with workers. Not only learned that currently, Rochester NYSUT members are that, but Triangle was required to keep doors to the fac- struggling with a series of layoffs that will negatively tory open during working hours. Instead, they locked impact the district. Hearing other folks discuss their re- the doors to the Washington Place stairway, ostensibly to lationships to their unions and the benefits of member- reduce workers stealing goods – to leave the factory, you ship, especially as it relates to something as important had to have your bag checked. When a fire erupted on the as job protections, was truly inspiring. 8th floor, workers on the upper floors were unable to get Collectively, our group gave feedback on the kind of out of the locked doors and incredibly narrow stairways. communications we would like to see from NYSUT and Women were forced to jump or burn to their deaths, and the kind of resources we would like to be provided. So though the fire department arrived within minutes, their many folks were unaware of the home, renter’s, life, and ladders did not reach above the 6th floor. In the wreck- even pet insurance available through NYSUT. Many were age, the fire department found that more than a dozen unaware about the travel discounts, and most impor- women died due to a collapsed fire escape, and 40 to 50 tantly, so many struggled with receiving consultation on workers had perished collapsed against the locked doors their difficult-to-manage student loans. For much of the of the building. conference, while other members listed a litany of issues The public nature of the incident was a clarion and complaints about their locals, I was able to celebrate call to the labor reform movement and to all work- and remark upon how helpful and put-together UCATS ing class people; never again should something so is! It is worth celebrating how responsive and helpful inhumane befall workers. Four days after the fire Linda Wambaugh and Stephen are, and the fact that we 350,000 people marched in the streets of New York have gained 15 new stewards (me included!) this year. in a somber display of solidarity. Just weeks after Our member benefits can be easily found on the UCATS the fire, the Ladies Garment Workers Union, along Union women, today and yesterday website, and Momentum always highlights benefits and with other workers’ groups, held protests for better NYSUT updates and news from month to month. working conditions. After immense pressure from unions, civic organizations and the general public, Involvement is vital New York legislators created the Factory Investigating Other locals under NYSUT reported fallout from the Commission, a watchdog agency dedicated to polic- JANUS ruling, which made paying union fees for public ing the working conditions in workplaces across the employees optional. This ruling weakens our union and (Continued on page 10)

Momentum | Volume 41 2020 Issue 1 7 members benefits New planning for retirement webpage for UCATS members  Christopher Crowe, Bobst Library how/where to apply for your Staff opefully, we’ll all live long, Pension, and how/where to enroll in healthy lives. And if we do, Social Security and Medicare. one day we’ll retire from NYU offers some fringe benefits H to qualifying retirees that it doesn’t work. It’s a daunting prospect, to live a decent life without working, and publicize widely. For example, we all there is much to consider and plan know that as active employees we for. Accurate information to inform have $50.000 of group life insur- our planning is vitally important but ance from NYU, but did you know not always easy to come by which that as a retiree you still get $30,000 is why we’ve created a new “NYU of free group life insurance from Planning for Retirement” page on NYU? Even our UCATS President Christopher Crowe, our website, ucats3882.org. Stephen Rechner admitted he didn’t know that – until he created the UCATS has bargained over the you then invest in your choice of Planning for Retirement page! years for our most important retire- mutual funds offered by TIAA-CREF ment benefits – namely, the Staff and Vanguard. Never too early Pension Plan and (more recently) Members hired after January Also, if you retire with as little the NYU Retirement Plan. These 1st, 2019 can choose either the two very different plans are designed Staff Pension Plan or the NYU as ten years of continuous ser- to provide income throughout your Retirement Plan – a defined contri- vice you qualify for a free lifetime retirement. For the foreseeable fu- bution plan, much like the STDA, membership at the Palladium ture, most of our current members except that NYU matches the por- Athletic Facility – it’s always good contemplating retirement are in tion of your pay (up to 5%) that you to stay physically active. And the Staff Pension Plan. It’s one of choose to invest in mutual funds of- since it’s just as important to stay the very few defined benefit pen- fered by TIAA-CREF and Vanguard. mentally active you can still take sion plans left in the United States. The two plans are, obviously, quite advantage of the tuition remission (They used to be much more com- different but, compared to similar benefit (though it might have tax mon.) Once you’re vested, after five plans offered by most employers implications), get a discount at the years of service, you’ll receive a cer- both are excellent examples of their NYU bookstore and you can con- tain amount of money – the exact type. Which is not to say they don’t tinue to use the library. amount determined by your years have their pluses and minuses; the Even if you’re still in your 20s of service and your income during Staff Pension Plan, as noted, only and retirement is decades away those years – every month for the vests after you’ve been on the job for it’s not too early to begin planning rest of your life. five years; the NYU Retirement Plan for it now. The information on our is subject to the ups and downs of Planning for Retirement page can Choices the stock market. Which one is bet- help inform your choices to ensure You don’t contribute anything ter for you depends entirely on your your health and financial security to the plan out of your own pocket, individual circumstances. throughout retirement, so take ad- though you can choose to enroll in a On our Planning for Retirement vantage of it. Whatever your current Supplemental Tax Deferred Annuity page we have also provided direct age, the time to plan for retirement (STDA), in which you contribute a links to information about NYU’s is not when you are 64-and-a-half – portion of your pay (pre-tax) which retiree health/dental/vision benefits, it’s NOW!

8 Momentum | Union of Clerical, Administrative & Technical Staff at NYU, Local 3882 Ordinary people

(Continued from page 2) themselves as great when they took Black and Women’s History Months. fessor at Tisch then and now. That their first step toward greatness. By It is our duty to learn their histories herstory at least, has been written the time they achieved what they for the sake of remembering and and preserved in Momentum. set out to do, they were probably for the sake of learning how to fight No one comes into this world with so exhausted, and even perhaps the injustices of today. There is still “destined for greatness” stamped on disheartened from the battle, that poverty and inhumanity and today their birth certificates. No such des- they didn’t even recognize the mag- we are fighting for the survival of ignation is made on high school or nitude of their achievement(s) at the American democracy. college diplomas either. Many of yes- time. That’s because when people So, for the women and men terday’s heroes didn’t graduate from endeavor to fight against injustice, of all races, creeds, orientations/ college or even high school. What poverty, and inhumanity, or to fight gender identities who made the his- people who have made history/her- for democracy, they’re not looking tory/herstory we honor the next two story all have in common is that they to achieve greatness for themselves. months, think about your journey were ordinary people who answered Today, we are the beneficiaries and your first step. Yes, we are or- the call to do extraordinary things. of the great achievements of the dinary – and every bit as capable of They saw an injustice and they fought historical people we honor during doing extraordinary things. against it. An obstacle was placed in their path and they overcame it. They saw a mountain to climb and they signers of the aft charter application went to the top. that formed local 3882 in 1979 An ancient Chinese philoso- Christine Russell, Acting President pher, Lao Tzu, said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a Alberte Bernier Arthur Grindon single step.” That is how all of the Carolyn Bradshaw Bruce Levine women and African-Americans Manfred Callender Sandra Long achieved the greatness we honor Beryl Clemetson Maureen Nappi during Black and Women’s History Michael Cudney Claudia Timmons Months. I doubt many of them saw

Outsourcing (Continued from page 3) and engaging in discussion with ment. UCATS did not agree to their of the jobs in our bargaining unit. NYU management. Our goal is changes, but, we did succeed in We also cannot stop all changes to protect the employment of our securing the employment of our that management proposes based members as well as all of the col- members at the bookstore. While on their “operational needs”, but lectively bargained rights, wages, this was understandably a difficult when NYU embarks on a restruc- and benefits negotiated in the col- circumstance for those affected, turing of bargaining unit jobs, lective bargaining agreement. knowing that our employment UCATS works to minimize the Change can be uncomfortable status, wage rates and benefits re- negative impacts of these changes but it is also inevitable, especially main unchanged is a great relief, on our members. We do this by in the workplace and especially and would not be assured without communicating with our members in today’s current labor environ- UCATS advocating on our behalf.

Momentum | Volume 41 2020 Issue 1 9 Union women (Continued from page 7) mately became the first woman ap- that affects not only American labor state. Ultimately, the tragedy made pointed to the U.S. cabinet and ex- history, but also socialist, women’s, famous the work of women activ- ecuted sweeping labor laws in her and immigration history as well. In ists such as socialist-feminist labor role as Secretary of Labor under the future, we will have the Triangle union leaders Clara Lemlich and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Fire Memorial to meditate on. Under Rose Schneiderman, who had been The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory the leadership of Hofstra University fighting poor working conditions Fire was a devastating moment in professor Mary Anne Trasciatti, the for years with the International workers’ history that ultimately led to Remember the Triangle Factory Fire Ladies’ Garment Worker’s Union hard-won reform due to the efforts Coalition is building a permanent and Women’s Trade Union League, of galvanized union members and memorial on NYU’s Brown building, respectively. Witnessing the dra- labor activists. March is Women’s where the tragedy occurred, mark- matic blaze also inspired labor ad- History Month and I hope you might ing it for the public, to remind us all vocate Frances Perkins to commit reflect on the role of women in labor of the 146 (mostly women) workers her life to workers’ rights. She ulti- unions and dig into the union history whose lives were lost. Women in Labor History

Frances Perkins was the secretary of labor during the Franklin Delano Roosevelt administration. Perkins, who had studied economics and sociology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, championed both labor and workplace safety. As a cabinet member, she helped develop and implement key pieces of the New Deal, including enacting minimum wage laws. She oversaw key pieces of the National Industrial Recovery Act, the Public Works Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps. While chairing the President’s Committee on Economic Security, she pushed through the Social Security Act of 1935. In 1980, the headquar- ters of the U.S. Department of Labor was named in her honor.

Luisa Moreno was a Guatemalan-born American labor organizer. She started organizing while working in a cafeteria in New York in the 1930s, protesting against long hours and consistent sexual harassment. In one incident, she walked past police guarding the cafeteria against picketers by wearing a fur coat and acting as if she were a customer. When she arrived at the door, she pulled out a strike sign from under her coat and was carried off by officers. She later organized African-American and Latina cigar makers in Florida. She became a representative of the United Cannery, Agricultural, Packing, and Allied Workers of America, where she organized workers in Texas and California during the 1930s. Moreno was a staunch advocate for the rights of immigrants, especially from Latin American countries. She organized the Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee to help clear those indicted in what the media dubbed the “Sleepy Lagoon murder.” In the 1950s, she was targeted by immigration officials because of her activism. She was offered citizenship in exchange for testifying against a labor leader, but she refused, stating that she would not be “a free woman with a mortgaged soul.”

The Lawrence textile strike, commonly referred to as the “Bread and Roses” strike, took place in Lawrence, Mass., from January to March 1912. The strike defied expectations, uniting workers (who were mostly immigrant women) from 51 different nationalities. The workers lived in terrible conditions, with high mortality rates for the children who worked in the factories. The phrase “bread and roses” came from a line in a speech by organizer Rose Schneiderman: “The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too.” It became a cry not just for fair wages, but also for decent working and living conditions. The strike inspired the famous song “Bread and Roses.”

10 Momentum | Union of Clerical, Administrative & Technical Staff at NYU, Local 3882 Momentumm || VolumeVolume 4141 20202020 IssueIssue 11 11 ucats

Bulletin Board

Debt Management Help Is debt getting the best of you? Credit card debt, student loan debt, medical debt and more, can all damage a person’s financial well-being. But UCATS has your back. Just go to our website and click on the Debt Management Help link under the Bulletin Board section to find out about benefits from NYSUT Member Benefits and the AFL-CIO that can help you tackle whatever debt is derailing your financial plan.

Online Defensive Driving Course Through the NYSUT Member Benefits Corporation-endorsed Defensive Driving Program, NYSUT/UCATS members and their family members licensed in New York State can take this course online at the members-only price of $21.95 per person – a 27% savings over the regular course fee! If you are the principal op- erator of a vehicle, you will receive a minimum 10% reduction in the base rate of your auto liability and collision insurance premiums each year for three years. You may also receive a reduction of up to four points on your driving record. You can take the course as often as you wish, but only once every three years for insurance reduction benefits and once every 18 months for point reduction. This course is sponsored by the National Safety Council NOTE: Before you can participate online and receive the special discounted pricing, you must have the unique NYSUT Member Benefits Access Code. Call NYSUT Member Benefits at 800-626-8101 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST) to get the Access Code.

109th Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Commemoration SAVE THE DATE – Wednesday, March 25, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Washington Place and Greene St. in front of NYU’s Brown Building where the trag- edy occurred. Join UCATS and unions from the tri-state area to remember the 146 workers who lost their lives in the infamous fire that sparked the workplace Health and Safety movement. Administrative Professionals Week Administrative Professionals Week, celebrated this year from April 20- 24, is a time to say thanks for the work of dedicated school and college secretar- ies and clerical workers, along with a dazzling array of other office professionals. The gemstone set in the middle of the week is Administrative Professionals Day on Wednesday, April 22. The concept began in the early 1950s, the brainchild of Mary Barrett, president of the National Secretaries Association, now called IAAP (International Association of Administrative Professionals), along with the president of Dictaphone Corp., both of whom served on a council addressing a national short- age of skilled office workers.