Local 237 NEWSLINE HERHO OT O R D B O L F A T N E O A I M T A S T N E R R E S T N I April/May 2014 Vol. 48, No. 2 R or the secoMnd timae iyn twoo mrontdhs, e Blasio, Keep Your PrBoack fmor a seicosnd re ound of rallying after school safety agents rallied on the participating in the first one April 8, were Fsteps of City Hall, calling on the Public Advocate Letitia James; Sonia Osso - mayor to settle their lawsuit over equal pay, rio, president, National Organization for the nation’s largest equal-pay suit. Joining Women, NYC chapter, and the League of Local 237’s rally on May 9 were Lilly Women Voters. Ledbetter, whose historic Supreme Court Ossorio recalled Mayor de Blasio’s posi - case led to the Fair Pay Act of 2009, which tion on settling the equal-pay suit a year ago bears her name, and Council Speaker at the NOW NYC Forum: “He said if he were Melissa Mark-Viverito, who called on the elected he would do it immediately. He said city to “move ahead much more quickly” he would make it a priority. He said it was a toward a settlement. no-brainer.” “There is no better way to honor moth - “Why would anyone accept less money ers on Mother’s Day,” said President Grego - for the same work?” asked James, adding, President Gregory Floyd addresses the press in front of City Hall ry Floyd, “than to fight as we do for “It’s time to pay these women their fair with a small army of equal-pay supporters behind him; Below, from women’s right to equal pay.” left, are Local 237 Attorney James Linsey; Public Advocate Letitia share.” Of the 5,000-plus school safety agents in James; an Equal Pay Coalition NYC official; Floyd; Equal Pay School Safety Agent Kangela Moore the lawsuit, 70 percent are women and all of Trailblazer Lilly Ledbetter; School Safety Agent Kangela Moore; said, “We’re still in a dream deferred,” and them are peace officers. But not all city Recording Secretary Patricia Stryker; and Sonia Ossorio, presi - she urged the mayor to “Please settle this peace officers are equal. School safety agents dent, NOW NYC, holding the cake. lawsuit.” are the only peace officers earning $7,000 The mayor did not attend the rally, but less per year than their counterparts who waved as he left City Hall for another desti - work in other city agencies and who are 70 nation. He missed receiving a birthday cake, percent male. presented by Ossorio a day after his birth - “Most school safety agents are mothers,” day, with candles spelling out the $7,000 an - Floyd said, “and many are the sole bread - nual additional wages SSAs deserve. winners in their households, and are en - Local 237 is relentless in its fight for jus - trusted with our most precious possession, tice for SSAs. In April alone, President our children.” Floyd and Ossorio were guests of Errol Louis “I’ve lived what they are going through,” on NY1’s “Inside City Hall.” Floyd was also said Ledbetter. “It’s not only illegal it’s im - interviewed by Joe Piscopo on AM 970 moral. It’s not just women, it’s families that radio, and Local 237 ran a television and suffer. Retirement and Social Security are radio ad campaign. Expect Rally III on June shortchanged. You can’t catch up.” 9, if a settlement has not been reached. Reaching Out With Gregory Floyd ON AIR “Reaching Out With Gregory Floyd,” Local 237’s radio public af - See video excerpts of “Reaching Out With Greg Floyd” on Local 237’s fairs program, airs 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. website at www.local237.org/videos. The complete programs air on the on AM 970 “The Answer” on the first NYC cable TV systems and Cablevision Long Island systems listed below. and second Saturday of each month. April guests included City Coun - cilwoman Vanessa Gibson of the Local 237: Cable TV Schedule Bronx, chair of the Public Safety STATEN ISLAND COMMUNITY BRIC PUBLIC NETWORK (BCAT): Committee, and Hector Figueroa, Gregory Floyd with Councilwoman TELEVISION (CTV): Time Warner Ch. 79, Cablevision president, 32BJ Service Employees Vanessa Gibson. Time Warner Ch.34 and Verizon Ch. 68, Verizon Ch. 43 and RCN International. In May Floyd welcomed City Councilman Ritchie Torres of Ch. 34 Ch. 83 the Bronx, chair of the Public Housing Committee and deputy leader of the Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. Council, City Councilman Daniel Dromm of Queens, chair of the Education Wednesdays at 9 a.m. Committee, and several Local 237 members. QUEENS PUBLIC TELEVISION (QPTV): “Reaching Out” features Floyd speaking with guests, ranging from elect - BRONXNET: Time Warner Ch.79 & 1998, Verizon ed officials to Local 237 members, discussing their work and issues that im - Cablevision Ch. 67 and Verizon Ch. 35 and RCN Ch. 83 pact New York City and Long Island. The program premiered in 2010. Previ - Ch. 33 Wednesdays at 6 p.m. ous guests included Mayor de Blasio, Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Time Warner Ch. 79 & 1998, Veri - Public Advocate Letitia James, Comp - Thursdays at 8 p.m. and Fridays zon Ch. 35 and RCN Ch. 83 troller Scott Stringer, U.S. Senators at 7 p.m. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gilli - Fridays at 10:30 a.m. brand, and many other elected offi - MANHATTAN NEIGHBORHOOD LONG ISLAND CABLEVISION: cials and union leaders. NETWORK (MNN): Hauppauge System Ch. 20 Stay tuned for newly appointed Time Warner Ch. 34, RCN Ch. 82 Fridays at 7:30 p.m. NYCHA Chair Shola Olatoye, and and Verizon Ch. 33 Woodbury System Ch. 20 Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice. Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. Floyd with Councilman Ritchie Torres. 2 NEWSLINE, April/May 2014 Local 237 Member Services UNION HEADQUARTERS EXECUTIVE OFFICES, 5th Fl. 212-924-2000 212-924-2000 A Message From 216 West 14th Street Gregory Floyd, President The President New York, NY 10011-7296 Richard Hendershot, LOCAL 237 DIVISIONS Vice President CITYWIDE DIVISION , 2nd Fl. Ruben Torres, 212-924-2000 Secretary-Treasurer Donald Arnold, Director PERSONNEL , 5th Fl. Derek Jackson, Director, 212-924-2000 Law Enforcement Unit Edmund Kane, Director and Seeking Equal Pay for Women Randy Klein, Assistant Director Chief Negotiator HOUSING DIVISION , 2nd Fl. POLITICAL ACTION & In Our Home Town 212-924-2000 LEGISLATION , 5th Fl. Remilda Ferguson, Director 212-924-2000 Brooklyn, Queens & Staten Local 237 protects members’ he issue of unequal pay for men and should get equal pay for equal work, period. Island rights by helping to sponsor legis - women has reached critical mass in We will fight as long as it takes to uphold James Giocastro, lation that is important to mem - the United States as socioeconomic this principle. If it has to be through the Deputy Director bers, and by opposing initiatives T forces have propelled women into the courts, so be it, but we are willing to work that would hurt members. LONG ISLAND DIVISION workplace in unprecedented numbers. On with Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration to Patricia Stryker, Director 631-851-9800 Equal Pay Day, April 8, and again on May come to an agreement that honors equality 1727 Veterans Memorial GRIEVANCES/DISCIPLINARY 9, I led a rally at City Hall to focus on the and gives our members fair compensation PROBLEMS , 6th Fl. Highway issue as it affects a group of New York City Suite 308 212-924-2000 for their work. Islandia, NY 11749 For grievances and job related public employees who are predominantly When he was a candidate for mayor, de John Burns, Director problems, first contact your shop women. Also on April 8, President Obama Blasio said that he would absolutely give Benedict Carenza , steward and/or grievance repre - issued an executive order to address the equal pay for equal work, especially to those Deputy Director sentative. If they can’t resolve the issue among federal contractors, noting that who guard our children. He even called it, Long Island Welfare Fund: issue, contact your business agent. “When women succeed, America suc - “a no-brainer.” Now he has the power to act For information on the various Mal Patterson, Director of funds call 800-962-1145 ceeds.” on his words and take an historic stand for Grievances and Hearings The women and men who work as equality in the workplace. RETIREE DIVISION , 8th Fl. Al Soto, Director, school safety agents in our city, perform an 212-807-0555 Special Hearings In the past few weeks, Local 237 has Provides a variety of pre- and post- Todd Rubinstein, Esq. important service, protecting public school launched a high-profile publicity campaign retirement services, including pen - Grievance Coordinator children, staff and facilities. They are an es - asking the mayor to honor his campaign sion and health insurance counsel - Debbie Coleman, Esq. sential part of our education system and pledge. On the heels of proclaiming his ing to members. (Pension coun - Grievance Coordinator have been trained and certified as peace of - victories from the first 100 days in office, seling by appointment, Thursdays only). General retirement counsel - CIVIL SERVICE BAR ASSN ficers who often take dangerous risks to he has the ability to build on those accom - ing and retirement planning series 6th Fl., 212-675-0519 protect the lives of others. plishments and take bold action on an im - during spring and fall. Saul Fishman, President Despite the risks they take and the great portant issue.