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 September 2009 Vol. 43, No.7 R RESPECT – We got it! 4% + 4% Housing Contract, No Givebacks! Long, hot, summer discussions sessions, refusing to accept any con - wage increase of 8.16 percent. Over fare funds for each active and re - came to an abrupt end last month cessions. “Our rallies, political ac - the 24-month term of the contract, tired Local 237 member; and an ad - when the Local 237 Negotiating tion and the work that members per - this will amount to about $4,821 in ditional compensation fund of 0.10 Committee was called to union head - form every day have helped to keep cash, not including premium pay. percent of payroll will serve to pur - quarters to hear the details of a con - our city’s public housing afloat in A $200 lump-sum payment will chase recurring benefits, effective tract breakthrough with the New these difficult times — and that is re - be made in the first year to the wel - January 14, 2010. York City Housing Authority. The flected in this contract offer.” offer of two 4 percent raises with The Housing Division contract retroactive pay and no givebacks was follows the lead set by Local 237’s Hearing Aimed to Help NYCHA much better than expected, based on Citywide Division for all New York NYCHA’s dire financial condition. City’s municipal workers. It covers President Most importantly, the deal was fair 24 months, from December 15, 2008, Gregory Floyd and contained no givebacks. through December 14, 2010, and flanked, from At a meeting held Aug. 7, Local provides two annual raises of 4 per - left, by 237’s negotiating committee unani - cent, which took effect as of January Congresswomen mously endorsed the tentative con - 11, 2009, and the second raise will Maxine Waters, tract, which at press time was expect - come on January 11, 2010. The wage Nydia Velázquez ed to be overwhelmingly ratified with increases are substantially more and Carolyn a ballot count scheduled for Aug. 25. than the expected rate of inflation. Maloney at a “Our union has fought hard for For the average Local 237 Hous - Congressional this, and not just at the bargaining ing Division member earning hearing in New table,” said President Gregory Floyd, $42,000 a year, this agreement will York City Hall. who led Local 237 negotiators to provide an additional base pay of See Story on Page 3 stand firm through tough bargaining $3,427 annually, a compounded Local 237 Endorsements for Sept. 15 Primary Election The primary candidates listed below were endorsed by Local 237ʼs Executive Board following a rigorous process of inter - views with many of them and a review of their responses to questionnaires designed to determine their record of support for public employees and position on issues of importance to us. Mayor: No Endosement 20 John Choe* 37 Erik Martin Dilan Comptroller: No Endorsement 21 Julissa Ferreras 38 Sara M. Gonzalez Manhattan DA: Cy Vance (D) 22 Peter F. Vallone Jr. 39 Josh Skaller* 40 Mathieu Eugene Public Advocate: No Endorsement 23 Mark Weprin 24 James Gennaro 41 No Endorsement New York City Council 9 Inez E. Dickens 25 Helen Sears 42 Charles Barron (All are Democrats unless 10 Ydanis Rodriguez 26 Deirdre Feerick* 43 Vincent J. Gentile otherwise noted.) Bronx 27 Leroy Comrie 44 Simcha Felder Manhattan 11 Oliver Koppell 28 Thomas White Jr. 45 Kendall Stewart 12 Larry B. Seabrook 29 No Endorsement 46 Lewis A. Fidler District 13 James Vacca 30 Elizabeth Crowley 47 Domenic M. Recchia Jr. 1 Alan Gerson 14 Maria Baez 31 James Sanders Jr. 48 Michael C. Nelson 2 Rosie Mendez 32 Frank Gulluscio* 15 Joel Rivera Staten Island 3 Christine Quinn 16 Helen Foster Brooklyn 49 Kenneth Mitchell 4 Daniel Garodnick 17 Maria del Carmen Arroyo 33 Steve Levin* 50 James S. Oddo** 5 Jessica Lappin 18 Annabel Palma 6 Gale A. Brewer 34 Diana Reyna 51 Vincent Ignizio** Queens 35 Letitia James 7 Robert Jackson * New candidate 8 Melissa Mark-Viverito 19 No Endorsement 36 Albert Vann ** Republican 2 NEWSLINE, September 2009 Local 237 Member Services UNION HEADQUARTERS EXECUTIVE OFFICES, 5th Fl. 216 West 14th Street Gregory Floyd, President A Message From New York, NY 10011-7296 Richard Hendershot, the President 212-924-2000 Vice President LOCAL 237 DIVISIONS Ruben Torres, Secretary-Treasurer CITYWIDE DIVISION , 2nd Fl. Donald Arnold, Director PERSONNEL , 5th Fl. Peter Gutierrez, Deputy Director Edmund Kane, Director and Al Soto, Deputy Director Chief Negotiator Gaining Victories in Solidarity Randy Klein, Assistant Director COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND HOUSING DIVISION , 2nd Fl. SPECIAL PROJECTS, 5th Fl . One Battle at a Time Felipe Luciano, Director, Remilda Ferguson, Director Assistant to the President ften I write to you about how Local and success. For every one complaint, there Brooklyn, Queens & Staten are a hundred acts of kindness or bravery that Island POLITICAL ACTION & 237 fights for every one of our mem - James Giocastro, LEGISLATION , 5th Fl. Obers. This month I can tell you that, go unsung. We should be doing more to talk Deputy Director Local 237 protects members’ thanks to your support, our union has scored about these acts, not about the complaints. rights by helping to sponsor leg - a big victory. I have no problem with parents’ meetings, LONG ISLAND DIVISION islation that is important to mem - After months of standing firm, we have but actually making it a legal requirement to 1727 Veterans Memorial bers, and by opposing initiatives discuss school safety agents at these meetings Highway reached a contract agreement with the city for that would hurt members. Suite 308 our 9,000 NYCHA employees. I’m proud that is unacceptable. We have asked both Speaker Islandia, NY 11749 Patricia Stryker, Director we held our ground and received a fair deal, Sheldon Silver and Governor David Paterson 631-851-9800 GRIEVANCES/DISCIPLINARY 8.16 percent over two years. We refused to to remove or change this amendment, and we John Burns, Director PROBLEMS , 6th Fl. take less than we deserve. We refused to settle will continue to work to protect the reputa - Benedict Carenza , For grievances and job related for less than other unions. We refused to buck - tion of our members. Deputy Director problems, first contact your shop le under to pressure to place the financial bur - John Sepulveda, steward and/or grievance repre - den of the city on the backs of our members. Power of the Vote Assistant Director sentative. If they cannot resolve Our resilience forced the city to recognize our To continue winning these battles, we Long Island Welfare Fund: the issue, they or you should hard work and honor it with good pay. must keep on being vocal. That means speak - For information on the various contact your business agent. I want to thank all our members for stand - ing our mind and making sure our members funds call 800-962-1145 Mal Patterson, Director of ing with us and continuing to do excellent go to the polls. You often hear me talk about Grievances and Hearings RETIREE DIVISION , 8th Fl. work in the face of uncertainty. It is not easy the power we have in numbers and the im - Todd Rubinstein, Esq. Provides a variety of pre- and to have your livelihood in doubt, but you portance of voting, and this year is particular - Grievance Coordinator post-retirement services, includ - stayed strong and united. This contract would ly important. With the citywide and City ing pension and health insur - Debbie Coleman, Esq. not have been possible without your support. Council races occurring this fall, we need to ance counseling to members. Grievance Coordinator I also want to thank Mayor Michael play a role in selecting the leaders that will (Pension counseling by appoint - CIVIL SERVICE BAR Bloomberg and new NYCHA Chairman John run New York over the next four years. ment, Thursdays only). General ASSOCIATION , 6th Fl. Rhea, who negotiated with us in good faith As you know, in New York the real elec - retirement counseling and 212-675-0519 and eventually offered a fair contract. Even tion is often the Democratic Primary, which retirement planning series dur - when both sides talked tough at the bargaining will occur on September 15, around the time ing spring and fall. Gloria Johnson, Esq., President you receive this message. I hope by now most 212-807-0555 Aldona Vaiciunas, table, no one ever stepped away from it for Nancy B. True, Director Office Administrator and long. I hope this is the first of many strong of you are registered to vote and ready to Grievance Coordinator contracts we will sign with Rhea in the future. stand up for Local 237 Teamsters and support LOCAL 237 DEPARTMENTS John Picucci, Esq., Considering our Housing Division con - the candidates we have endorsed on the front (Citywide and Housing) Grievance Representative tract and our Citywide Division contract last page of this edition. Participating in our CSBA Welfare Fund October, we have had a very good year. For democracy is not only your right, it should be SKILLED TRADES , 2nd Fl. Alicare 212-539-5117 a responsibility we all take seriously. For Donald Arnold, Director two years, our members will receive raises COMMUNICATIONS, 8th Fl. well above the rate of inflation, meaning they when we stand up together, there will be HEALTH AND SAFETY , 2nd Fl. will have more money than in the past. That many more victories in our future.