Volume 40 • Number 9

October 2010

Union Members Turn Out for One Nation Rally

M ore than one hundred thousand
people converged in Washington,
D.C. on October 2 for a rally to
promote jobs, justice, and education.
SSEU Local 371 President Faye Moore,
officers, staff, and members helped fill the
thirty buses hired by DC 37 to participate in
one of the largest and most fervent political
demonstrations in recent memory. Leav-
ing from DC 37 headquarters at six in the
morning, the workers were eager to make
their voices heard. Carrying signs that read
“AFSCME—We Make America Happen
and We Vote,” and “Stand Against War
& Racism—Jobs Not War,” the attendees
were out in force to show their support for
the Obama administration and demand that
the increasingly deadlocked Congress work
through their differences to govern past the
Organized by One Nation Working To-
gether, the participants included such major
civil rights groups as the NAACP, the
National Council of La Raza, the National
Urban League, and the Human Rights
Campaign. Individual attendees came from
all over the country “heeding a call to put
America back to work and pull America
back together,” according to One Nation.
“I’ve never in my life seen so many
people,” said Union member Irish Sheema
Jenkins from Brooklyn. “It reminded me of
MLK’s march on Washington for peace.”
The protestors covered the Mall from
the Lincoln Memorial to the Washing-
ton Monument, straining at times to hear
speakers like the Reverends Jesse Jackson
and Al Sharpton, comedian Charlie Hill,
and MSNBC commentator Ed Schultz who

November mid-term elections. Brenda De-
fares, a CPS Supervisor II with ACS, said she
was there “trying to get the young workers
to come out and participate, because when
politicians see numbers they see votes.”
Clarence Elie-Rivera
energized the crowd by shouting, “Are you
America?” To which the crowd responded
with a resounding, “Yes!” Other speakers
included activist and singer Harry Belafonte, Union members join hundreds of grassroots organizations at
Continued on page 2 One Nation Rally in Washington D.C.

As Demand for Social Services Soars, Mayor Freezes Hiring and Cuts Budgets

A s thousands march to
demand jobs at the na-
tional level, City workers
are pressed between a rock and
a hard place. On September 21,
Mayor Bloomberg declared a
temporary hiring freeze on most
City jobs, and instructed City
agencies to slash their budgets by
5.4% this fiscal year and 8% the
following year. The cuts are in
anticipation of an estimated $3.3
billion budget deficit for the fiscal
Aleah Barley
Meanwhile, HRA Job Centers are burst-
ing at the seams as the number of jobless
applicants soars beyond the agency’s cur-
rent capacity to provide services. Workers
are caught in the middle as managers assign
cases three at a time, and frustrated ap-
plicants and their children wait all day on
lines that stretch out the door and down
the block.
“We are in a crisis,” said Union President
Faye Moore. “Our members are struggling
to provide services in a humane manner to
families in need of assistance, many of whom

year beginning July 1, 2011 and are first-time applicants. The clients are
an estimated $4.1 billion budget frustrated, the workers are frustrated, and
President Faye Moore looks on as VP Anthony Wells presents photos of job
center lines at HRA Labor Management meeting on September 27. gap for the following year. Continued on page 8

Latino Heritage Celebration Vote for Union Endorsed Candidates African American Day Parade
Pages 4-5 Page 7 Page 6
CALENDAR
October
12 Committee of Concerned Social Workers:
6:30 p.m. Union Office, 12th Floor
13 Women’s Committee Meeting: Domestic
Violence Seminar: 6:30 p.m. Union Office,
12th Floor
14 Social Service Employees Chapter:
6:30 p.m. Union Office, 12th Floor
19 Alumni Association Meeting: 2 p.m.
Union Office, 12th Floor
20 Delegate Assembly: 6:30 p.m. Advance
Realty, 235 West 23rd Street in Manhattan
26 Health and Hospitals Corporation
Chapter: 6:30 p.m. Union Office, 15th Floor
27 Political Action Committee Meeting:
6:30 p.m. Union Office, 12th Floor
Civilians in Law Enforcement Chapter:
6:30 p.m. Union Office, 15th Floor
November
2 Election Day: an official City holiday
Don’t forget to vote!
3 Executive Committee Meeting:
6:30 p.m. Union Office, 12th Floor
7 Daylight Savings Time ends
9 Committee of Concerned Social Workers:
6:30 p.m. Union Office, 12th Floor
11 Veterans’ Day: an official City holiday
16 Alumni Association Meeting: 2 p.m.
Union Office, 12th Floor
Women’s Committee Meeting: 6:30 p.m.
Union Office, 12th Floor
17 Delegate Assembly: 6:30 p.m. Advance
Realty, 235 West 23rd Street in Manhattan
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
Faye Moore
Executive Vice President
Yolanda Pumarejo
Secretary-Treasurer
Joe Nazario
V.P. Negotiations & Research
Anthony Wells
V.P. Organization & Education
Beverly Mallory Brown
V.P. Grievances & Legal Services
Lloyd Permaul
V.P. Legislation & Political Action
Michelle Akyempong
V.P. Publicity & Community Relations
Michelle Conklin
Trustees
Michael Ballesteros
Yolanda DeJesus
Melva Scarborough
Acting Editor
Michelle Conklin
Editorial Associate
Jessica Ramos
Visit us on the web at www.sseu371.org
2 The Unionist | October 2010
Six Win Committee of Concerned Social Workers Scholarships
Dave Sanders
Every year, SSEU Local 371’s Committee of Concerned Social Workers awards scholarships to Union members who are working on
their Master’s degree in Social Work. Each scholarship winner is awarded $2,500 toward his or her studies. The 2010 scholarship
winners and CCSW chairs pictured are: (L-R) CPS Wilhemina Poindexter, CPS Sharema Jackson-Ferguson, CWS Supervisor II and
CCSW Committee Co-Chair Bernice Adeyemi-Brown, Executive VP and CCSW Committee Chair Yolanda Pumarejo, CPS Natasha
Foncetta, Addiction Counselor Antoinette Burton-Sabinsky, CWS Supervisor II and CCSW Committee Co-Chair Lucy Lane, CPS Ani
Emenogu, and CPS Francia Williams. Congratulations to all the winners!
Union Urges Social Dear Professional Social Work
I most want to convey to you
ers,
Workers to Join NASW
how much the National
Association of Social Workers,
your professional orga-
nization, values and respects
the work you do. Social
workers in the public sector dire
Dear colleagues: ctly address the basic
needs of hundreds of thousand
s of New Yorkers. That is
As Chair of the Committee of Concerned the essence of social work.
Social Workers, I would like to stress the im- We also understand that you work
in a challenging
environment where you may
portance of being part of NASW, the National not be valued or rewarded
for your professional skills.
Association of Social Workers, a professional
The National Association of Soci
organization always at the forefront of is- al Workers needs the
benefit of your considerable expe
rience, and that is
sues pertaining to our profession. Here is a why I urge you to consider joini
ng NASW. Membership
letter from Harriet Putterman from the NYC allows you to attend discounte
d professional develop-
Chapter of the NASW, inviting you to join with ment workshops and special even
ts, network with other
fellow social workers around the country and professional workers, and read
publications that value
strengthen our profession. and build on your professional
skills. To join, just go to
www.naswnyc.org and click on
the “Join Online” button.
Joining is made easy with our union educa- We want to hear from you abou
t what’s happening
tion benefit that will reimburse $100 of your on the job and discuss how we
might work together to
membership dues annually, and makes a great advance your professional expe
rience. Please call or
difference in the lives we strive to improve email Harriet Putterman, 212-
668-0050; putterman@
naswnyc.org.
every day.
Sincerely,
Yolanda Pumarejo
Harriet Putterman
Chair
Membership and Social Action
Committee of Concerned Social Workers Associate
NASW - NYC
One Nation Rally
Continued from page 1
NAACP President Benjamin Jealous, and AFL- care, public education, and immigration reform
CIO President Richard Trumka, who all talked were also enthusiastically represented.
about the importance of government action “Although the rally was a rousing success, it is
in new job creation, an issue that has become important to make sure that elected officials hear
increasingly important as the Great Recession Union members’ voices not just at the demon-
drags on, with unemployment recently climb- stration but also at the voting machines by turn-
ing as high as 9.6 percent. Janice Pemberton, an ing out for the mid-term election on November
ACS Child Protective Specialist, said, “It’s our 2,” said Michelle Akyempong, Vice President of
lives now, our jobs.” Political Action. Pemberton added, “Everyone
While job creation was the major focus of the was so energized for the 2008 vote, and people
October 2 rally, other issues like ending the wars need to remember that it’s not a one shot deal.”
in Iraq and Afghanistan, LGBT rights, health – Aleah Barley
Rats!
W hen they moved into the Melrose
Job Center on June 21 of this year,
Community Alternative Systems
Agency (CASA) workers had no idea they
would be subject to a relentless invasion by
the City’s rat population.
The offices in the subbasement of 260
East 161 Street in the Bronx had recently
undergone extensive renovations, making
them a pleasant change from the CASA
employees’ previous offices at 1775 Grand
Concourse. Everything appeared shiny
and new. “We were happy [with the new
space],” said Wardella Mazyck, a Delegate
and Supervisor I who has worked for the
City for 21 years. “Then the incidents
started happening and it was like a night-
mare,” she said.
The Union raised concerns about the
location before workers were moved in
because the space had a known history of
rodent infestation. HRA responded with
assurances that the renovations had put
an end to the rodent problem. After the
workers moved in, the Union began re-
ceiving calls about rats almost immediately.
“Rats are very dangerous,” says Priscilla
Abernathy, a Health and Safety Represen-
tative with Local 371. “If bitten you will
October 2010 | The Unionist 3
need a series of rabies shots.”
At first, the incidents were
small things. Food left in desk
drawers disappeared over-
night and droppings were
left on various surfaces.
Mazyck came into work one
day and all of her Girl Scout
cookies were gone. “There
wasn’t a crumb left in the box,”
she said. Even after workers stopped
leaving food at the office and eating at their
desks the rats continued to show up. Some
rodents were trapped in trash cans and
disposed of by janitorial staff. On July 19,
Union officials went out to talk with work-
ers at the job site. A subsequent inspection
by the New York State Department of
Labor Public Employee Safety and Health
Bureau (PESH) confirmed the presence of
Norwegian rats.
Caseworker Sherryl Richardson said,
“I already had a phobia and people were
finding rat droppings the size of peanut
shells.” On July 27, a big rat “eighteen to
twenty inches” ran across Richardson’s
feet, triggering a panic attack that sent
her to the hospital. “I thought I was hav-
ing a heart attack,” Richardson said. “I
New Website
Feature: Easy
Access to Dental
and Optical
Providers
The Welfare Fund is pleased
to announce a searchable
directory by zip code of
optical providers and dentists
who provide services covered
under the Welfare Fund’s
Dental Plan and Optical
benefit at no out-of-pocket
expense. To use this feature,
go to the Benefits section
of the Union’s website at
www.sseu371.org/benefits
and choose the “Find your
DENTIST and OPTICAL
STORES” button.
was overwhelmed.” The City dispatched
General Services to plug up the holes in
the building the next day. According to
Mazyck, it was like the workers were under
attack. “You were afraid to open
your desk, you were afraid to
go to the restroom, you were
afraid to come to work.” On
August 2, a rat jumped out of
a worker’s desk causing panic
in the office. When a client
saw the animal she scrambled
onto the nearest table, injuring
her knees in the process.
Mazyck said she was thankful
that the Union came in right away and
told HRA to “Get them out of there.”
On August 9 the employees were moved
to swing space, and on September 20
they were relocated to Hamilton Center.
The lasting effects are still felt. “I have
problems with sleeping,” said Richardson.
“I have anxiety and chest pains.”
If workers find evidence of rats in the
workplace they should notify their office
manager or site director immediately. The
Union’s Health and Safety section should
also be alerted by calling (212) 677-3900
ext. 3048 or 3068. Workers can call 311
to make a report directly to the Depart-
ment of Health to request an inspection,
and the phone number for PESH is (212)
775-3548.
– Aleah Barley
Editor’s Note: Aleah Barley is a Union Semes-
ter intern at Local 371.
Hold the Date
“A Civil Service Roundtable” presented by
DC 37’s Civil Service Committee will be held
on Wednesday, October 27. The topic is: “A
discussion of issues and answers on the state
of the Civil Service System and the current
attacks on it.” Speakers include DC 37 Execu-
tive Director Lillian Roberts, NYC Council
Member and Chair of the NYC Civil Service and
Labor Committee James Sanders, Jr., State
Senator and Chair of the NYS Civil Service and
Pensions Committee Diane Savino, and Al
Viani, Arbitrator and former Local 371
President and Chief Negotiator for DC 37. Lisa
Colangelo, columnist from the New York Daily
News, will moderate. The event begins at 6
p.m. at DC 37 Headquarters, 125 Barclay Street
in Manhattan. Refreshments will be served.
 United in struggle:
Immigrants and labor
T
he 19th Annual Latino
Heritage Celebration
brought together a re-
cord number of Union
members and friends at DC 37
headquarters. Executive Vice
President Yolanda Pumarejo
and Secretary-Treasurer Joseph
Nazario, chairs of the Latino
Heritage Committee, hosted
an evening of foods and beats
reflecting the wide spectrum
of Latino cultures under the
theme, “United in struggle:
immigrants and labor will make
the dream come true.”
Keynote Speaker Ramon Jiménez
Photos 4 & 5: Pat Arnow
4 The Unionist | October 2010
Executive VP Yolanda
Pumarejo led a moment of
silence in honor of former
SSEU Local 371 President
Charles Ensley, who was pres-
ent at last year’s celebration.
Pumarejo invoked Ensley’s
mantra: “We have found the
common ground and that com-
mon ground is the Union” in
explaining why it is so im-
portant that SSEU Local 371
celebrate different heritages.
President Faye Moore ad-
dressed the audience in Español
and welcomed fellow local
presidents from DC 37, for-
mer Executive Vice President
Julia Jorge, as well as elected
officials including New York
City Council Member Charles
Barron, Civil Court Judge
Sylvia Ashe, and former Vice
President of Political Action
and Legislation and current
State Senator Diane Savino.
Representatives of other elected
officials were also present in the
audience.
Keynote speaker Ramon
Jimenez took up pressing is-
sues in his remarks, drawing
examples from his personal life
1 2
Latino Heritag
to illustrate how we must have
compassion for those struggling
with obstacles we may have
already overcome. “The worst
thing discriminated people can
do is discriminate,” Jimenez
said to a round of applause. He
is currently running for New
York State Attorney General on
the Freedom Party line, along
with Council Member Barron
for New York State Governor.
Union members and their
friends warmed up with Yerba
Buena’s Puerto Rican bomba
and plena. Their lyrics talked
about community and equality,
one singing, “Ante Dios somos
iguales,” meaning we are all the
same before God.
Renowned singer George
Lamond was the surprise guest,
singing some of his greatest
hits in freestyle and salsa. The
audience danced the rest of the
night to salsa and boogaloo per-
formed by Zon del Barrio.
“It was a wonderful event
thanks to our members and
the committee,” said Nazario.
“This was one of the most suc-
cessful and memorable Latino
Heritage events. I am very
proud of the committee and I
am so thankful for all the work
they did,” Pumarejo added.
–Jessica Ramos
ge Celebrated

1. Latino Heritage Committee Co-Chairs Yolanda Pumarejo and Joe Nazario welcome Union
members and friends to the celebration.
2. Union President Faye Moore speaks as VP of Grievances Llyod Permaul, VP of Organization
4 Beverly Mallory-Brown, Secretary-Treasurer Joe Nazario, Executive VP Yolanda Pumarejo,
VP of Political Action Michelle Akyempong, VP of Research and Negotiations Anthony Wells,
Former Executive VP Julia Jorge, and VP of Publicity Michelle Conklin look on.
3. Union members and friends in the audience show their appreciation for the program.
5 4-6. Musicians of Zon del Barrio jam and entertain the audience.

7. In the cultural
presentation,
Yerba Buena
performed a wide
range of Latino
sounds.
8. George Lamond 8
makes his special guest
appearance and sings his
freestyle and salsa hits.
9. SSEU Local 371 Latino Heritage
Committee, comprised of Union
members, officers and staff, takes a
well deserved bow for a highly sucessful
event.
9
Photos by Pat Arnow
October 2010 | The Unionist 5
 African American Day Parade

Dave Sanders
Union members Bella Urman, HRA Caseworker and Rosellie
Davis, Supervising HCI are the proud parents of scholarship
winners Michelle Urman (center) and William Davis (not pictured).
The awards were given by the DC 37 Education Committee at
the Annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon on September 12.

Pat Arnow
Union members marched in the annual African
Diana Diaz

American Day Parade on September 19 in

Harlem. The parade included dignitaries such as
Union member and activist Aurea Mangual (seated center) Governor David Paterson, Congressman Charles
celebrates with friends at the College Award Gala of the New York Rangel, and the Reverend Al Sharpton. It was
League of Puerto Rican Women Inc., where she was honored organized to showcase positive African-American
on August 18. Seated on left is Union member Mary Rosario. achievements as part of a larger movement
against racism and racial profiling. SSEU Local
371 President Faye Moore is pictured, right, with
October is Breast Cancer VP of Organization Beverly Mallory-Brown and
members of the NYC Labor Chorus.
Awareness Month . . .
…a time when many people think about can-
cer and the effect it has on friends and loved
ones. Union member Erica Pagan, a CPS at
Judge Considers Union Motion on ACS Court Case
1200 Waters Place in the Bronx, encour- Judge Marcy Friedman heard oral Union after ACS refused to answer eight
ages members to support efforts like Where arguments on September 23 on the questions about their hiring practices at
There’s a Need, an organization that pro- Union’s motion for discovery in the the time of the layoffs, and responded
vides hairpieces for children and adults with case against ACS. The case was filed by instead with a motion asserting they
cancer and other medical conditions. “It’s the Union to challenge that agency’s should not be required to provide the
very expensive to purchase wigs, especially in practice of laying-off permanent social information, even though they maintain
low income communities,” said Pagan. “And, service workers while at the same they did nothing wrong.
it’s especially hard for children to adapt to hair time hiring workers provisionally in Judge Friedman is expected to rule on
loss from cancer, so the wigs help them adapt newly created Improved Outcomes for whether and how much discovery will be
and feel more comfortable going to school.” Children (IOC) titles. required in this case. The next hearing
For more information, check out their website The formal motion was filed by the date will be set after the ruling is issued.
at www.wheretheresaneed.org.

25 YEARS AGO October 1985
“CITY COUNCIL PASSES UNION BILL THAT
MONITORS CONTRACTING OUT
District Council 37 scored a major victory when
the City Council passed the Union sponsored
Consultant Control Bill... The bill, sponsored by
Councilman Robert Dryfoos, mandates that every
agency that contracts out must write guidelines
and establish procedures for those contracts.
These guidelines must include such items as cost
effectiveness and an explanation of why the job
cannot be done by city workers.”
15 YEARS AGO October 1995
“RATS AT WORK: MEMBERS FACE RODENT
INFESTATIONS ON THE JOB
‘The rodent problem in New York City has become
progressively worse in the last few years,’ stated
Local 371 Health and Safety Coordinator Arnie
Goldwag... ‘The Union is waiting to see the results
of grievances and arbitrations on rats in various
locations. And in the worst cases, such as a serious
rat infestation at Ryder Welfare Center in the Bronx,
we’ve gone to the media with the story and gotten a
quick cleanup of a potentially hazardous situation.’”
10 YEARS AGO October 2000
“HRA ANNOUNCES PLANS TO CREATE A NEW TITLE
SERIES
At an October 10 meeting at the Office of Labor
Relations, Human Resources Administration First
Deputy Administrator Marl Hoover announced
plans to create a new title series, Job Opportunity
Specialist, that would provide a single case manager
for most of the cases in the agency... Union
President Charles Ensley said, ‘We have always been
proponents of a single case management system.’”

6 The Unionist | October 2010

 Periodicals Postage

Condolences Paid at New York, NY

Condolences are extended to Nora Bruce, Union Social Service Employees Union
Welfare Benefits Fund staffer, on the death of her brother, Local 371
Norris Bruce on September 8. Condolences may be sent
817 Broadway
to Nora Bruce c/o SSEU Local 371 Welfare Benefits
New York, N.Y. 10003
Fund, 817 Broadway, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10003.

Condolences are extended to Jamel Lenard, Communi-

ty Associate at Manhattan APS, on the death of his father,
William Fields on September 19. Condolences may be
sent to Jamel Lenard c/o Adult Protective Services, 400
Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10001.

Condolences are extended to Ivory Scott, former

Supervisor II at HRA CASA III, on the death of her father,
John Green, on September 11. Condolences may be sent
to Ivory Scott c/o HRA CASA III, 250 Church Street, 8th
Floor, New York, NY 10013.
Condolences are extended to Michael Carthen, Supervi-
sor I at Manhattan HASA and Latoya Carthen, CPS at
ACS Brooklyn Field Offiice, on the death of his father and
her grandfather, Roscoe Carthen on August 20.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Margaret Smith, Caseworker at
Adult Protective Services, 250 Livingston Street, Brook-
lyn, on her retirement October 1 after 20 years of service.
Members’
BULLETIN BOARD
WANTED- Top cash paid for your old jazz, soul, R&B
and gospel albums. Call Howard at (212) 873-4016.
FOR SALE- Large ceiling fixture, dolly, luggage, dishes,
pots, glassware, gift items, never worn size small
ladies’ clothing including dark brown Borghese faux
fur jacket, never worn boots and shoes size 8, large
American flags, books, new cordless telephone with
Demands Soar, Mayor Freezes Hiring
Continued from page 1 of certain practices that are not dealt with in
cutting HRA’s budget is not the answer.” a uniform manner across the agency.
Moore spoke at a Citywide Labor Man- Overtime issues, inadequate cleaning ser-
agement Meeting between SSEU Local vices, and HRA computer system problems
371 and HRA held on September 27. Vice were also discussed.
President of Research and Negotiations
Anthony Wells, who requested the meet-
ing, highlighted major issues when he
said, “The Job Centers are overcrowded,
understaffed, and lacking security.” The
Union’s Research and Negotiations sec-
tion presented concrete suggestions to help
alleviate the crisis. “Ultimately, it will take
more staff to handle the increase in people
seeking services,” stated VP Wells.
Suggestions included easements regard-
ing elevator delays at the Melrose Center in
the Bronx, where too many programs are

Pat Arnow
clock radio, electrician’s meters and tools, lots more. crowded into one building, and clarification
Call 718-430-1769 and leave a message.
SWAP- Supervisor I at 180 Water Street would like to
swap with Supervisor I at another lower Manhattan
location, or Brooklyn. If interested, please call (718)
756-5788. (7)
SWAP- CWS at IOC System Support Program, 150
William Street, would like to swap with CWS in Manhat-
tan, Bronx or Queens. If interested, please call (212)
676-7448. (9)
SWAP- CPS at ACS/FSU 2501 Grand Concourse in
the Bronx would like to swap with CPS at 1200 Waters
Place in the Bronx. If interested, please call (718)
679-7561. (9)
SWAP- CWS Supervisor II at ACS Office of Placement
Services, 492 1st Avenue, Manhattan, would like to
swap with CWS Supervisor II in a different Manhattan
location or Brooklyn. If interested, please call (917)
213-6183.
CLASSIFIED ADS are free to Union members and
agency shop fee payers in writing only (typewritten if
possible) to THE UNIONIST, 817 Broadway, New York,
N.Y. 10003. Include your work phone with ad copy, but
Pat Arnow

work phone numbers will only be printed with swap

transfer ads. In no instance will ads run longer than
three months. No real estate or business ads accepted.
The Union neither endorses nor is responsible for these Applicants line up around the block on a rainy Monday morning at HRA’s Northern Boulevard Job Center in Queens.
offerings.

8 The Unionist | October 2010