Volume 39 • Number 6
June 2009
MLC Deal on Health Benefits
Delays Permanent Worker Layoffs
Union members gather on the steps of City Hall May 26 for a press conference called by Local 371 to protest layoffs and program cuts. Hundreds
of Union members turned out at City Hall that day for a City Council hearing on the Fiscal 2010 Budget.
City Council and Mayor Reach Budget Agreement;
Workers’ Future Still Unknown
A
s The Unionist went to press, the
City Council and Mayor Michael
Bloomberg had reached an agree-
ment on the budget; however, details of the
agreement were unclear. Three million dol-
lars was restored to the Administration for
Children’s Services budget, and the Union
is attempting to ascertain exact language
to determine the impact on workers. The
City Council was scheduled to vote on the
budget June 18 or 19.
Because of a deal the Municipal Labor
Committee and the City negotiated on
health benefits June 2, layoffs of all perma-
nent competitive and non competitive em-
ployees are being put off for three months
beyond June 26, the day they were sched-
uled to go into effect. The City pledged to
send letters to individual workers who are
not being laid off at this time. Special trans-
fer lists have been put on hold. The MLC
stabilization fund is footing the $20 million
price tag for the delay.
The City is still planning to lay off up to
1,000 provisional workers now and to cut
programs in a number of City agencies.
About 50 of the provisional workers slated
for layoffs are members of Local 371.
Pat Arnow
The Union has waged an aggressive ad
campaign, held press briefings (see related
stories on pages 4, 5 and 7), and has been
lobbying City Council members to pass a
budget that will reduce the layoffs and cuts
now and three months down the road.
In the deal on health care, the City will
receive significant budget relief from the
unions. HIP co-pays would go into effect Au-
gust 1 as follows: $50 for hospital emergency
room visits (waived if the person is admitted);
l $100 for hospital admission; $50 ambula-
tory surgery facilities;
Continued on page 4
 Union Wins Website Award at Metro Labor Media Convention
CALENDAR Local 371 Publicity staff: Editorial Associate
Jessica Ramos, Communications Director Linda
June Schleicher, Technology Intern Javlon Turdiev,
23 police attendants meeting: and Vice President of Publicity Michelle Conklin
6:30 p.m. Union Office 12th Floor hold first place plaque awarded to the Union for
24 Political Action Committee web design by the Metro Labor Communications
Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Union Office Council. The award was presented at Metro’s
12th Floor
annual convention on June 5. In addition to the
30 HPD Chapter Meeting: 6:30 p.m.
Union Office 12th Floor
awards, attendees heard a panel discussion
on “Opportunities for Labor in a Time of
Crisis” and a workshop presentation by Ramos
JuLY
1 Executive Committee Meeting:
and others on “Uploading and Downloading of getting out a message. Local 371 editor
6:30 p.m. Union Office 12th Floor Labor’s Message,” which discussed the use Marty Fishgold is a former head of Metro.
3 independence day observed of Facebook, Twitter and other newer means Schleicher currently sits on the Metro board.
(An official City holiday)
15 Delegate Assembly: 6:30 p.m. Privatized Addiction Counselors Vote Down Union Representation
235 West 23rd Street in Manhattan Seventy three credentialed alcoholism and substance by side with Local 371 members in HRA agen-
21 Alumni Association Meeting: abuse counselors (CASACs) working for NADAP cies in every borough except Staten Island. 
2 p.m. Union Office 12th Floor (National Association on Drug Abuse Programs), a Despite their hard work and professionalism,
22 Political Action Committee private agency, voted May 21 on whether they want these workers have been forced to endure the
Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Union Office to be represented by Local 371, and the Union lost the substandard wages and benefits and lack of due
12th Floor vote 44 to 28 with one void ballot. process that come with non-union employment.
28 Latino Heritage Committee Local 371 and DC 37 submitted a petition to
Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Union Office the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in April
12th Floor
Caribbean Heritage Celebration
seeking to represent these private agency workers.
The Union’s Annual Caribbean Heritage
The City’s Human Resources Administration (HRA)
Celebration was held on Friday, June 19,
contracted with NADAP to provide services of CASAC
too late to get into this issue of The Unionist.
workers, who would fall under Local 371’s Counselor Extensive coverage of this event, including
(Addiction Treatment) or Addiction Counselor titles if a story and photographs, will appear in the
they worked for a City agency. July/August combined issue of The Unionist.
Published monthly except for a combined issue in July/
August and a Supplement in January by the Social For several years, these CASACs have worked side
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 20 Years Ago 10 Years Ago
ISSN# 0041-7092 June 1989 June 1999
President “Union Urges Members to Take Part in June “50,000 NYC Union Members Demonstrate
Faye Moore
Executive Vice President Freedom Caravan Event at City Hall
Yolanda Pumarejo Twenty five years ago this month, James Chaney, Teachers, caseworkers, firemen, carpenters and
Secretary-Treasurer Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner were murdered city workers of all stripes joined together May 12 as
Joe Nazario
V.P. Negotiations & Research by the Ku Klux Klan in Philadelphia, Mississippi while 50,000 union members packed Broadway from City
Anthony Wells working on a voter registration drive. To commemorate Hall Park all the way to Canal Street. They carried
V.P. Organization & Education
Beverly Mallory Brown their deaths and to renew a commitment to the civil rights signs and chanted slogans that protested everything
V.P. Grievances & Legal Services struggle and to voter registration, a Freedom Caravan of from Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s budget to Governor
Lloyd Permaul buses will travel to Mississippi and back to New York City George Pataki’s policies.”
V.P. Legislation & Political Action
Michelle Akyempong during the week of June 19-24....the Union is sponsoring
V.P. Publicity & Community Relations four individuals who wish to join the Caravan and report 5 Years Ago
Michelle Conklin
on it for The Unionist.” June 2004
Trustees
Michael Ballesteros “Union Wins Arbitrations for Two
Yolanda DeJesus
Melva Scarborough
15 Years Ago Long-Time Delegates
Editor June 1994 The Union won significant arbitration victories
Martin Fishgold “City Council Overrides Mayoral Veto of in the past month on behalf of two long-time
Director of Communications
Linda Schleicher Contracting Out Bill delegates, Kathleen Sabater and Sybil Alexander,
Editorial Associate The City Council on June 14 overrode a mayoral veto who were employed by the Human Resources
Jessica Ramos of a bill that authorizes the Council to hold hearings on Administration. Both delegates were brought up
proposed contracts that might displace City workers. on disciplinary charges during a period when it
Visit us on the web at www.sseu371.org It was the first override of the Giuliani administration appeared that Local 371 activists were being
and only the third in the last 25 years.” targeted by management.”

2 The Unionist | June 2009

Jewish Heritage
Celebrated at
District Council 37
D
istrict Council 37’s 15th Annual
Jewish Heritage Celebration took
place on May 18. The event com-
mittee, led by Dr. Leonard Davidman,
President of Local 1189, was comprised of Members of the Jewish Heritage Committee pose for a photograph.
many Local 371 members. After a Glatt
kosher meal of couscous, knishes, and
kasha varnishkes, attendees enjoyed music
by Magda Fishman, world-
renowned Israeli singer,
accompanied by Avram
Pengas on guitar.
David Napell introduced
the audience to Mazon, a
hunger relief network for
low-income families in
New York City. He stressed
that while the organization
is a Jewish response to hun-
ger, it helps families of all
religions across New York Keynote Speaker Mark Pelavin.
City. “Summer is a par-
ticularly vulnerable time of year for those
in need,” Nepell said. “Food pantries have
All Union Chapter Elections Completed
The Bureau of Child Welfare Chap-
ter held nominations on May 4, and the
following candidates were elected unop-
posed: Chairperson, Robert Triplett;
Vice Chairperson, John Land; Secretary,
Brenda Cunningham; Publicity/Or-
ganization Chairperson, Mary Myers;
Grievance Chairperson, Akinola Bronco;
Chairperson for Legislation and Political
Action, Vacant.
The Human Resources Administra-
tion Chapter held nominations on May
4, and the following candidates were
elected uncontested: Chairperson, Sylvia
Quinones; Vice Chairperson, Alexis Da-
vis; Vice Chairperson for DYCD, Karen
Hill; Vice Chairperson for SBS, Leonard
Spells; Grievance Chairperson, Sherrin
Lockett; Publicity Chairperson, Deloris
Alexander.
The Department of Health Employ-
ees Chapter held nominations on May 5,
and the following candidates were elected
unopposed: Chairperson, Bertha Joyner;
Vice Chairperson, Raphael Molina.
June 2009 | The Unionist 3
less food to distribute due to the decline in
school, business and community food col-
lections during the summer
months, and hungry New
York City children still
need our help.” (For more
information, please visit:
www.mazon.org.)
“Jewish Values and the
Obama Administration” was
the central theme of the eve-
ning. Keynote Speaker Mark Israeli Singer Magda Fishman.
Pelavin of the Religious
Action Center in Washing-
ton D.C. focused on the
new direction President
Obama is taking the capital in, promoting
transparency and diplomacy in all he does,
The Social Service Employees
Chapter held nominations on May 5,
and the following candidates were elected
unopposed: Chairperson, Yolanda
Williams; Vice Chairperson, Michelle
Artis; Vice Chairperson of Organization,
Ralph Garcia; Director of Grievances,
Anthony Sweeny; Director of Publicity,
Carmen Jones; Secretary, Avon Pickney;
Nine Officers-at-Large, Robert Joyner,
Sybil Alexander,  Allen Jabouin, Emeka
Nwagugu, Benita Hill, Faith Cochran,
Sheryl Calderon.
The Housing Preservation & Devel-
opment Chapter held nominations  on
June 4, and the following candidates were
elected unopposed: Chairperson, James
Geer; Vice Chairperson, Debbie Timo-
thy; Secretary, Rosemary Ciulla Frisone;
Parliamentarian, Freddy Wiley.
The Civilians in Law Enforcement
Employees Chapter held nominations
on May 12, and the following candidates
were elected unopposed: Chair, Efrain
Quintana; Vice Chair, Elma Reeves;
Photos by Charles Brown
and especially opening discussions that were
closed off before. “President Obama appears
committed to the peace process in Israel and
supports sustained and consistent American
participation,” Pelavin said.
—Jessica Ramos
Secretary, Richard Gross; Recording
Secretary, Miguel Rivera.
The Health & Hospital Employees
Chapter held nominations on May 7,
and the following candidates were elected
unopposed: Chairperson, Eugene Jones;
Vice Chairperson, Hector Rodriguez;
Secretary, Carmen Benitez; Vice Chair-
person for Grievances, John Vargas; Vice
Chairperson for Organization, Sandra
Saez; Vice Chairperson for Publicity,
Maxine Howard.
The Shelters and Institutional
Employees Chapter held nominations
on May 15, and the following candidates
were elected unopposed: Chairperson,
Diane Silver; 1st Vice Chairperson, Jo-
seph Myrick; 2nd Vice Chairperson, The-
odore Baker; Secretary, Marisa Green.
The Community Service Workers
Chapter held nominations on May 11,
and the following candidates were elected
unopposed: Chairperson, Sadie Sanders;
Vice Chairperson, Kevin Peacock.
City Budget Agreement and MLC Deal Are Reached
Continued from page 1
l Preventive dental rider
eliminated;
l In GHI, the MLC agreed
to widen the hospital network;
l Restrict new cases to
participating facilities for use of
hemo-dialysis and ambulatory
surgery; and a $50 emergency
room co-pay for seniors (waived
if admitted).
l There will be a one-time
$200 contribution per active
employee to the Union’s benefit
fund, and a labor-management
committee on employment,
employment alternatives and re-
deployment will be established.
How We Got Here
Mayor Bloomberg an-
nounced his Fiscal 2010 Budget
on May 1 and proposed a total
headcount reduction of 13,500
— 3,759 through layoffs, and
the rest through attrition. The
largest number of Local 371
layoffs were scheduled for the
Administration for Children’s
Services, but layoffs were
also scheduled in the Depart-
ment of Homeless Services,
the Department of Records,
the Department of Youth and
Community Development, and
the Department of Housing
Preservation and Development.
ACS was planning to eliminate
1,100 positions through attri-
tion and layoffs, including 349
layoffs of Local 371 members.
In addition, 159 members were
scheduled to be laid off because
of State approval of the Im-
proved Outcomes for Children
(IOC) initiative.
“At risk” layoff notification
letters were sent out May 12
to the workers in ACS. The
Mayor took threatened lay-
offs in protective services off
the table after the press broke
the story and he appeared on
television and admitted he had
committed to adequate staffing
to keep caseloads down.
In the Department of Home-
less Services, 174 formerly
targeted workers in Commu-
nity titles were spared. At the
same time, the Family Hotel
Program was being eliminated,
and 24 Supervisor I lines,
19 Caseworker lines, and 13
Community Liaison Title
Series Worker lines were being
eliminated, with the resulting
bumping and layoffs.
In the HHC, 19 Local 371
members in a variety of titles
were scheduled to be laid off
due to the closing of a number
of clinics around the City. In

City Council Grills Mattingly on ACS Cuts

W ith hun-
dreds of
Local 371
members alter-
nately waving signs
over $800 million.
“It seems to me
there’s got to be

the money,” said

can provide the same services at this level
with 1,000 cuts,” he told Mattingly.
Council Member Darlene Mealy sup-
another way to find ported both Weprin and de Blasio and
criticized the cuts for the effect they will
that read “BOO” Weprin. “What are have on the community. Later, Brook-
and “LIES”, mem- you going to do, lyn Council Member Letitia James lit
bers of three New Mr. Commissioner, into Bloomberg and Mattingly for the
York City Coun- if we have another racially insensitive nature of the layoffs
Jessica Ramos

cil committees Nixzmary Brown?” and for their budget priorities. James,
(Finance, Gen- Under ques- who supported term limits and opposed
eral Welfare, and Union members react to Commissioner Mattingly’s testimony. tioning by Bill de Bloomberg’s campaign to run for another
Women’s Issues) Blasio, chair of the term as mayor, also spoke to the press and
met on May 26 in a joint hearing to grill General Welfare Committee, Mattingly to Local 371 members at the press confer-
Administration for Children’s Services admitted that the agency needed all the ence the Union held on the steps of City
Commissioner John Mattingly for over workers to function properly: “Don’t think Hall at 2:00 p.m.
two hours on projected staff and program for a moment that
cuts in his agency. Mattingly is attempt- we don’t need these
ing to address demands in Mayor Mi- 541 people,” said
chael Bloomberg’s Fiscal 2010 proposed Mattingly. “We do.
budget by laying off over 500 workers We need them all.”
and shutting down or reducing many Bill de Blasio
preventive programs. The hearing on couldn’t understand
ACS was part of an entire day of hearings the rationale for
on Social Services including the Human the cuts. “I don’t
Resources Administration, and the understand that this
Department of Homeless Services. is something the
David Weprin, chair of the Finance Administration can
Committee, was the first to question Mat- agree to comfort-
tingly. Weprin asked the ACS Commis- ably. After Nixzmary
Jessica Ramos

sioner how much money the agency will Brown there was a
save by laying off over 500 members of rush to invest in ACS
Local 371 - $18 million – and how much to get things right. Members of three City Council committees convened a budget hearing on May 26.
ACS spends on non-union contractors – There’s no way you Local 371 members and others were in attendance.

4 The Unionist | June 2009

 Jessica Ramos
Photo left, VP Michelle Conklin lobbies Council Member Thomas White, Jr. At right, Union
member Cameron Brome urges Council Member James Vacca to save jobs and programs.
HPD, 16 workers are at risk, in
the Department of Records nine
Community Assistants were tar-
geted for layoffs, and in DYCD
seven workers are at risk.
In Mayoral agencies, the layoff
procedure involves bumping
workers from higher titles to
lower ones and transfers of
permanent workers to replace
provisionals in the same title
across agency lines – which will
result in a lot of movement and
disruption for workers who are
remaining. Seniority, for layoff
purposes, for competitive titles is
based on the first day an em-
ployee is appointed permanently
from a civil service list; for
non-competitive titles, seniority
is based on time in title in the
affected agency.
Union Media Campaign Addresses Layoffs and Program Cuts
W hen the Union was notified that hundreds
of its members were facing layoffs and
that valuable programs were slated to
be cut under Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s
Fiscal 2010 Budget, it launched a media
campaign that included radio ads, a
press conference, buttons and a full
color brochure to call attention to
the proposed budget cuts.
The radio ad addresses the
situation in ACS, where more than
500 jobs are at risk and features the
voices of several Union members saying
“I am Nixzmary Brown,” and a narrative remind-
ing listeners of the reasons for the services we
have, and the danger posed by these cuts to
the children and families of New York City. The
ad, which was made and paid for in conjunc-
tion with DC 37 and AFSCME, was recorded in
English and Spanish, and was aired on 1010
June 2009 | The Unionist 5
Pat Arnow
Latest Detail President Faye Moore speaks at City Hall press conference on May 26.
The Administration for
Children’s Services has by far the hold for 90 days, including 159 rest will be transferred to other
deepest proposed cuts to pro- planned layoffs due to imple- parts of the agency. All other
grams and services. In a labor- mentation of the agency’s IOC programs stay in place for 90
management meeting on June 5, (Improved Outcomes for Chil- days. At-risk programs include
ACS presented a list of 122 pure dren) plan. The Union pressed TASA (the Teenage Services
provisionals targeted for layoff in the City for further information Act program for pregnant and
titles represented by DC 37, of regarding the more than 500 parenting teens), Case Man-
which Local 371 represents 20. targeted employees whose layoff agement Preventive Services,
The pure provisional workers date has been put off until Sep- Applications, MILS, and liaison
include 10 Protective Agents, 4 tember 27, and asked whether positions in the Division of
Supervisors, 2 Counselors Early targeted programs would con- Child Protection, Daycare,
Childhood Education, 1 Case- tinue for 90 days. Family Visiting, CHIPP, (the
worker, 1 Community Liaison The City responded that any Children of Incarcerated
Worker, 1 Principal CLW, and 1 layoff list would be generated Parents visitation program),
Investigator (Discipline). Affected by DCAS at a later date. The and the Family Permanency
employees were given a 2-week Office of Contract Agency Services program that provides
notice on June 15, with an effec- Case Management (OCACM) housing subsidies, homemak-
tive termination date of June 27. is the only program ending at ing, child care and other ser-
The MLC agreement put lay- this time, although some staff vices that allow children to be
offs of all permanent workers on will remain in place, and the discharged from foster care.
WINS, WCBS News Radio 88, WBLS, WRKS, and
Spanish news station WADO AM for a three-
week period, beginning on Friday, May 29.
The press conference was held on the
steps of City Hall on May 26 as hun-
that “Mayor Bloomberg’s budget cuts WILL put
children and families at risk…”
Also, the Union produced two buttons ad-
dressing the cuts. The first reads “ACS Cuts Hurt
Children,” and the second reads “Cutting Social
dreds of Local 371 members were Service Jobs/Programs Hurts Children and
in attendance at the New York City Families.” One of the buttons as well as the front
Council Budget Hearing on cuts of the brochure are reproduced here.
to Administration for Children’s Ser-
vices, the Department of Homeless
Services, and the Human Resources
Administration. Surrounded by over
50 Union members on the steps of City
Hall, President Faye Moore called the budget
cuts “unconscionable,” stating “these layoffs not
only target the workers,but also the people they
serve, putting the City’s children and homeless
at risk.” A full-color brochure distributed at the
press conference urged ACS Commissioner The Union produced an informational hand
out questioning
John Mattingly to “Tell the Truth” and admit the layof fs and program cuts in ACS.

LaShane Lindsey
Women’s Committee
Holds Sixth Annual
Dance and Card Party
The event was held on June 12 to raise money for a
humanitarian cause. This year, the music was spun
by DJ Hollywood, and everyone danced (see photo).
Contributions from the fundraisers have been made to
many non-profit organizations including City Meals on
Wheels, a foundation that prepares food to be delivered
by community-based agencies to the homebound
elderly; Mother’s Voices, an organization dedicated to
strengthening family communication about sex health;
and El Puente, a human rights institution that promotes
peace and justice among young adults. The Committee
has also purchased a computer for a New York City
public school and has sent personal care products
and notebooks to imprisoned women. Last year,
the Committee helped out a Haitian family that was
devastated by hurricanes.
Stella D’Oro Workers Still Won’t Cross the Picket Line
One hundred and thirty five workers at Stella D’Oro
continue to be on strike. Close to a year since they first
formed their picket line, no apparent efforts have been
made in good faith to improve their situation. Brynwood
Partners, the private equity firm that purchased Stella
D’Oro from Kraft Foods Inc. back in 2006, still refuses
to negotiate new contracts with their workers. In fact,
many strikers claim replacement workers, also known
as scabs, were lined up before the workers went on
Union members backing single-payer health care march in downtown Seattle. They are part of a national mobilization for
single-payer government-run health care. Advocates won a congressional hearing a day after key lawmakers released
health care overhaul drafts. Photo by Connie Kelleher of Machinists Lodge 751 in Seattle.
6 The Unionist | June 2009
UFCW Local 1500 Organizes Workers at Agata & Valentina
Roberto De La Cruz had been working at Agata & Valentina, a gourmet supermarket on the corner of First
Avenue and East 79th Street in Manhattan, for six long years when he was fired. Managers had seen Roberto
talking to organizers from the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) about the need for a
living wage and good working conditions for him and his 200 co-workers. Since then, UFCW Local 1500 has
filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Agata & Valentina, as it is unlawful to prevent
workers from unionizing if it is their wish to do so.
Workers and friends gathered outside Agata & Valentina the afternoon of Wednesday, May 27 to call for the
workers’ right to unionize. City Councilwoman Jessica Lappin and a representative of Assemblyman Micah
Kellner’s office joined the rally to shed light on Manhattan’s gourmet food industry and call for higher standards.
Story & Photo-Jessica Ramos
strike, a clear sign Brynwood Partners set out to force
the unionized workforce out of their jobs.
On Saturday, May 30, the workers, represented
by Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and
Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) Local
50, were joined by family and friends from the labor
movement to once again march and rally, chanting,
“No contract, no cookies!” The boycott of all Stella
D’Oro products continues.
AFSCME Conference
Focuses on Health Care,
the Economy and EFCA
Local 371 Vice President Michelle Akyempong poses
with US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at the 2009 AFSCME
Legislative Conference, held in Washington, DC May 11
through 14. In his address to the attendees US VP Joe
Biden said, “There is no way to restore the economy
without restoring the middle class and there is no way
to restore the middle class without organized labor.”
The Conference focused on lobbying legislators on
Capitol Hill on three issues of the utmost importance
to union members – the Employee Free Choice Act,
which would allow union recognition by signing cards;
comprehensive health care reform, with a public plan
option, and more federal dollars for public services as
a key to economic recovery. Local 371’s delegation
was headed by President Faye Moore. The delegation
met with various New York representatives and
Senators Schumer and Gillibrand.
City to TASA: DROP DEAD
A Proven Success for Teen Parents Faces Chopping Block
O n its website the Administration
for Children’s Services boasts that
the TASA (Teen Age Services Act)
program “has helped young mothers and
fathers achieve their goals for the past 23
years.” Yet despite its enormous success
in helping teen parents, TASA is on the
budgetary chopping block. Slowly being
starved of resources by ACS, the program
is scheduled to transfer case management
to a private agency as part of the Mayor’s
budget for fiscal 2010, beginning July 1.
Workers and teens are heartbroken.
Group Coordinator at 185 Marcy
Avenue Eulyn Damon, who has been with
the program for 17 years says, “We go into
their homes and we change their lives.”
All of the workers at Marcy Avenue have
decades of experience in the program.
TASA serves teenage parents receiving
public assistance and/or Medicaid “to manage
their new concerns, take control of their lives
and provide better futures for themselves
and their children.” It’s a citywide program
and it’s voluntary. There currently are four
sites around the city, one in each borough
except Staten Island. Referrals come from
the Human Resources Administration, Child
Protective Services and the community.
Teens often spread the word themselves.
Geraldine Savinon, a tiny vivacious 20-
year old, sat with her daughter Janeris and
spoke with deep feeling about her experi-
ence and her case manager Keeler Rogers,
who has been with the program 21 years.
“Without the advice from Ms. Rogers,” she
said, “I would have had
another kid and been in
big trouble. When my
daughter was sick, Ms.
Rogers got me
ria Me na des ign ed the winning card for
Ma
the Mother’s Day Card Con
left ). Mena, a TAS A client,
photograph on
June 2009 | The Unionist 7
The TASA team at 185 Marcy Avenue: Clerical Associate III Colleen Bouvell,
CWS Keeler Rogers, Supervisor Pamela Hanniford, CWS Eulyn Damon, CWS
Edith Chilaka and CWS Wanda Marrero. (Not present CWS Sandra Cancel)
Inset: Rogers with Geraldine Savinon and her baby, Janeris. Savinon, a recent
graduate, attributes her success to Rogers.
through it. She kept telling me ‘She’s going
to get better; it’s going to be OK.’ I’m go-
ing to be 21 soon and I just graduated from
college. I’m going on a job interview next
week. Teens really need help and they need
this program.”
Each worker in TASA has 35 cases.
The case is in the name of the teen, but
includes their children and other family
members who are important in the teen’s
life. “We often bridge the gap between
teens and mothers. We deal with babies,
mothers, siblings, family,” Damon said.
In good times the TASA program pro-
vided weekly group sessions with experts
on HIV/AIDS, family planning, parenting,
domestic violence and how to deal with
depression and suicide. Teens got to share
their problems and make friends. There
were trips during the summer “where we
could feel like normal teens,” said Savinon.
Workers could provide
baby food,
clothing
and some
school
supplies.
Much
of this
has been
eliminated, but the work-
ers don’t take no for an
answer. “When there was
no money for a Christmas
party, we begged and got
contributions and put on
a show anyway,” said Da-
test (above and
in the mon. They also put on
app ear ed
the car d wit h her dau ght er. a graduation ceremony
each year
and supply the
graduates with a
gift package. Workers have dipped
into their own pockets to buy breakfast for
hungry teenagers or Thanksgiving dinners.
Each of the workers has many, many
stories to tell. Edith Chilaka speaks about
all the dropouts she has helped get back in
school. Damon remembers a young mother
who she saved from going to jail and a
hair-raising home visit involving domestic
violence and bullets flying everywhere. Rog-
ers says that obtaining child care is one of
the most difficult problems teen parents face
and that she often advocates for help with
other City agencies. All speak of a close-knit
comraderie and intense passion for the job.
The City did sponsor an annual Mother’s
Day Card contest this year, and the win-
ner, Maria Mena, is another TASA success
story (see card at bottom left). She is a
high school graduate and is attending the
New York Institute of Technology. She and
her two year old daughter were helped by
workers at Marcy Avenue.
Pamela Hanniford, Supervisor of the
Marcy Avenue site for ten years, said, “This
is a really good program. Teens are achiev-
ing their goals. We run into our graduates
in the street or they come back and tell us
what they are doing. They don’t have more
children. They are not in jail. They are not
prostitutes. They are in college, in medical
training programs, some are home health
aides, two are case managers in Child Pro-
tective Services, several are police officers.
We feel like we’ve done a good job.”
— Story and Photos by Linda Schleicher
Congratulations
Congratulations to Yolanda DeJesus, AJOS II, Periodicals Postage
Rental Assistance Unit, 180 Water Street, NY on the Paid at New York, NY
birth of her grandchild, Carmelo Joshua Teresi, on
April 11.
Social Service Employees Union
Local 371
Condolences 817 Broadway
New York, N.Y. 10003
Condolences are extended to the family of
Antonio Valderrama, Sup. I at Bay Ridge Job
Center Fair Hearing Unit and former alternate
Delegate, who died on June 11. Condolences may
be sent to Bay Ridge Job Center Fair Hearing Unit,
6740 4th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11220.
Condolences are extended to the family of John
Barlow Senior, retired Executive Board Member
and activist, who died on May 19.
Condolences are extended to the family of
Pernell Pauling, former Trustee of the Welfare and
Education Fund, who died on June 9.
Condolences are extended to Diane Ciccone,
Esq., Union Attorney, on the death of her mother,
Dorothea Holes on May 16. Condolences may be
sent to Diane Ciccone, Esq. 770 Broadway, 2nd
Floor, NY, NY 10003.
Condolences are extended to Annette Ramos, Charles Brown, Union Photographer,
Dies at Age 62
Caseworker at Fordham Job Center #44, on the
death of her mother, Blasita Diaz on April 29.
Condolences may be sent to Annette Ramos 749

Thieriot Avenue, Bronx, NY 10473.
Condolences are extended to Greg Ramos,
AJOS I at the Rider Job Center, on the death of
his mother-in-law, Bernice Plaskett on April 23.
Condolences may be sent to the Chamblee-
Ramos Family 22 Oak Place, Montclair, NJ 07087.
Condolences are extended to Marcella Greene,
AJOS I at the Michael J. Handy Veterans’ Center,
on the death of her father, William Greene on April
22. Condolences may be sent to Marcella Greene
1108 Prospect Place, Brooklyn, NY 11213.
Condolences are extended to Neal Frumkin,
Alumni Association President and retiree, on the
death of his mother, Sarah Frumkin on April 15.
Condolences may be sent to Neil Frumkin 192
Maple Street, Brooklyn, NY 11225.
Condolences are extended to the family of
Winsome Staples-Alexander, Supervisor I at Brooklyn
Adult Protective Services, who died on April 30.
Condolences may be sent to the Alexander Family
58 Miller Avenue, Amityville, NY 11701.
Condolences are extended to James Shonola,
Caseworker at Adult Protective Services in
Brooklyn, on the death of his mother, Sholabomi
Ayinke Shonola on April 30. Condolences may be
sent to James Shonola c/o Brooklyn Protective
Services 250 Livingston Street, 3rd Floor,
Brooklyn, NY 11201.
EXCHANGE
Swap * Buy * Sell
WANTED- Top cash paid for your old jazz, soul,
R&B and gospel albums. Call Howard at (212)
873-4016. (1)
FOR SALE- Large ceiling fixture, clown col-
lection, dolly, luggage, dishes, pots, glassware,
gift items, tie rack, never worn size small ladies’
clothing including dark brown Borghese faux fur
jacket, boots and shoes size 8, large American
flags, books, new cordless telephone with clock
radio, electrician’s meters, lots more. Call 718-
430-1769 and leave a message. (4)
FOR SALE- Timberland Men’s Leather Bomber
Coat (size 5x) $175, Liz Claiborne Men’s Leather
Blazer Jacket (size 6x) $150, Mitchell & Ness NY
Mets Spring Jacket (size 5x) $125, Pelle Pelle
Plaid Spring Jacket (size 4x) $50. If interested,
please contact J. Thomas at (718) 963-5229 or
(347) 652-6847. (4)
C
harles Brown, SSEU Local 371’s
photographer and a longtime Union
member and activist, died suddenly at
LaGuardia Airport on May 21 while await-
ing a flight to Atlanta, Georgia to cover a
conference of the Coalition of Black Trade
Unionists. Brown was 62 years old.
Charlie, or CB, as everybody knew him,
was loved by almost everyone who knew
him for his unique style and mischievous
ways. You didn’t rate if you were never
the object of his cutting sense of humor.
Everybody has a Charlie Brown story, and
everyone accepted him for what he was, a
curmudgeon who was quick with criticism,
a kind word, and often an offer to share
his food. Charlie, who would have won the played golf, and was the photographer for
“best dressed” award in the Union office the school newspaper.
hands down with his “Ivy League” dress After graduation he became a Caseworker
style, held court inside the president’s office, in NYC’s Human Resources Administration
his own unofficial office under the Ensley at the Williamsburg Center. He was a Del-
and Moore presidencies. He kept things egate and activist and later worked for HRA’s
exciting with his humor and his style. He Battered Women’s Shelter and Special Ser-
loved music, especially jazz, was an avid
reader and stamp collector. He was a “peo-
vices for Children. He worked for Local 371
for a combined span of 24 years, serving as a
ple person” who challenged the endurance grievance representative, executive assistant
of all who knew him as opinionated, forceful to the president, and photographer.
and relentless, yet equally charming, caring He was predeceased by his brother, parents,
and very entertaining. He was also an ac- one sister, and a son, Nicholas Dyette Brown.
complished, award-winning photographer. His is survived by his sister, Nannie Brown;
Charlie was born on November 11, 1946 his son, Charles Brown Jr.; his former wife,
to Cornelius and Bertha Brown in New York Bernice Adeyemi Brown; one step-daughter,
City. He had two sisters and one brother. Ade Ronke Adeyemi; one step-son, Raheem
He attended New York City public schools Fields; and four grandchildren.
and graduated in 1968 from Tarkio College Charlie was truly one of a kind. May he
in Missouri where he excelled academically, rest in peace!
8 The Unionist | June 2009