Volume 42 Number 2 February 2012

Official Publication of Social Service Employees Union Local 371-DC 37 AFSCME, AFL-CIO

www.sseu371.org

Union, Lawmakers Confront Overcrowding at HRA

showed iT all.

The video fooTage

The tape provided by Columbia Law School showed lines snaking around the street at the East River Job Center in Queens, with 124 clients waiting by the time the doors opened in the morning. Many of them, taking time from their jobs and school, would not get served, and would have to come back another day to repeat the hours-long waiting ritual. The video kicked off a hearing by the City Councils Committee on General Welfare, which convened Jan. 31 to discuss the overcrowding of the HRA job and benefits centers. It was all too familiar for SSEU Local 371, which has had two labor-management meetings with the Human Resources Ad-

ministration to address the overcrowding at centers providing job assistance, food stamps and other public benefits, as the population of people needing these services has grown sharply since the global economic crisis began in 2008. Workers have complained of rising caseloads, security concerns and management breaking overtime protocols.

Officials Grilled
In the packed hearing room, City Council Members grilled HRA officials on the issue of overcrowding. HRA officials admitted that the client-to-worker ratio has risen sharply in the past few years, blaming its budget problems on the fact that the State government stopped
Continued on page 6

VP Rose Lovaglio-Miller testified last month.

Black History: Angela Davis Speaks

his years Black History Celebration Feb. 3 at DC 37 Headquarters packed the halls, with lines of members nearly spilling out into the streets hours before the doors to the event even opened. It was a fresh wave of rank-and-file enthusiasm about the Union, celebrating both SSEU Local 371s past and present. Political figures of all levels squeezed through the crowds, greeting members and shaking hands as live jazz filled the room. Indeed long-time members and retirees noted that they had never seen so many members at a Union celebration in their lives.

Clarence Elie-Rivera/DC 37

The unprecedented turnout was a result not only of the fact that Civil Rights Movement lioness Angela Davis was the keynote speaker but of the swelling excitement among members about this Unions leadership and the legacy of our departed leader, Charles Ensley. Michelle Akyempong, the Union VP who chairs the Black Heritage Committee said, Professor Davis is a great legend and I was in awe to be in her presence. This will be in our memory for years to come. Michelle Blackstock and Joseph Myrick work coContinued on page 4

Angela Davis listened to Union speakers.

Child Support Needs Boost

Page 6

The One-In-Three Rule

Page 7

Update in Bell/Adams Case

Page 8

Dave Sanders

CALENDAR
february
21 Alumni Association: 2:00 p.m. Union Office, 12th Fl. HA Membership Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Union Office, 12th Fl. 22 Political Action Committee/Womens Committee: 6:30 p.m. Union Office, 12th Fl. 28 HPD Chapter: 6:30 p.m. Union Office, 12th Fl. 29 Civilians in Law Enforcement: 6:30 p.m. Union Office, 15th Fl.

March
3 7 8 9 Delegate Training: 9;00 a.m., DC 37 Headquarters, 125 Barclay St., Manhattan Executive Committee: 6:30 p.m. Union Office, 12th Fl. Committee of Concerned Social Workers: 6:30 p.m. Union Office, 12th Fl. DC 37 Irish Heritage Celebration: 5:30 p.m. DC 37 Headquarters, 125 Barclay St., Manhattan

12 General Membership Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Advance Realty Building, 235 W. 23rd St., Manhattan 14 Womens Committee/PAC: 6:30 p.m. Union Office, 12th Fl. 16 Committee of Concerned Social Workers Event: 5:30 p.m. DC 37 Headquarters, 125 Barclay St., Manhattan 20 Alumni Committee: 2:00 p.m. Union Office, 12th Fl. 21 Delegate Assembly: 6:30 p.m. Advance Realty Building, 235 W. 23rd St., Manhattan 28 Civilians in Law Enforcement: 6:30 p.m. Union Office, 15th Fl.

ebruary is the month we celebrate Black History. It is a chronicle that is interwoven into the fabric of American society. The Black experience has touched every aspect of American culture. It is a history that is inseparable from the rise of the labor movement. The list of African American leaders and their impact on the labor movement is extensive. From A. Philip Randolph to the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. to Charles Ensley, their contributions have strengthened the movement and improved the lives of working men and women throughout this country. As we commemorate this, we should be energized by the efforts of our ancestors and leaders. Their commitment to building and maintaining a strong labor movement inspires us to keep the legacy alive. Our success is measured by a strong union presence. It is measured by our ability to protect our jobs, benefits and pensions. It is measured by improving working conditions and safety in every location where there are members. As we move forward, the best way to applaud and honor those who came before us, no matter what culture and movement they are from, is by confronting the challenges we face. We must continue to organize and establish coalitions with those who share our common goals. In order to be successful on any front, we must energize and organize our most precious resource, the membership. We remember the past, fight back in the present, and maintain hope for the future. God bless you all and God bless the Union.

inspiration and Motivation

Our success is measured by a strong union presence.

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 Anthony Wells Executive Vice President Yolanda Pumarejo Secretary-Treasurer Joe Nazario V.P. Negotiations & Research Rose Lovaglio-Miller V.P. Organization & Education Ingrid Beaumont V.P. Grievances & Legal Services Lloyd Permaul V.P. Publicity & Community Relations Patricia Chardavoyne V.P. Legislation & Political Action Michelle Akyempong Trustees Vincent Ciccarello Yolanda DeJesus Melva Scarborough Editor Ari Paul Visit us on the web at www.sseu371.org

Anthony Wells

AFSCME Lobby Day March 6

SSEU Local 371 encourages members to take part in an AFSCME Lobby Day to urge passage of the Assault Bill, one of the Unions top legislative priorities. For more details, contact Vice President of Legislation and Political Action Michelle Akyempong. To register, return this coupon by fax to (212) 815-1553 or mail it to: Political Action Dept., DC 37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, 125 Barclay St. Room 408, New York, NY 10007, or fax to Ms. Akyempong at (212) 473-6121. Last Name _________________________ First Name _______________________________ Address _______________________________________________________ Apt. # ______ City ___________________________________ State ________ Zip __________________ Home/Cell Phone _____________________ Work Phone ______________________________ Job Title _______________________________ Local ______________________________
The Unionist | February 2012

on The fronT lines

Making Court Work, on Time and Correctly

he prosecutors at the Brooklyn District Attorneys Office handle lots of cases each day, and they cant do anything without the diligent work of Clerks like Fredi Ramirez. Ramirez, who joined the DAs office five years ago, is one of a dozen workers who retrieve the proper records after arraignments and ensure that they go to the right prosecutor later that day so that cases can go forward in a timely manner. It is a job that requires an intense attention to detail and the pressure of doing things quickly. Im the first person to get the facts from the court. After that, I refer them to the place the records need to go, he said. If I dont put a file away in the right place, and it gets lost, theyre never going to get it. So youve got to do the job right.
Fredi Ramirez: The courts need him.

Im the first person to get the facts from the court. After that, I refer them to the place the records need to go...If I dont put a file away in the right place, and it gets lost, theyre never going to get it. So youve got to do the job right.
Fredi Ramirez
I like the job, he said. I enjoy what I do. As a Delegate, he is devoted to making sure that his fellow Union members get the respect from management they deserve. Ramirez said that his Union role has taught him to always be mindful as to what is going on in the workplace. You have to be strong, he said. If you see something wrong, you have to make it right. It makes you study. It makes you pay attention.

Work Is Appreciated
Ramirez added of the Assistant District Attorneys who are seeking records each day from the Clerks, They appreciate the work I do. Working for the Brooklyn DAs office for SSEU Local 371 members is tough these days, especially because Union members are upset with its decision to wrongly and overzealously prosecute two former members in the Administration of Childrens Services in the tragic case of the death Marchella Pierce, who was allegedly starved to death by her mother. Ramirezs job is also a physically demanding one. You lift boxes and you move stuff around, he said. You have to go outside and the weather is not always fine.

Ramirez, who moved to the United States from Colombia 19 years ago, came to the public sector after several years as a self-employed limousine driver. He liked driving, but when he became ill, he realized he needed a career with high-quality, employer-provided health insurance. Ramirez, who also serves as an SSEU Local 371 Delegate, said that being a Clerk has allowed him to learn about the intricacies of the court system, but more importantly, the daily communication he has on the job has helped him master English. He compares the daily grind of ensuring that the different records in the court system get to the right office is like solving a complicated puzzle.

Enjoying Civil Service

In addition to driving, Ramirez has had a lot of different jobs since coming to the United States. He worked in a factory and even opened a restaurant, and while the income was good, he was overwhelmed by the constant, unending labor. You need a rest, he said. Now, Ramirez is in a Union-protected position and takes real ownership of his work. I dont plan to change, he said. Im happy with what Im doing.

NO MEDCO BENEFIT CUTS

With the cost of health care coverage rising over 10 percent per year and the City refusing to raise contributions to the Welfare Fund for the last five years, the Fund Trustees were faced with drastic cuts in benefits. Instead, they decided to re-open the contract with the Funds drug manager (MEDCO). As a result, a new contract was settled, which assures no benefit cuts for the next two years.

Celebrate SoCial Work!

SSEU Local 371 will hold its annual Social Work Celebration Friday, March 16, starting at 5:30 p.m. at DC 37 headquarters at 125 Barclay St. in Manhattan. The event honors members who have recently earned their Masters in Social Work. The keynote speaker will be Cassandra Mack, the founder and chief visionary officer of Strategies for Empowered Living, a New York-based human development company designed to help people succeed and grow. Music will be performed by the Harlem Blues and Jazz Seniors. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. and the program will start at 6:45 p.m. All Union members and their families are welcome. If you have obtained an MSW in the last year, January 2012, June 2011, or August 2011 and want to be listed in the commemorative journal ad, send you name, contact information, social security number and civil service title as well as school information and date of graduation to: Yolanda Pumarejo, Chair, Committee of Concerned Social Workers, SSEU Local 371, 817 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10003.

February 2012 | The Unionist

angela DaviS SpeakS

Continued from page 1

Black history celeBration Packs th

chairs of the Committee this year. Their hard work made this years event, full of music and history, one to remember. Davis whose placement on the FBIs 10 most wanted list and arrest in 1970 sparked international outrage noted in her speech that while people look back at the progress of the Civil Rights Era, there is still much work to be done. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated while supporting sanitation workers who were fighting for fair treatment. Today, public-sector unions are fighting right-wing legislation across the country that aims to virtually put them out of existence, she said. Here we are, a half century later, and we still find ourselves at exactly the same moment,
Clockwise from left: Michael Pugh, The Brooklyn Steppers, members packed the hall, the Unions Black Heritage Committee.

Davis said to roaring applause. She continued, saying Freedom is much larger than civil rights, adding that social justice activists should struggle for universal health care, environmental protections and better workers rights laws. Davis said that members should be inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement, saying, It rekindles the spirit of

resistance in this country. The Union believes that looking at the past prepares us for the present fights. Before Davis spoke, President Wells spoke about how celebrations such as this one should propel the Union to fight harder in the struggles it faces, in particular, the campaign to save the CASA program, which under the Governors Medicaid Redesign

Team plan would be eliminated, putting nearly 700 of the Unions members out of work and thousands of seniors out of home-care and into nursing

The Unionist | | February 2012 The Unionist January

he house
All photos pages 4-5: Dave Sanders

S!

facilities. I want to be a senior citizen. I want to have a pension and I want to have good health, Wells said. I want to live in

my home, with my care and my dignity. While the Black History Celebration is always a special event for the Union, this years event was part of a year-long celebration of the life and leadership of the late Charles Ensley, who led this Union for nearly three decades. Before Davis took the stage, members watched a video montage of Ensleys inspirational speeches from Black History Celebrations over the years.

Angela Davis spoke about the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement and what it means for organized labor.

An Ensley Moment
In fact, Union President Anthony Wells stepped aside when it was time to introduce Davis as the next speaker and instead played a video of Ensley introducing Davis at the Black History Celebration in 1993. I was so moved by Charless words, she said as she took the stage. It is really a great honor.

Davis and Ensley knew each other in high school and would continue to be friends and collaborators in the Civil Rights Movement. I remember suspecting even then that there was something great about Charles, she said. I came to realize what an amazing labor leader he was. The night also honored Charlene Mitchell, who was Ensleys long-time executive assistant and was active in the Free Angela movement.

Party Time
After the speech, members were clearly energized by the words of Davis and Wells as well as the video documenting the powerful life and leadership of Charles Ensley. With that energy members welcomed riveting performances by the Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band and gospel singer Michael Pugh. After that, members got out of their seats and danced the night away. Charles taught us not only to fight hard but also to play hard, Wells said. He wanted members to find power in our diversity and our ability to celebrate our cultures. That is what this night was about.

February 2012 The Unionist January 2012 | | The Unionist

City Council Hears Unions Concerns

Continued from page 1

contributing funds to the agency. Vice President for Research and Negotiations Rose Lovaglio-Miller, who was joined by other labor officials, said in written testimony that overcrowding has on many occasions led to fire hazards as well as other health and safety issues due to the larger number of clients in these centers. She added that the overcrowding has caused a large drop in worker morale. This only compounds problems: attrition among workers goes up, which causes an even larger crisis.

Staffing is Vital
For the Union, the answer is simple. Staff shortages must be addressed immediately, Lovaglio-Miller said. Staffing is vital to the effectuation of any improvements in the system. Improvements in the system, especially in the job centers, are

vital to the economic health of the City of New York. Undue staff cuts in the public and private sectors are hurting the ability of HRA to help get New Yorkers back to work when they need it most. In the meantime, SSEU Local 371 has offered smaller solutions for the short term. [Management] can make changes in the amount of call-ins scheduled on a daily basis or change the intake and screening processes, which [management] agreed to consider, she said. However, they cant control the number of walk-ins on any given day. These suggestions may help in the short term, but long term, the only real solution is additional staff. Since the two labor-management meetings, management has agreed to take some positive steps, such as discontinuing the policy of forcing all workers to stay after his or her shift until each workers cases for the day have been completed.

But the Union and advocates hoped that the City Council hearing would push forward the move for more substantial change, which would include at the forefront the hiring of more staff. At the hearing, advocates, City Council Members and Union representatives agreed that the Mayors Do more with less mantra is code for Do less with less.

City Not Playing Fair

Joel Berg, executive director of the New York Coalition Against Hunger, said that Mayor Michael Bloombergs advocacy of fingerprint scanning for welfare recipients was stigmatizing and on par with one Republican presidential candidates negative portrayals of food stamp recipients. Berg also said that HRAs testimony was not frank and candid. We are not hearing a fair and transparent discussion of the facts, he said. time for a change, these members say, as well as a pay raise. Caseworker Sandra Rivera said that Union members have been extremely busy, due to two new pilot programs put in place, and that the economy is making it harder for parents to make their payments on time. People are backlogged with payments because theyre out of work, she said, adding that the program needed to hire more workers.

A Lifeline for OCSE Staff, Please

ast month, Office of Child Support Enforcement Executive Deputy Commissioner Frances Pardus-Abbadessa sent a congratulatory letter to the staff, noting that the agency had collected three quarters of a billion dollars in child support payments in 2011, a 4.5 percent increase from 2010. If we were to divide this figure by all 960 staff dedicated to the child support program, it would mean each of you can take credit for about $761,531, Commissioner Pardus-Abbadessa said, adding that all workers should be proud. She added, An increase of this size

during these economic times does not just happen. You made it happen. Nice words, but the SSEU Local 371 members who make this important agency run believe this is only half the story. Yes, they are doing their jobs better than they did last year, but theyre doing it with more management pressure, tougher cases and not enough staff. It is

Delegate Training Follow Up

SSEU Local 371 will hold a day-long refresher training for Delegates and Alternates on Saturday, March 3 to follow up on the October Delegate training. It will concentrate on grievance procedure and legal issues. Any elected Delegate or Alternate interested in joining should fax the reply slip below to Ingrid Beaumont at (212) 477-4863 by Feb. 24. The training will take place at DC 37 Headquarters, 125 Barclay Street, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Name _______________________________ SS# _____________________________ Address __________________________________________________ Apt# ________ City ___________________________ State ________ Zip Code __________________ Phone (Work) ________________________ Phone (Cell/Home) ____________________ Work Address/Agency _____________________________________________________ E-mail ________________________________________________________________
The Unionist | February 2012

15-Day Election Notice

Official 15-day notice is hereby given that the membership meeting of Monday, March 12, 2012, will hold the following nominations and/ or elections. The meeting will be at the Advance Realty Building, 235 W. 23rd Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues), in Manhattan, at 6:30 p.m. Nomination and election of candidates four (4) positions of Trustee of the Welfare and Educational Funds for the two-year term commencing in 2012. Nomination and election of candidates for nineteen (19) positions as Local 371 Delegate and twenty (20) positions as Alternate to the AFSCME convention.

The UseAnd Abuseof the One-In-Three Rule

ou have studied hard, paid the examination fee, given up a Saturday to take the examination, passed the examination with a good score, been found fully qualified for the position, and been placed in a high position on the eligible list established for the position. You have been notified to appear at a hiring pool at which the agency is bound to reach your list number for making appointments. You are guaranteed appointment to the position, right? Unfortunately, thats not the case. The One-in-Three rule can be invoked at the hiring pool to deny your appointment. The rule can be used to protect provisionals, to discriminate and to play favorites.

How It Works
Section 61 of the New York State Civil Service Law provides that, appointment or promotion from an eligible list to a position in the competitive class shall be made by the selection of one of the three persons certified by the appropriate civil service commission as standing highest on such eligible list who are willing to accept such appointment or promotion... Like many other provisions of law, while there is a logical rationale for the law, the problem is that the provision is often abused to promote favoritism and deprive deserving candidates of appointment. The Union and all members must carefully monitor hiring pools for signs of one in three rule abuse. A brief explanation of how the OneIn-Three rule works is the following: Lets assume you are number 110 on the eligible list. Lets also assume that the last person appointed before you on the list was number 108. This means that when the next appointment is made, the agency will have to appoint the candidate who is list number 109, number 110 (you), or number 111. Except in the limited exceptions described below, the agency may select any one of those three candidates. No reason is required to be provided for the selection or nonFebruary 2012 | The Unionist

selection of any candidate. If number 109 is selected, then the next appointment must go to either 110 (you), 111 or 112. If number 111 is selected for the next position (and you are not), then the following, or third appointment in our example, must go to either number 110 (you), 112, or 113. If you are not selected for that third position, you are considered to have been passed over for appointment and will not be considered for further appointment from this list. You will be notified by the agency in writing of your non-selection. There is a common misunderstanding that each candidate is entitled to be interviewed or considered for the appointment on three separate occasions in three different interviews. This is not so. A candidate can be considered for three positions at one hiring pool based upon a single interview. As the Union and undoubtedly many members have observed, this OneIn-Three rule is often abused by City agencies to pass over qualified candidates to reach the list numbers of provisional employees already working in the agency, so that they may be turned over in place. The rule is also abused for reasons of personal favoritism and can easily be the instrument of discrimination.

How to Fight Back

Is there any way for you to challenge having been passed over by the agencys use of the One-In-Three rule? There is, if certain conditions exist. You may not be passed over for appointment by use of the one-in-three rule for a discriminatory reason (e.g. race, national origin, religion, gender, age , or disability). You may not be denied appointment because of your activities on behalf of the Union, as a Delegate, Alternate Delegate, or activist in any other Union position or activity. You may not be passed over for reasons that are purely arbitrary or capricious, as those terms are defined under the law. Discrimination or retaliation for any of these reasons is illegal and may be challenged either in a State or Federal human rights agency, in State or Federal court, or at the New York City Office of Collective Bargaining.

The key to being successful in such a challenge is to have the necessary proof to support your claim. If you feel that you may be the victim of such unlawful discrimination or retaliation, keep a careful record of everything that occurs during the process. Make note of the names of the people who interview you, prepare a summary of the questions you were asked and the answers you gave immediately after your interview, and keep copies of any letters or other written material you receive during the selection process. Since there are time limits on the various legal options available, some of which are as short as four months, it is important that you address the situation as soon as possible after you receive notification that you have not been selected. If you find yourself in the situation where you have been passed over for appointment under the One-in-Three rule and believe that your rights have been violated, contact the Grievance Section of the Union immediately. We will obtain all relevant information from you, and if necessary schedule a meeting for you with the Union attorneys to explore possible legal action on your behalf. And even if you just have questions about your rights under the One-in-Three rule, please contact us and we will be glad to assist you. Lloyd Permaul, VP of Grievances and Legal Services

Crisis Intervention
The SSEU Local 371 Welfare Fund is implementing a new benefit, titled Crisis Intervention. It is a program designed to intervene with crises in the work location that have impact on location staff. It will consist of a panel of licensed social workers who are also members of Local 371. If you are a licensed social worker and have an interest in participating on the panel, please contact Ms. Alexis Davis at (212) 777-9999 extension 3068 for further information.

Condolences
Condolences are extended to Gwendolyn Bradby, Associate Fraud I at HRA/BEV at 250 Livingston Street in Brooklyn, on the death of her mother, Ms. Juanita Henderson, who died Jan. 22. Condolences can be sent to Ms. Gwendolyn Bradby, 218-26 113th Avenue, Queens Village, NY 11429. Condolences are extended to Ana Bravo, Fraud Investigator II at BEV/HRA at 250 Livingston Street in Brooklyn, on the death of her mother, Ms. Angela Hernandez, who died Jan. 23. Condolences may be sent to Ms. Ana Bravo, HRA/BEV Unit, 250 Livingston Street, 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Condolences are extended to Ana Alicea, Child Welfare Specialist at TASA/HRA at 150 William Street, 8th Floor, Manhattan on the death of her son, Joseph Class, who died in January. Condolences can be sent to Ms. Ana Alicea, 2896 Valentine Avenue (Private House), Bronx, NY 10458. Condolences are extended to the Family and Friends of Olga Reznik, Job Opportunity Specialist in the Homelessness Diversion Unit at Coney Island Job Center in Brooklyn, who died on January 14. Condolences may be sent to her husband, Mr. Igor Reznik, 2424 Kings Highway, #6F, Brooklyn, NY 11229. Condolences are extended to Ida Gordon, Job Opportunity Specialist at Coney Island Job Center #63 in Brooklyn, on the death of her son, Robert R. Gordon, who died Jan. 7. Condolences can be sent to 3222 Bayview Avenue, #6C, Brooklyn, NY 11224. Condolences are extended to Family and Friends of Tammy Irvine, Fraud Investigator at BEV at 1910 Monterey Avenue, 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY, who died Jan. 9.

Periodicals Postage Paid at New York, NY Social Service Employees Union Local 371 817 Broadway New York, N.Y. 10003

Pack the Court: Support Bell and Adams March 14

BULLETIN BOARD
SWAP- SUP I at Long Term Home Health Care Program at 30 Rockwell Place in Brooklyn would like to swap to a Sup I non-field position in Lower Manhattan or Midtown Manhattan. If interested, call (718) 330-2293. SWAP- JOS at (Center 17) 132 West 125th Street in Manhattan would like to swap with JOS at (Center 47) 275 Bergen Street, Brooklyn. If interested, call (917) 306-2030. SWAP- Caseworker at HHC at 3424 Kossuth Avenue in the Bronx would like to swap with Caseworker in Manhattan or Brooklyn. If interested, call (718) 642-7451. SWAP- Community Assistant at 78 Catherine Street would like to swap with Community Assistant at 300 Skillman Avenue, Brooklyn. If interested, call (212) 877-4434. SWAP- AJOS at (Center 67) 45 Hoyt Street, Brooklyn would like to swap with AJOS at (Center 54) 165-08 88th Street, Jamaica, Queens. If interested, contact (347) 995-6127. SWAP- Caseworker at OCSE in Manhattan would like to swap with Field Caseworker in HASA in Brooklyn or any non-field position in Brooklyn or Manhattan. If interested, call (917) 723-0956. SWAP- Caseworker at HASA in Manhattan Homemaking Unit non-field position. Would like to swap with Caseworker in Queens. If interested, contact (212) 620-9817. SWAP- AJOS worker at (Center 99) in Richmond, Staten Island would like to swap sites to 109 East 16th Street, Manhattan. If interested, contact (347) 398-4891. SWAP- Caseworker at HASA Queensboro Office located at 33-28 Northern Blvd, Queens, would like to swap to HASA/Greenwood or HASA/ Brownsville. If interested, call (917) 226-5931. SWAP- Supervisor I at APS in Manhattan (South) would like to swap with a non-field Supervisor I position in lower downtown Manhattan or upper midtown Manhattan. If interested, call (212) 971-2894. FOR SALE- 2000 Volkswagen Jetta. Red, mint condition, 69,100 miles, asking $3,500, 4 Door automatic. If interested, call (646) 732-0210.

MEMBERS

he wrongful prosecution of two former SSEU Local 371 members, Chereece Bell and Damon Adams will go forward March 14, and it is important that as many members as possible fill the courtroom. The case dates back to September 2010, when City residents learned of the tragic death of 4-year-old Marchella Pierce, who was allegedly killed by her mother and maternal grandmother. In addition to charging the mother and the grandmother, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes alleges that these two Administration for Childrens Services workers did not make the appropriate number of mandated visits they were supposed to make for Marchellas case. They have been charged with negligent homicide, which carries a lengthy prison sentence. The Union and the former members attorneys state that ACS workers are so overburdened with caseloads that it is

physically impossible for them to do all the case work in a timely manner. We need as many members as possible to come out and to support our sister and brother as they go through this difficult process, SSEU Local 371 President Anthony Wells said. Just as important, we need to send a message to the judge that workers are standing up against the scapegoating of the Citys social service workers. Wells added, This isnt just about these two former members. If Bell and Adams are convicted then it will be open season on any member who is buried under excessive caseloads. In the meantime, the same judge is hearing the case against the mother and grandmother. Members who want to attend should get to the courthouse early. The March 14 hearing will start at 9:30 a.m. The court is located at 320 Jay St. (Brooklyn), 15th Floor, Part 15.

CASA Update
The Union is continuing to meet with State and City elected officials in an effort to stave off the Governors Medicaid Redesign Teams plan to eliminate the CASA program, which threatens the jobs of nearly 700 of our members. Obviously, our first priority is to stop the elimination of CASA, not just for our members, but for the seniors and other clients who would be adversely affected, said Vice President of Legislation and Political Action Michelle Akyempong. We are looking at all possible paths so that no matter what happens, no Union member will be out of a job. We should have a back-up plan that averts the layoffs if the elimination goes forward.

The Unionist | February 2012