Public Employee Press

City considers cuts, furloughs, layoffs

Despite budget restorations, the New York City Housing Authority continues to raise the possibility of cutbacks in personnel and programs.

In meetings with union leaders, NYCHA has discussed possible furloughs and laying off workers in the Resident Watch program.

Earlier this year, NYCHA announced deep cuts after the federal government informed the agency of an unexpected $250 million budget shortfall because of the automatic spending cuts known as the sequester. Alarmed, the union then worked with the City Council to secure the restoration of $58 million in the agency's budget, which was supposed to hold off any budgetary bloodletting until at least Dec. 31.

But in discussions over the summer, NYCHA told union leaders that it is still considering cutbacks before the beginning of next year.

Those include the layoff of the 125 Local 768 members who work for the Resident Watch program. The workers' part-time positions - which involve monitoring building entrances for two hours during the evening - will be eliminated if NYCHA carries out its plan to convert Resident Watch into a volunteer program.

"We have indicated our strong opposition to these possible layoffs," said Fitz Reid, president of Health Services Employees Local 768. "This program is part of NYCHA's mandate. The program should not operate with unpaid, or dare I say, slave labor."

NYCHA officials are blaming the city Office of Management and Budget for the cuts on the table this year. So far, they say, OMB has refused to release the $58 million in budget restorations.

"We are very disturbed with the way the authority is addressing this situation," DC 37 Associate Director Henry Garrido said. "Virtually everything they want to do will hurt workers and the tenants, who will see the availability of vital services decline if the cuts go through. It's all about following the old management tactic of balancing the budget on the backs of the workers."

Garrido faulted NYCHA for not considering management cuts. In addition, he said, the agency should be looking at waste, such as its spending on a hiring firm, consultants and unneeded scaffolding.

The agency loses millions of dollars each year by paying contractors for scaffolding that remains on buildings long after renovations are concluded.

Meanwhile, Social Service Employees Union Local 371 continues its fight to save the jobs of 75 members whose positions are targeted for elimination as NYCHA closes its community and youth centers.

"It's our position that they have the money to avoid these draconian cuts," Local 371 President Anthony Wells said. "We are confident we will convince them to drop the idea of layoffs at the centers. We're not backing down."

"When we met with NYCHA in August and they mentioned the possibility of furloughs, we said, 'Absolutely not!' " said Walthene Primus, president of Housing Authority Clerical Employees Local 957. "We will continue to deliver that message to them - loudly and clearly."