Public Employee Press

Victory as state adds 60 new workers to city courts

Court, County and Dept. of Probation Employees Local 1070 added more than 60 new members to its ranks after the state Office of Court Administration filled job vacancies at New York City courthouses.

"We lost a lot of members when OCA implemented its work reduction plan in 2011 and eliminated 99 members' jobs," said Local 1070 President Fausto Sabatino. "We have been pushing for four years to get those positions filled. Finally, OCA listened and hired more unionized staff."

OCA hired Court Reporters, Court Interpreters, clericals, Court Office Assistants, Data Recording Assistants, Court Aides, Driver/Messengers, the whole gamut of titles Local 1070 represents, to increase staff and move the backlog of cases in criminal, family and probate courts, as well as other branches of OCA.

Local 1070 held an orientation for the new members on Dec. 4. where union officers and reps presented a brief history of the union, explained benefits and enrolled new employees in the union's Health and Security Plan and the PEOPLE program, the political and legislative fundraising arm of DC 37's parent union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Though the union established a recall list at the time of the 2011 layoffs, Sabatino said, OCA let the list expire.

"Hiring more staff has always been a top priority for the local," he said. "We have put this on the table - to bring back people - at every labor-management meeting and bargaining session we've attended."

To move the glut of pending cases, Sabatino, Local 1070 Vice President Michelle Lumpkin and executive board members, along with Chris Wilgenkamp, the former assistant director of DC 37's White Collar Division, convinced OCA to fill court positions with qualified civil servants. OCA was spending upwards of $2 million a year for per diem Interpreters to handle the pileup of work caused by the mass layoffs.

Sabatino said, "OCA is gradually adding more staff to fill positions that were eliminated through lay- offs, retirement, attrition and promotions."

Sabatino said 38 positions became vacant as members of Local 1070 passed exams and were promoted. He credited the DC 37 Education Fund for offering members test prep courses for promotional exams.

"We offer these opportunities," he said, "because the union is committed to helping members succeed and do better for themselves and their families by improving their skills, earning power and quality of life."

— Diane S. Williams