Public Employee Press

JTPs move on to real jobs

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

THE Great Recession in 2008 caused America's job market to lag by 11 million. High unemployment and economic instability set off a race to the bottom that left more Americans in poverty than at any time since World War II. The city's Job Training Participants program was the first step on the road to economic recovery for many New Yorkers who fell through the cracks.

"I was working at Family Dollar for five years. I started in security and worked my way up to assistant manager when the store cut my hours to 15 a week from 38," said Richard Rogers. With two children to support, Rogers fell behind in his rent. "I went to public assistance for a one shot deal and signed up for the JTP program."

Prospect Park supervisors noticed Rogers' work ethic and congeniality and encouraged him to apply for city jobs. In Jan. 2014, the Dept. of Citywide Administrative Services hired Rogers as an Eligibility Specialist. A significant number of people on public assistance now are working, thanks in part to the six-month JTP program that offers wages, union association under DC 37, MetroCards, and job training. The program provides work experience and opportunities to update resumes, earn certifications, obtain commercial driver's licenses and more.

From inception DC 37 opposed former Mayor Rudy Giuliani's implementation of the Work Experience Program, where welfare recipients worked for their benefits, received no wages and little else under President Bill Clinton's sweeping welfare reform.

DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido said, "WEP created a shadow workforce of indentured servants and failed to offer real training, jobs or opportunities to move people off welfare."

Giuliani enacted WEP in 1995 which became the nation's largest workfare program. To date, each year 36,000 to 56,000 down-on-their-luck New Yorkers have passed through WEP as unpaid labor.

WEP ends

Last fall Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the end of WEP and an overhaul of public assistance under the Human Resources Administration. DC 37 supports the mayor's bold move to end WEP, because it displaced some of the city's unionized municipal workforce.

The union has pushed for real job creation which Republican mayors blocked. Garrido said, "The Wall St. bust and bailout coupled with Bloomberg's privatization, massive layoffs and hiring freeze only worsened the impact and loss of wealth experienced by New Yorkers and the nation during the Great Recession."

"I chose JTP over WEP because I wanted to work for real wages, not welfare. I'd rather manage my own money and not work for free," said Rogers. "I work and pay my taxes and the JTP program was here when I needed it most. Without it I would have failed my children."

Michaela Person braves the harsh weather as she checks credentials at the highly secured World Trade Center. "I was just an unemployed cashier with no real skills until I became a JTP," she said. At Parks, Persons got her commercial driver's license and security certification. "I earn a higher salary now and can stand on my own," Person said.

Michael Vargas went from Parks JTP to City Parks Worker in Local 1505. He said, "As a JTP I was on time and willing to do overtime, I showed dedication. I got my driver's license and learned the job.

"For me welfare is not an option," Vargas said. "I had no steady job. I looked everywhere for work. When this job with Parks came up, I made sure I was ready and qualified."

Vargas was once an Adopt-a-Highway supervisor but was laid off. "That job was dangerous. It had no benefits and nowhere to expand or grow," he said. "My Parks Dept. job is a whole lot better. I have union benefits and a chance to move up. I feel blessed to be here."