More than 50 members of Clerical-Administrative Local 1549 got the shock of their working lives when city marshals showed up Jan. 17 to evict them and scores of clients from a Food Stamp office in Long Island City.

They were thrown into the street because the Human Resources Administration failed to vacate the building after its lease expired at the end of November.

When outraged clients refused to leave without their benefits, the marshals called in the police to clear the facility.

“The marshals and the landlord came and told us we had 10 minutes to vacate and to bring whatever we could. We told the clients to hold on to their paperwork, because we didn’t know where we would be going,” said Shop Steward Harriett Busby, a Clerical Associate 3 who called the union.

Members relocated
“It was insulting to have our members treated like boxes and put out on the sidewalk,” said Ronnie Harris, assistant director of the Clerical–Administrative Division.

The good news is these members have finally been relocated to a spacious renovated facility on Queens Boulevard.

But the memory still lingers of being rudely hustled out of their old work site. Many employees are filing claims with HRA for personal belongings that they were forced to leave behind.

“Members had to leave with only what they had on their backs,” said Dorothy Chambers, chair of Local 1549’s Department of Social Services (DSS) Chapter. “It’s horrible to come to work and next thing you know, you’re evicted. It’s just not right.”

In a news release, HRA said the agency understood “that it could remain at the premises until Jan. 29.” However, the landlord told the union the city was supposed to be out by Nov. 30, and a city request to stay the eviction had been denied.

“The city was very coldhearted,” Ms. Chambers said. “They were playing a waiting game — hoping the new building would be ready before the landlord took action — and they waited too long.”

DC 37 Rep Eddie Gates said workers felt terrible about being evicted and “couldn’t believe what went down.”

As soon as the evicted members called the union, Local 1549 swung into action. Deputy Administrator Dan Persons called HRA First Deputy Commissioner Mark Hoover and Ralph Zinzi, head of HRA Labor Relations. He made sure the agency immediately relocated the members to two nearby centers.

In a separate call to Mr. Hoover, Deputy Administrator Delsie Butler requested a site inspection. “No way our members are moving to a renovated facility without a walkthrough to be sure it’s safe,” she told him. He agreed to the request.

Dispatched to the site by the local, Mr. Gates discovered that the new building had no electricity. The union had to go back twice — the final time Jan. 23 with HRA management and labor relations officials — before finding the building suitable for members to be moved in.

“The new facility is beautiful, modern and up-to-date,” Mr. Gates said. “There is more space for the workers and the clients, plus room to expand. The members are very happy with the new location.”

Ms. Busby concurred. “We’re still unpacking and working out of boxes, but we’re getting the job done,” she said.

Meanwhile, the union will be supporting members who have claims against HRA for personal items confiscated during the eviction.