Public Employee Press

NYCHA axes 200, gives jobs to nonprofits

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

For Community Service Aide Johanna Ramos, the layoff from the New York City Housing Authority came at the worst possible time. Ramos, the mother of four-year-old Jaron, is about to give birth to her second child.

“I’m going to keep looking for another job,” said the Local 768 member, who worked five years at the Albizu Campos Community Center on the Lower East Side. “I have to get back to work, I have bills to pay.”

17 jobs saved
It is always the worst of times for workers who lose their jobs, and Ramos is one of 201 DC 37 members — CSAs, Community Assistants and Community Associates — who lost their health insurance along with their jobs Feb. 20 when NYCHA dumped them on the street. The 69 members of Health Services Employees Local 768 and 132 members of SSEU Local 371 worked at NYCHA community centers providing child care, tutoring and recreational services to the children of housing project residents. In last-minute negotiations, the agency agreed to retain 17 more senior Local 371 members.

In a tricky budget maneuver, after the City Council voted funds to save the NYCHA centers and jobs, Mayor Bloomberg used the money to contract out the operation to community organizations through the Dept. of Youth and Community Development.

“They’re hiring replacements right under our noses!” said Ramos.

“Giving money to nonprofit organizations to replace workers with years of experience is union busting,” said Local 768 President Fitz Reid.

Moore blasts Mayor
In a tough battle to win back the jobs, the DC 37 Legal Dept. worked closely with the locals to file a lawsuit and a request for arbitration of a grievance against the layoffs. The court case charges that the contracting out violated the City Charter, state Constitution and Local Law 35, which requires agencies to conduct a comparative cost analysis before contracting out.

Moore blasted the mayor’s decision to contract out the services while laying off the workers. “These layoffs were completely unnecessary,” she said, “because the City Council allocated $18 million to save the centers and the workers’ jobs.”