By GREGORY N. HEIRES

DC 37 is offering an array of support services to laid-off members. And to help them cope with unemployment, the union is extending certain Health and Security benefits.

In June, District Council 37 will hold three meetings at union headquarters for members who lost their jobs. The meetings will provide information about the safety net available to the unemployed, as well as counseling and training to help them return to the workforce.

Executive Director Lillian Roberts announced at the May 14 DC 37 Executive Board meeting that the union would explore the possibility of picking up the fee for the first civil service exam. She also indicated that the union would extend the affected members’ coverage for a number of welfare fund benefits. (For benefit information, click here.)

“We fought as hard as we could to prevent these layoffs, and we want these folks to know that although they lost their jobs, they are still a part of the DC 37 family,” said Ms. Roberts. “We want to do all we can to help them stand on their feet.”

The outreach plan is a combined effort of the union’s field divisions, benefit funds and the Legal and Research Departments, said Barbara Ingram-Edmonds, director of field operations.

The city laid off more than 1,000 members in May in the second round of layoffs this year. Earlier in the year, the city let go about 500 members, and it is targeting another 3,500 positions in the Dept. of Education this month.

Support services offered
The union is preparing information packets to give affected members in the field, at meetings and by mail. The packet will contain facts on DC 37 Health and Security Plan and Education Fund benefits, as well as other benefits for the unemployed provided by the city, the state and by the New York City Central Labor Council.

The DC 37 Personal Services Unit will establish groups for the unemployed, and the union is considering plans to set up a resource room for the affected members at 125 Barclay St. At the June meetings, the DC 37 Education Fund will hold workshops on a range of topics to help laid-off members prepare to re-enter the work force.

On June 3 and 6, four-hour meetings beginning at 10 a.m. will provide laid-off members with information about resources available to the unemployed. Registration will also take place for an all-day session that will be offered by the DC 37 Education Fund on June 28.

At the sessions in early June, career counselors will help the workers target jobs that are appropriate for their employment history. Counselors from the DC 37 Personal Services Unit will hold stress management workshops and sign up people for continuing support groups.

Representatives of the New York City Rapid Response Team will attend the June 3 and 6 meetings, which will be held in Room 1 at DC 37 headquarters. The team is made up of representatives from the New York City Central Labor Council, the city Employment Dept. and the state Labor Dept. It will present information about filing unemployment insurance claims and obtaining food stamps and other forms of public assistance.

The team will also offer important advice about personal finance and unemployment survival strategies and will refer workers to employment services, including job placement and career counseling.

The June 28 meeting sponsored by the DC 37 Education Fund will be held in Room 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Education Fund counselors will lead workshops on such topics as resume preparation, job searches and taking civil service exams.

The sessions will cover both the traditional tests and education and experience exams, in which workers provide background on their schooling and employment history to qualify for certain positions.

“Hopefully, the information and services that the union is providing will help our members affected by the layoffs cope with these difficult times,” said Ms. Roberts.