The union filed two lawsuits
last month demanding that the city stop using the new federally funded
Job Training Participant position to displace members of Locals 299,
983 and 1505.
The suits charge that the JTP title in the Parks Dept. has undermined
wages, impaired contracts and destroyed regular civil service jobs.
The union says the new title violates provisions of the state Social
Services Law, which requires subsidized public sector job recipients
to receive the same benefits as existing employees and
bans them from replacing laid-off workers or displacing current employees.
The JTPs in Parks are paid with federal welfare-to-work funds. They
get no benefits or union representation and are paid $7.50 per hour,
well below existing rates.
They do the same work as the City Seasonal Aides, City Park Workers,
Playground Assistants and Playground Associates in the three DC 37
locals. Because of the new title, hundreds of seasonal workers will
not be rehired this summer.
The court actions were filed on behalf of DC 37 Executive Director
Lillian Roberts, President Veronica Montgomery-Costa, Local 299 President
Louis Sbar, Local 983 President Mark Rosenthal and Local 1505 President
Michael Hood.