District Council 37
NEWS & EVENTS Info:
(212) 815-7555
DC 37    |   PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PRESS    |   ABOUT    |   ORGANIZING    |   NEWSROOM    |   BENEFITS    |   SERVICES    |   CONTRACTS    |   POLITICS    |   CONTACT US    |   SEARCH   |   
  Public Employee Press
   

PEP June 2016
Table of Contents
    Archives
 
  La Voz
Latinoamericana
     
 

Public Employee Press

Local 420 dietary workers receive $1 million education fund


"This is a life-changing opportunity for members to remake themselves through education."
— Carmen Charles, Local 420 President

The cost of returning to school just got $2,000 cheaper for NYC Health + Hospitals dietary workers in Local 420 titles.

"This is a life-changing opportunity for members to remake themselves through education," said Local 420 President Carmen Charles.

DC 37 and Local 420 worked for more than a decade to establish the educational fund for dietary workers.

"More than a million dollars has become available for our members who are dietary workers at Health and Hospitals to use toward their education at accredited schools and colleges," said DC 37 Hospitals Division Director Audrey McConney. "We do not want anyone to miss this chance."

When Health + Hospitals contracted out its food services to Sodexo, the company agreed to set aside money for an education fund for dietary workers represented by DC 37. Local 420 is committed to helping the workers further their education and acquire new job skills.

Dietary workers can study other aspects of health care like medical billing and coding, safe patient care, or pursue a different field altogether, Charles said. The school must be accredited and the student must maintain a C average or better to qualify for the $2,000 annual grant. The money does not have to be repaid as long as the member meets the qualifications.

"The union is working to make the education dreams and goals of dietary workers a reality," Charles said. "So despite staffing shortages, management will work with these members' school schedules."

Additionally, dietary workers can build their math and writing skills with free remedial courses offered through the DC 37 Education Fund in Lower Manhattan (see www.dc37.net). Members may also qualify for an annual $800 tuition reimbursement that is part of the union benefits package. Students must maintain a C average or better to qualify.

"Your union is investing in you and putting $2,800 in hand for every dietary worker who takes advantage of this education grant," Charles said. "Make this part of your plan to improve your life. If you don't know, ask. The union is here to help you.

"Don't be overly concerned or let pride stand in the way of you getting where you want to go. It's your future and your union is helping you shape it," Charles said.

— DSW

 
© District Council 37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO | 125 Barclay Street, New York, NY 10007 | Privacy Policy | Sitemap