Public Employee Press

The 2016 budget
Victories in city budget agreement

By MIKE LEE

Negotiations over the New York City budget for FY 2016 ended in a late-night handshake agreement between Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito on June 22, beating the July 1 deadline by more than a week.

The budget totals $78.5 billion, a slight increase over the original proposal by the mayor, yet the budget includes several of the priorities DC 37 has fought for during the drawn-out budget fight this year.

Reacting to the agreement, DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido said, "A budget is a powerful statement of priorities and principles. This budget puts our communities' priorities at the forefront. During the past few months, DC 37 fought to bolster many of the services that are essential to all New Yorkers, and we are pleased that this budget includes much-needed additional funding for a variety of public services, including libraries, parks, pest control, NYCHA senior centers, and more School Crossing Guards to keep our children safe going to and from school."

In a major victory for the union, the budget funds the agreement DC 37 made with the city that insources computer work, converting hundreds of consultant IT positions to jobs for union members.

That agreement, announced in the June Public Employee Press, signals a major shift in direction by City Hall, away from the emphasis placed on privatization by previous mayors Rudy Giuliani and Mike Bloomberg.

Funding six-day library service

The budget agreement provides $43 million to the city's three library systems to increase personnel, enabling greater access and the implementation of six-day service where feasible.

In a joint statement, DC 37 and local unions representing library personnel said: "The funding brings us closer to where the libraries were before the Great Recession of 2008 and the cuts by the Bloomberg administration. This funding is the result of a remarkable coalition effort by DC 37, its library Locals 1930 (NYPL), 1321 (Queens), 1482 (Brooklyn), Local 374 Quasi-Public Employees, the management of the three library systems, advocates and community groups as well as the work of wonderfully supportive Council members such as Finance Chair Julissa Ferreras, Cultural Affairs Committee Chair Jimmy Van Bramer and Costa Constantinides, chair of the Council Subcommittee on Libraries.

"It is a laudable step in the right direction and now comes the hard work of ensuring that libraries are properly staffed to provide the services millions of New Yorkers depend on. We look forward to working with management to make this a reality," the statement continued.

At a City Council Finance Committee hearing on June 9, Local 1930 New York Public Library Guild President Valentin Colon strongly reminded the committee of the need to restore the funding cuts by the Bloomberg administration and the social imperative of serving a growing and changing community. "The city has an incredible need for our services, but we cannot provide them because we do not have the necessary financial resources," he said.

Civilianization at the NYPD

As it has in the past, the union called for putting clerical workers in administrative positions now held by able-bodied, uniformed Police Officers. In the final budget, funding was provided to hire additional NYPD Officers and to civilianize more than 400 positions.

"With this investment, the morale of NYPD employees will improve. Clericals would not fear losing their jobs to uniformed employees," said Local 1549 President Eddie Rodriguez.

"Civilianization is a win-win for the city. It will save taxpayers money over the long run and result in safer streets," Local 1549 2nd Vice President Ralph Palladino said. "It is good public policy."

More School Crossing Guards

The City Council and the administration agreed to hire an additional 80 School Crossing Guards.

At a rally the day after the budget announcement, Local 372 President Shaun D. Francois I struck an upbeat note. "This is a good start toward putting a School Crossing Guard at every school and I thank the mayor and the City Council for their effort to support our hardworking School Crossing Guards, who take on risks when protecting our children," he said.

Money for Parks: saving jobs

The budget agreement also calls for a $1.65 million allocation to the Parks Equity Initiative. "I am thrilled that the City Council has restored funding for Gardeners and maintenance workers - saving 150 vitally needed jobs, and protecting a critical resource for parks in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods," said Council member Mark Levine, chair of the Committee on Parks.

While additional funding for hiring Park Enforcement Patrol officers was already provided in the budget, Local 983 President Joe Puleo had struck a cautious note in his testimony before the Finance Committee. "PEP officers are overwhelmed. There are not enough, to say the least," he said. "We need to place more emphasis on putting money there. Don't forget the parks are where people go. Crime is on the rise throughout the city, and they need to be protected."

NYCHA funding

The initial Executive Budget put out by the mayor on April 7 planned to privatize 57 community and senior centers operated by the New York City Housing Authority, threatening the jobs of union workers and possibly closing the centers.

In the final budget, the operations of the community centers are transferred to the Department of Youth and Community Development.

The City Council has provided funding for 15 of the 32 senior centers for only one year. Operations for those centers will remain with NYCHA, while the remaining 17 will be run by the Department for the Aging. There will be deployment of some union members but no lay-offs. And the threat of contracting out the facilities next year remains, with potential closings of some of these centers.

Rodent control

After years of pest control cuts, the Department of Health is bolstering a rodent control program, called Attacking Rat Reservoirs, by adding 41 new positions to help fight rats, including 10 new Exterminators. "There simply was no effective way to address the city's rat problem and get it under control with the public health staff reductions we have seen over the past decade," said Local 768 President Fitz Reid. "New positions will boost efforts considerably and give us a fighting chance to reduce rodent infestation, and thus improve the quality of life for New Yorkers."