Public Employee Press

MELS tackles personal finance management at union workshop


Managing personal finances, coping with bankruptcy and establishing credit were some of the topics covered during a workshop sponsored by the union's Municipal Employees Legal Services.

Among the participants was Supervising Social Worker Donna D'Andrea, who emphasized the importance of tracking your daily spending and creating a spending plan.

"A spending plan is a road map to help you reach your financial goals," D'Andrea said, during the June 8 workshop at union headquarters.

Financial counselor Charisse Smith gave a brief history of the credit card industry and advised members to always check the fine print of the credit terms, especially the interest rates and late fees. "Those fees keep getting higher and higher," she said.

Supervising Attorney Sheldon Barasch, who works in the MELS Bankruptcy Law Unit, gave pointers on how to reestablish credit after declaring bankruptcy.

The workshop is one of several that MELS sponsors throughout the year.

"We have 65 lawyers and seven social workers who provide quality services to our members," said MELS Director and Chief Counsel Joan L. Beranbaum. "Our staffers spend most of their time working on cases, interviewing members and going to court. Our workshops provide an additional service where we can help members avoid financial and legal problems."

— Alfredo Alvarado