PEP, September 2003: Union helps laid-off members.

By GREGORY N. HEIRES

Many laid-off members are taking advantage of a range of resources offered by DC 37 to help them re-enter the workforce.

“The layoffs were a tragedy, and we are doing all we can to help these workers transition to new jobs,” DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts said.

As the city let go 1,000 DC 37 members in May and the Dept. of Education laid off another 3,500 in June, the union quickly answered the need. DC 37 initiated a series of meetings and classes to help laid-off members get unemployment and other benefits and prepare for new work.

This month, the DC 37 Education Fund will sponsor an all-day training session that focuses on test preparation for laid-off school employees. The session, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13 at union headquarters, will inform participants about job searches, test-taking techniques and writing resumes, as well as allow them to register for a four-week computer class.

The Sept. 13 program will also help laid-off members prepare for the College Level Examination Program exam, which helps workers get college credit for learning experience outside the classroom.

“If you are successful, CLEP allows you to earn a lot of credits for your work or life experience,” said Barbara Kairson, administrator of the Education Fund. “It can lead to substantial savings on tuition, so it’s especially beneficial to people who are out of work and making a career change.”

The union was set to hold informational meetings for Local 372 members on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29 (after PEP went to press). Representatives of city and state agencies and labor and community organizations were to advise the former education workers about obtaining unemployment insurance, counseling services, food stamps and other aid.

Providing support at the August meetings and earlier sessions in June and July were the New York City Central Labor Council, the Consortium for Worker Education and Community Food Resources. At the information meetings, DC 37 Health and Security plan representatives have been on hand. They have informed laid-off members about counseling services and the extension of certain benefits for a limited period, as well as health care options.

To help laid-off members get other city jobs, DC 37 will reimburse their fees for the first civil service exam they take. At the informational meetings, the union has given participants $4 MetroCards to cover their transportation.

Over the summer, dozens signed up for a four-week computer course offered by the Education Fund. The fund held two sessions of the class, which gave participants an introduction to Microsoft Word. “I really liked the course and learned a lot,” said Rosa Zuluaga, a former clerical worker at the Administration for Child-ren’s Services.

Errol Brown, who used to work as a Senior School Neighborhood Worker in Brooklyn and Staten Island, attended an informational meeting July 8. He said that unless he could find a decent job by the end of the year, he would have to return to his native Jamaica.

“This is what you get from the Republicans,” said Mr. Brown, suggesting that the layoffs were politically driven. “Once you had the Republicans take over the whole state and city, you had to prepare for something like this.”