District Council 37 and the City of New York Announce a No Layoff Agreement for Union Members through June 2021
District Council 37, the city’s largest public employee union, has reached a tentative no layoff agreement with the City of New York that would save the jobs of thousands of municipal workers through fiscal year 2021.
The agreement would save the City of New York $164 million by deferring payments to the union’s welfare funds in exchange for no layoffs of DC 37 members in city-funded positions through June 2021.
The agreement further stipulates that should the City of New York be granted $5 billion in budget relief, the no layoff agreement would be extended through June 30, 2022.
Key Points
· The deferral of payments totaling $164 million to the four welfare funds (the DC 37 Benefit Trust, the 372 Severance Related Fund, the SSEU Local 371 Health & Welfare Fund, and the DC 37 Education Fund) will have no impact on the union’s ability to continue to provide benefits to its membership.
· All parties have agreed to an audit and reconciliation of monies owed during the period of the agreement to be completed no later than May 31, 2021.
·The City will make contributions in two lump sum payments in September and November of 2021 to the union’s four welfare funds.
“Our responsibility as union leaders is first and foremost to protect the jobs of our members,” said Henry Garrido, executive director of District Council 37. “DC 37 members have allowed the City to maintain and in many ways, pivot, to provide necessary services to New Yorkers during these challenging times. We should all be appreciative that they may continue to do so without the threat of layoffs. We will continue to push all levels of government to fund the frontlines in practice not just rhetoric.”
Shaun D. Francois I, president of DC 37 and Local 372 said: “At a time when our country is experiencing catastrophic losses, I am happy the political leadership of New York City worked with the union leadership of DC 37, Local 372, and Local 371, to avert layoffs for the City’s most vulnerable workers. The human cost of layoffs would have been felt throughout the entire city. By taking these responsible steps, this agreement ensures that workers who have been here the whole time through this pandemic will continue to serve the students and families of New York City while supporting and providing for their own loved ones. I am proud to say the threat of layoffs has been shut down. We are union strong and will continue to fight for our members.”
Anthony Wells, president of SSEU Local 371 said: “Workers’ jobs have been saved. Lives are protected. We thank all who helped. City fiscal issues require cool heads, negotiation, and commitment. This is a first step,”
