AFSCME FREE COLLEGE: IMPORTANT UPDATE

The U.S. Department of Education notified AFSCME “Free College” partners — Eastern Gateway Community College (EGCC), Central State University and Paul Quinn College — that they could no longer offer no-cost college to AFSCME members and their families. As a result, new students may not enroll. There is no financial liability owed by any former or existing students who participated in the program.

AFSCME is engaged in discussions with the department and EGCC concerning the continuing education of existing students. Continuation at no cost should not be an issue for any student who qualifies for a federal Pell Grant. To find out if you are eligible, please complete an application form and the college’s financial office will calculate your eligibility before you enroll.  

For those who are not Pell eligible, and do not have an alternative source of funding, such as an employer or union trust funded tuition assistance program, AFSCME is seeking to continue Free College until their education is complete, but it does not now have an assurance that will be the case.  

VOLUNTEER for the DC 37 PHONE BANK!

DC 37 needs your help. Can you volunteer to call your union sisters and brothers to support State and Senate House candidates DC 37 endorses? Your voice is powerful and can make a difference in the weeks leading up to the New York State Democratic Primary. The Political Action Department makes phone-banking easy for you and will provide training, scripts and more. To volunteer, sign up here: https://bit.ly/DC37GreenMachine. New York State Primary Day is August 23, early voting starts August 13.

HEALTH and WELLNESS

THE DC 37 HEALTH AND SECURITY PLAN IS HERE TO HELP YOU COPE WITH STRESS AND ANXIETY

Many people feel Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in the face of uncertainty. If these feelings are overwhelming, the Personal Service Unit (PSU) is here to help. Common symptoms to be aware of include:

• Emotional Symptoms: Anxiety, Depression, Sadness, Loss, Isolation, Mood Swings, Worry
• Physical Symptoms: Disrupted Sleep or Appetite, Chest Palpitations, Upset Stomach, Headaches
• Behavioral Symptoms: Outbursts, Short Tempered Communication, Difficulty making Decisions

HOW CAN A PSU SOCIAL WORKER HELP YOU?

• Offer a safe place to discuss and process feelings through confidential individual counseling sessions. We are presently offering tele-therapy.
• Assist members to challenge negative thoughts and develop a more optimistic outlook.

To contact PSU for Confidential Counseling Services, please call 212-815-1250 or 212-815-1260 Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 12:30 PM, to be screened for services. 

DC 37’s PSU OFFERS SUPPORT FOR RETIRED AND DISABLED MEMBERS

Do you feel more alone since you retired or are out of work due to a disability? Do you need someone to listen? Do you need assistance from community agencies due to health problems?

Retirement or being out of work due to a disability can present new challenges. The Outreach Support Program of the DC 37 Health and Security Plan’s Personal Service Unit provides phone support and guidance to retirees and disabled members. Outreach workers are supportive listeners who are knowledgeable about resources in the community and refer members to home health care, transportation, senior citizen centers, entitlements, and additional services. If you need support, referrals, or are homebound, we can help. If you would like to hear from an Outreach worker, please call Eloisa Guzman-Rodriguez at 212- 815-1250. 

988 NEW SUICIDE PREVENTION HELPLINE

The new 988 is a shortened helpline to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The new code works like 911 and is a critical step forward in transforming the crisis care system. The 988 helpline is meant for people experiencing mental health crises, up to and including suicidal thoughts, and those worried about loved ones who need crisis support. The previous lifeline number (1-800-273-8255) and services are still available. 

COVID-19 INFORMATION, COVID-19 ADVISORY, and VACCINE MANDATE UPDATE

DC 37 wants to help members stay safe in Year 3 of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 is still present and we must work together to lessen the spread of COVID-19 and its highly contagious variants, including Omicron and BA-5, the sub-variant driving the most recent COVID-19 surge. DOHMH urges people over 50 to get the second COVID-19 vaccine booster.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, DOHMH, recently shared an advisory that recommends indoor masking citywide to lessen COVID-19 spread. DOHMH advises individuals to continue to follow precautions and do their part to help stop the spread:

• Wear a high-quality mask indoors and in crowds outdoors
• Get vaccinated and boosted
• Get tested
• Wash your hands with soap and water frequently
• If you feel sick stay home
• If you test positive, consult your healthcare provider

For more information, click HERE.

City employees are encouraged to wear masks indoors in public spaces, but it is not mandated. Read the advisory HERE. For information on COVID-19 protocols for City employees, including the DCAS Commissioner Directive for Face Coverings, COVID-19 vaccine mandate, COVID testing sites for City employees, NYS worker's compensation and short-term disability, and FEMA COVID-19 burial assistance, click HERE.

MONKEYPOX: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The World Health Organization, WHO, recently declared the Monkeypox outbreak a global health crisis. New York City is the epicenter for Monkeypox with the highest number of cases in the U.S. Monkeypox, or orthopoxvirus, is a rare viral disease that does not occur naturally in the U.S. Cases in this country have been associated with international travel or importation of animals from areas where the disease is more common.

Transmission is by direct contact with the sores or rash of someone with Monkeypox. The risk of exposure through intimate contact is increasing. It can also spread by contact with bedding, clothing and other items, as well as by respiratory droplets during face-to-face contact with someone with the virus.

Symptoms generally appear seven to 14 days after exposure. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. The most common symptoms are rashes and sores that appear on the face, inside the mouth, on hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus.

Most cases result in mild symptoms. Even with mild illness, the rash and sores can be itchy and painful and can last for two to four weeks. If you are experiencing symptoms, isolate immediately and consult your healthcare provider, who can conduct testing.

The JYNNEOS vaccine is available by appointment and supplies are limited.

The City opened three vaccination clinics:

• Bushwick Education: 440 Irving Avenue in Brooklyn
• Aviation High School: 45-30 36th Street in Queens
• Bronx High School of Science: 75 W 205th Street in the Bronx

New York City implemented a one-dose vaccine strategy in July as it awaits the delivery of additional vaccine doses from the federal government. Two doses of the vaccine four weeks apart are recommended. For information click HERE.

LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE

Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by bacteria that grows in warm water. It cannot be spread or transmitted by person-to-person contact. Legionnaires’ is spread by breathing in the water vapor (mist) from cooling towers, saunas, and hot tubs. Drinking cold water from the faucet does not transmit Legionnaires’ disease.

Legionnaires’ causes flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, muscle aches or cough. Complications from the disease can result in fatalities. There is no vaccine available. Symptoms are treated with antibiotics. Prevention is promoted by appropriate maintenance and treatment of water towers.

Who are at risk of contracting Legionnaires’ disease? Individuals 50 years old or older, smokers, people with chronic lung disease, a weakened immune system, or who take medicines that weaken the immune system have an increased risk.

The recent outbreak in Highbridge, Bronx, resulted in two fatalities and 24 cases. DOHMH contained the outbreak that ended on June 18, 2022. For information click HERE.

DC 37 DENTAL CENTER is OPEN

The newly renovated, state-of-the-art DC 37 Dental Center at 115 Chambers Street in Lower Manhattan is a 30-seat facility that offers advanced dental and periodontal care and full-service dental care to members, retirees, and their dependents. The Dental Center accepts appointments Mon. to Fri., 8 AM to 6 PM and Sat., 8 AM to 5 PM. To schedule a visit, please call 212-766-4440.

AUGUST is MSK IMMUNIZATION MONTH

DC 37 is concerned about your and your family’s health and how to protect yourself from preventable cancers, such as those from HPV. Human papillomavirus (HPV) and the cancers caused by the virus are everyone’s concern. Each year, more than 34,000 people in the US will develop cancers linked to HPV, but the majority of these cases can be prevented with vaccination before exposure. Watch this short video to learn about the HPV vaccine and talk to your doctor.  

DC 37 and MSK have partnered to help union members screen for cancer and receive care from esteemed MSK professionals. Contact an MSK Direct care advisor through the DC 37 dedicated phone line at 833-786-3365.

Get personalized screening recommendations and tips on how to lower your risk for cancer HERE. If you or a family member would like to discuss treatment options, please click HERE or call MSK Direct at 833-786-3365.

WORKWELL NYC

FINANCIAL FITNESS BOOT CAMP

National Financial Awareness Day is August 14. Follow WorkWell NYC on Instagram to participate in our Financial Fitness Boot Camp. All month long, enjoy financial fitness tips, videos, challenges and more!

PAINT and RELAX

Join WorkWell NYC for a virtual Paint and Relax and complete a "Waterfall of Abundance" painting, August 11 at 6:30 PM! Hang it up at home or display it at work to attract positive energy and personal wealth. Register HERE.

UNLOCK YOUR INNER CHAMPION!

Calling all wellness enthusiasts! Join the WorkWell NYC Champion program, where you can help change the culture of wellness at your worksite by promoting and sharing wellness information with your co-workers. Find your community, become a Champion, and register HERE.

MELS

COVID-19 UPDATE:

NEW YORK STATE HOMEOWNERS ASSISTANCE FUND – UP TO $50,000 AVAILABLE FOR DISTRESSED HOME, CO-OP AND CONDOMINIUM OWNERS  

Homeowners at risk of foreclosure or displacement due to a financial hardship suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for up to $50,000 through the New York State Homeowner Assistance Fund. There are income and other eligibility requirements. For more information and to apply, visit: www.nyhomeownerfund.org or call 844-77-NYHAF (844-776-9423). If you own a home, co-op or condo and are in need of legal assistance or help navigating the NYS Homeowner Assistance Program, please call the MELS Screening Unit at 212-815-1111.

STUDENT LOAN FORBEARANCE EXTENSION EXPIRES AUG. 31

On April 6, 2022, the U.S. Department of Education announced a further extension of the CARES Act student loan forbearance. The pause on direct student loan payments, interest accrual and collection activity on direct student loans in default will remain in place through August 31, 2022. Payments are to resume on Sept. 1, 2022. At this time, plans for a further extension have not been announced.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the student loan servicing agencies will contact borrowers with instructions for resuming monthly payments.  As a reminder, the forbearance does not apply to Parent Plus loans, Perkins loans, or FFELP loans. Members with questions about the extension are encouraged to contact the DC 37 MELS Screening and Intake office at 212- 815-1111 to speak with an attorney.

STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS TEMPORARY WAIVER EXPIRES OCT. 31

PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS TEMPORARY WAIVER

On October 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education temporarily waived a number of the requirements borrowers who qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) must meet. The waiver period expires on October 31, 2022. Required steps must be completed prior to that date in order to take advantage of the benefits of the waiver.

To take advantage of the temporary waiver (see below), borrowers who are employed full-time in public service who have indirect student loans (FFEL; Perkins) or who have been in repayment on non-qualifying repayment plans, or both, must consolidate their indirect loans, select an income-driven repayment plan, and submit the PSLF Employer Certification form by October 31, 2022. Doing so will allow the borrower to receive credit for prior payments made toward PSLF on non-qualifying repayment plans.

Use the 20-minute Help Tool at StudentAId.gov/PSLF to see if you are eligible for loan forgiveness, or visit PSLF.nyc to join a webinar or find one-on-one help.

WAIVER of the QUALIFYING REPAYMENT PLAN RULE

Under the traditional rules, to qualify for PSLF a borrower working full-time in qualified employment was required to make 120 payments toward their direct federal student loan debt pursuant to one of the four income-driven repayment (IDR) plan options: PAYE, RE-PAYE, Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment. Borrower’s switching to a qualifying plan received no credit for their prior payments. During the waiver period, prior payments made on non-qualifying plans will count toward the required 120 PSLF payments provided borrowers complete the steps set forth above prior to the deadline.

BORROWERS with FFEL and PERKINS LOANS

Borrowers with FFEL and Perkins loans (indirect loans) have an improved pathway to PSLF. Under the traditional rules, only direct federal student loans qualified for PSLF. Borrowers with FFEL loans and Perkins loans had to consolidate to a direct consolidated federal loan in order to qualify for PSLF. Payments made prior to consolidation did not count toward PSLF. During the waiver period, borrowers must still consolidate. However, provided a borrower consolidates during the waiver period and switches to a qualifying IDR plan, payments made prior to consolidation, will count toward PSLF.

For information on the appropriate steps to take, affected members and their eligible family members can call MELS at 212-815-1111 to speak with an attorney.

FAMILIES

CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES AVAILABLE

The income thresholds for Child Care Facilitated Enrollment have increased to 300% of Federal Poverty Levels and now have much lower co-pays. The increase means more DC 37 members may be eligible for subsidized day care programs for working families in New York City and Long Island.

The increased FPL for the Child Care Facilitated Enrollment Project is retroactive to April. On June 1, the cap on parental co-pays was lowered to one percent from 10% of a family’s income over the FPL.

Families can find an updated fact sheet with the new income thresholds on DC 37’s website: https://www.dc37.net/about/services/childcare_subsidies. NYC residents can apply here: https://www.cwenet.net/nysfe-1. Program details and a website for Long Island residents are forthcoming.

PAID FAMILY LEAVE BENEFIT

The New York State Paid Family Leave benefit is 12 weeks. The maximum weekly paid benefit is $971.61 or $1,943 bi-weekly. This union-negotiated benefit is available to nearly all DC 37 members, including members in the six nonprofit and private sector locals. For details about the PFL benefit, please contact your union representative. To access the 2022 PFL benefits calculator, visit: https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/PFLbenefitscalculator2022. For information on childcare and other special programs for New York City residents, click HERE.

DC 37 EDUCATION FUND

REGISTRATION for FALL SEMESTER IS OPEN

Registration for the FALL 2022 semester with the Education Fund is now available on the DC 37 website. For more information on classes still accepting applications, current schedules or to register for a program, click HERE.

EDUCATION AND CAREER COUNSELING  

Do you need guidance selecting a class from our offerings, updating a resume or need assistance reaching a career or educational goal? To contact an Ed Fund counselor, click here to schedule a virtual appointment.

CUNY COUNSELING IS HERE FOR YOU!

This is the ideal time to plan for FALL 2022 enrollment at the CUNY college of your choice. Let Worker Education at the CUNY School of Labor & Urban Studies (SLU) help guide you through the process of finding the best CUNY program to match your education and career goals.

Expert advisors offer FREE one-on-one phone sessions on: academic requirements for specific jobs; choosing a CUNY campus and major; applying to and financing a CUNY degree; certificate and non-credit options at CUNY, transferring previous credits, and more. Each session is free and catered to your specific goals and needs.

To view the calendar and schedule your CUNY advisement session, click here: https://cunydays.eventbrite.com/ . Can't find a date/time that works for you? Email [email protected].

UPDATE: THE GED EXAM HAS CHANGED AGAIN

In January 2022, the name of the exam is the GED again but the format has also changed. There are now four subtests instead of five. The Reading and Writing subtests are combined to form the Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) subtest. The other three subtests remain: Social Studies, Science and Mathematical Reasoning. Passing scores from previous exams will count toward the passing scores. However, the exam is a Computer Based Test (CBT). Each test taker must create their own GED account to schedule an exam. To create the GED account, click HERE. For more information on Education Fund GED classes, email [email protected].

GET CERTIFIED AS A CNA OR EKG/PHLEBOTOMY TECHNICIAN  

In conjunction with Hostos Community College, the Education Fund is offering classes to prepare members to become a licensed Certified Nursing Assistant as well as licensed EKG and Phlebotomy technicians. Both programs have pre-requisites (CNA requires a high school diploma while EKG/Phlebotomy requires a current and active CNA license). For more information and to register for the CNA program, click HERE. For more information and to register for the EKG/Phlebotomy program, click HERE.

CPA REVIEW CLASSES TO PREPARE FOR THE CPA EXAM

In conjunction with Monroe College, the Education Fund offers review sessions to help members who plan to take the Certified Public Accountant exam. This Fall, the review sessions will cover the Regulations section of the exam. Interested members will be required to submit undergraduate transcripts or other documents as a prerequisite for the course. All applicants must have 150 college credits, qualify to sit for the CPA Exam and have a bachelor’s or master’s degree to enter the program. For more information and to register, click HERE.

EARN A CISCO OR COMPTIA+ CERTIFICATION

In conjunction with Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), the Education Fund is offering courses that prepare members to sit for the following certification exams: CISCO CCNA, CompTIA A+, Network+, Linux+ and Security+. These courses will mostly be offered virtually with a handful of classes taking place at BMCC’s learning lab located at 25 Broadway in lower Manhattan. There are stringent requirements for this course including a recommendation letter, technical assessment and interview. For more information on the program and to register, click HERE.

COMPUTER CLASSES OFFERED VIRTUALLY

The Education Fund offers various computer classes:

• Introduction to Computers (click HERE to register and for more information)
• Microsoft Excel (click HERE to register and for more information)
• Microsoft Office Certification (click HERE to register and for more information)
• Microsoft PowerPoint (click HERE to register and for more information)
• Microsoft Word (click HERE to register and for more information)

RETIREES EDUCATION COURSES FOR FALL

The Ed Fund is accepting applications for online classes for the FALL 2022 cycle. Apply online HERE or visit: https://www.dc37.net/benefits/education/deptclasses/retirees. Or you can print and mail the application to the address indicated. For questions, please contact Manuel Gomez-Rosa at [email protected] or call 212-815-1700.

SAVE the DATE!

NYC's annual LABOR DAY PARADE and MARCH RETURNS to FIFTH AVENUE in MANHATTAN SATURDAY, SEPT. 10 at 10 AM

You're invited to the Workers Leading, Workers Rising Labor Day Parade and March on September 10, at 10 AM kicking off from Fifth Avenue and East 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan. Grand Marshal U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh will lead the parade with Parade Chairs AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Fred Redmond and  NYC Commissioner of Labor Roberta Reardon.

DC 37 and its locals will assemble on East 46th St. between Fifth and Vanderbilt Avenues with an approximate march time of 12 noon. Come out and support your union as we show our solidarity and strength. Ask your union rep or local president for details, or call the DC 37 Political Action Department at 212-815-1550.  #UNIONMADE