State Aid to HA Not Enough to Save 500 Jobs; Oct. 1 Layoffs to Hit DC 37 Members the Hardest

State Aid to HA Not Enough to Save 500 Jobs; Oct. 1 Layoffs to Hit DC 37 Members the Hardest

By MEREDITH KOLODNER

Governor Spitzer last week signed a bill that will steer $47 million to the deficit-ridden Housing Authority, but there is no plan to halt the layoff of as many as 500 administrative staffers slated for Oct. 1.

GOVERNER SPITZER: Provides needed relief. The money will go to plug the projected $51.6 million budget gap, but halting the layoffs announced in May would cost the agency another $8 million, and there is currently no plan to rescind the HA board's decision. One source said the board could decide to avert some of the layoffs.

Labor's Lobbying

Labor played a major role in the three-month lobbying campaign, alongside city officials and housing advocates. The unions held rallies, mounted a postcard campaign, and lobbied legislators. Teamster General President James P. Hoffa and State AFL-CIO officials called the Governor asking him to sign the bill.

Because the board has yet to meet, however, HA spokeswoman Sheila Greene would say nothing more than, "This law affords the Board an opportunity to evaluate how the money will be used, including helping to close this year's remaining budget gap and allowing NYCHA to maintain critical staff positions in the developments in order to preserve core services to residents."

FAYE MOORE: Cuts counterproductive. The money will allow the HA to fill vacancies in core services titles. Core services refer to maintenance and janitorial services, not to administrative staff or workers who provide services at community centers, most of whom are members of locals within District Council 37.

Union: Must Talk to Us

Local 371 Vice President Faye Moore, who represents employees at the developments' community and senior centers, said that HA officials had not contacted them about the layoffs since they were announced. But she said that they were obligated to discuss any pending layoffs with the affected unions. In 2003, Local 371 community center Coordinators were laid off, but they all have since been re-hired.

"It's disheartening that the programs at the community centers could be harmed and that these programs could be threatened," she said, "because they improve the quality of life of residents." Community centers house after-school programming, cultural and educational classes for residents.

HA's headcount has shrunk by 2,000 since 2003, and Local 957 of DC 37 lost 180 members who were Secretaries in the last round of layoffs. Local 957 President Walthene Primus did not return calls seeking comment.

Union officials said they would continue to seek money for the beleaguered agency.

"We are going to lobby for additional funding," said Local 237 Teamsters President Greg Floyd, who has 8,000 members at HA who mostly work in core services. "NYCHA does have a long-range problem that needs to be addressed at the Federal level."

He added that it was "a pleasant surprise" that the bill was signed in such a timely manner, but he was cautious about predicting whether any of his members would be hit by the layoffs since he had not received any assurances from HA officials.

About 15,000 District Council 37 members and 1,500 Local 237 members are also HA residents.

Boon for Residents

"This bill should have a tremendously positive impact on all of those who live in public housing and those who work hard every day to serve them," said District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, who represents several thousand HA workers.

The new law will give the agency the same access to funds as private landlords for its public assistance residents. The money will come from the city, the state and the Federal Government and will be phased in over three years.