DC 37 Insists on Full Waiver of Residency; Won't Accept 2-Year Requirement

Top District Council 37 officials said during an Oct. 6 City Council hearing that they were unwilling to accept a watered-down version of a relaxed residency bill that would require new members to live in the city for their first two years on the job.

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow 'TREAT ALL WORKERS ALIKE': District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, pressing for a full waiver of the residency restrictions applied to civilian workers hired beginning in 1986, tells the City Council that requirements in that area 'should be the same for all employees.'

Want Same Footing

Led by Executive Director Lillian Roberts, those officials urged the Council to pass a measure that would place DC 37 members on the same footing as uniformed employees by permitting them to live in any of six neighboring counties outside the five boroughs.

The union reached an agreement on that matter with the Bloomberg administration in July 2006 as part of its wage contract, but Council approval is required of any change in the current residency requirement, and the measure has stalled because several minority Council Members oppose opening up civilian jobs to those who live outside the city. The city's Labor Relations Commissioner, James F. Hanley, called for the Council to pass an amended version of that bill that would cover all civilian municipal workers.

FAYE MOORE: Protests 'huge inequity.'

Mr. Hanley joined DC 37 in opposing the bill requiring two years of city service before an employee could live elsewhere that was introduced by Manhattan Council Member Robert Jackson.

Change 'Long Overdue'

Ms. Roberts testified that the union had been battling the current residency restrictions, which were approved in 1986 but applied only to new employees, since that change was made. "For our members, this hearing is long overdue," she told the City Council Civil Service and Labor Committee. "We believe that residency restrictions, as a term and condition of employment should be the same for all employees."

Her sentiments were echoed by Local 371 President Faye Moore, who spoke forcefully on the divide in her union between members who are allowed to live outside the city, and those who aren't, about a 50/50 split, which she called a "huge inequity within the union, and within the social services community." She railed against "the concept that it is permissible for people to come in from other places to police us and educate us, but it is not permissible for people who choose a career path in other parts of the public sector to have the option of living where they choose."

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow WON'T SETTLE FOR DELAYED RIGHTS: A contingent of District Council 37 members attended the City Council hearing to support their leaders' arguments against a compromise bill that would require new workers to live in the city for two years before being permitted to move to any of six suburban counties.

She then sparred with Mr. Jackson, who pressed her on his fear that opening city jobs to the six suburban counties surrounding the city (Putnam, Orange, Westchester, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk) would increase competitiveness and reduce employment opportunities for those who live in the city. "Jobs are critical for the people we represent," said Mr. Jackson, whose district includes Washington Heights and parts of Harlem. He said fear about out-of-city competition was why he could not support a full lifting of residency requirements under Intro. 452-A.

But Ms. Moore offered blunt criticism of Mr. Jackson's compromise bill, saying that "the two-year requirement promotes the inequality" that DC 37 already suffers from. She also pointed out that jobs worked by the union's members were already open to workers outside the city, as long as they passed exams and moved into New York City within 90 days of starting work.

'Wouldn't Be an Exodus'

Mr. Hanley had earlier said that a residency credit similar to what is given on exams for uniformed jobs could be used to provide an edge to candidates who live in the city.

When asked if she thought that many of her members would leave the city if the bill was passed, Ms. Moore said, "I don't think it would be an exodus ... half of our members are allowed to live outside of the five boroughs and most of them live in the five boroughs." Motor Vehicle Operators Local 983 President Mark Rosenthal estimated that "maybe a few thousand" members total would depart the city if the bill passed. Mr. Hanley seemed to agree, saying, "We don't anticipate any exodus." Many of the speakers, including Council members, focused on rising house prices in the city, saying the high cost of living was one of the key reasons DC 37 members were seeking a broader choice of living options. Ms. Roberts said that 15,000 DC 37 workers were living in housing projects, and added that "the issue of homelessness is very real for our members," saying that the union found that more than 300 members were living in shelters a few years ago.

"[My members] can no longer live in the city they love and work in because it has become a playground only for the very rich," concurred Local 1549 President Eddie Rodriguez, who represents clerical and administrative workers. "Not passing 452-A would deny my members an opportunity to explore means of affordable housing."

Affordable Housing an Issue

Councilwoman Helen Sears sounded a similar theme. "We have done a terrible job in New York for affordable housing," she said. "This city gets more and more expensive to live in." Councilman Joseph P. Addabbo, who chairs the Civil Service and Labor Committee, agreed that the city had a "severe issue of affordable housing."

Melissa Mark Viverito, who represents East Harlem and part of The Bronx, was among those who shared Mr. Jackson's concerns. "I really believe that these jobs should stay New York City jobs," said Ms. Viverito, who admitted that she was conflicted on the bill and had not yet made up her mind how she would vote. "I'm not so quick to accept that this city should be left to the rich and wealthy alone. We need to have a diverse city."