Here we are, June 20th, Local 1482's Day of Action!

This is a day where we display solidarity towards union members everywhere simply by getting dressed for the day.  T-shirts, hats, and buttons are being delivered to all branches and work locations (Unfortunately, we were not able to obtain t-shirts for all of our members as we originally planned.  But DC37 was able to make up for it with hats and buttons).  Please wear the shirts, buttons, and hats today, demonstrate to your communities that union members keep NYC running--particularly its libraries--and that as union members we are undivided and ready to face the future together.

The Executive Board thanks all of our members for making the Day of Action a success, and we intend it to be a springboard for future actions.  Please take pictures, and share your stories with us!  You can email them to local1482@gmail.com.

Rally Planned on Date of Janus vs. AFSCME Decision
We chose June 20th for the Day of Action because it is around the time the Supreme Court is expected to issue it's decision in the Janus vs. AFSCME case, which could overturn decades of precedent and severely hobble public service unions' capacity to function.  On the day the decision is handed down, an Emergency Janus Protest/Union Power Rally is planned in Foley Square in Manhattan at 5:00 p.m.  It is being organized by the PSC (the CUNY faculty and staff union), together with NYSNA (the nurses’ union), but all union members and their family and friends are welome.

There is an event page, but please note the date is not accurate (Facebook requires inserting a date, even if it's just a placeholder).  The rally will be at 5:00 on whatever day the Janus decision is announced, rain or shine.  We encourage Local 1482 members to come out to make some noise and show that NYC will always be a union town. 

Thank you again for taking part in the Local 1482 Day of Action!

Today marks two weeks until Local 1482's Day of Action on June 20th.  For the Day of Action, we are asking that members of Local 1482 wear their green DC37 shirts to work to illustrate that our branches and work locations operate due to the commitment and hard work of union members.   Uniformed members, such as Special Officers and Custodians, will be provided with green DC37 pens to display in the front pockets of their uniforms. 

Shirts and pens will be delivered to all agencies and branches in the coming days. 

The Day of Action will also be an opportunity for members to learn about participating in union activities and events, such as shop steward training and contributing to the PEOPLE campaign.

• More information on the Day of Action can be found here. 
  
• Print out and share the Day of Action flyer.
  
• Questions? Comments? Feedback? Reach out to a member of the Executive Board or send an email to local1482@gmail.com.
  

Local 1482 calls on all of our members to take part in our Day of Action on Wednesday, June 20. The date is around the time the Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling in the Janus vs. AFSCME case, a decision which could subject public sector unions like ours to ‘right to work’ laws that could over time lower wages, strip benefits, and stifle the collective voices of workers.


On June 20th, we ask that members of Local 1482  wear a green DC37 t-shirt to work, which will be provided to you for free. Uniformed members who cannot wear the t-shirt, such as Custodians and Special Officers, should instead display a green DC37 pen in the front pockets of your uniform shirts.  

By wearing the t-shirts and pens, we as members of Local 1482 and DC37 will demonstrate visually that our branches and agencies are staffed by people who belong to a public sector union, that we are committed to retaining our ability to represent the rights and interests of our members, and that we stand in fellowship and solidarity of unionized workers nationwide.

As part of the Day of Action, Local 1482 will also provide members with information on signing up for Local 1482 Shop Steward training, contributing to PEOPLE (AFSCME’s fund to support political candidates who support and understand the needs of working families), and participating in Local 1482 events and activities.

A flyer for the Day of Action is located here.  Please print it out, display it, and share this information widely with your colleagues.  Encourage everyone to participate! Our collective power is built member-by-member, action-by-action.

If you have any questions or feedback about the Day of Action, please email us at local1482@gmail.com.  Or reach out to a member of the Executive Board.  We will also have more information and will answer questions at the General Membership Meeting on June 5th.  

We will continue to post updates about the Day of Action.  Keep an eye on this space. We'll also provide answers to your questions in the FAQ below.

Day of Action FAQ
Do I need to order a shirt (or pen) myself?  No, we have you covered!  We will provide green DC37 t-shirts for all of our members, and they will be delivered (along with pens for uniformed titles) the first week of June to your branches and work locations.

Local 1482 invites all Special Officers to a special meeting on Friday, April 13th at 6:30 pm.  It will be held at the Central Library in the Youth Wing.  This is an opportunity to discuss issues pertaining to Special Officers, your supervision, and what Local 1482 can do to help address your concerns. Come with your questions and feedback.

Please share information about this meeting with Special Officers in your work locations.

Members of Local 1482 have recently received ballots in the mail for election of its Executive Board.  The election held for these positions in December, 2017 is being re-done.  It was discovered that only 600 of 800 members received ballots in December, effectively disenfranchising 200 members from choosing its representatives on the board.  The ballots delivered in December were also a departure from how Local 1482 has held elections in the past.  Instead of being able to vote for all contested positions on the board, the ballot only permitted members to vote for board members who would represent their titles.

Both of these issues were presented and discussed at the General Membership Meeting on December 5, 2017.  The following motions were proposed and voted on by the membership in attendance. Both motions passed.

• New ballots would be mailed to  members, in effect re-running the election, so that all members have the opportunity to vote.
• While limiting members to voting for the Executive Board who represent only their titles is in accordance with the election policies of DC37 and AFSCME, the re-ballot would allow Local 1482 members to vote as it always has in the past for this election.  For future elections, members will vote by title, but the Local will be able to communicate this in advance, which it wasn't able to do with the ballot issued in December.
  

All ballots must be received in the mail to the American Arbitration Association no later than January 30th.  Please follow the instructions on the back of the ballot precisely.  Ballots that are incorrectly marked or sealed will not be counted.

If you have any questions, please reach out to a current member of the Executive Board, or send an email to local1482@gmail.com.

We are pleased to announce that Ronaldo Barber has assumed the role of President of Local 1482, Brooklyn Library Guild, effective October 18, 2017.  Mr. Barber was nominated for the position at the General Membership Meeting on October 3rd.  His nomination was unopposed, which automatically gave him the position without having to hold an election.  Like the rest of Executive Board, he would have begun his three-year term in December. 

Past President Eileen Muller retired from the library in August, but stayed on as President of Local 1482 by hand-paying her dues at DC37.

At October's Executive Board meeting on the 17th, a motion was made to allow Ms. Muller to step down immediately and allow Mr. Barber to start serving his term as President early.  It passed with a unanimous vote.

Ron is looking forward to representing the members of Local 1482.  It goes without saying that Eileen Muller will be deeply missed.  For years she has been a vocal and energetic advocate for Local 1482, DC37, libraries, and the labor movement.  Information about her retirement celebration is coming soon!

While office space for Mr. Barber is being arranged, you can contact him by calling the Professional Division of DC37 at 212-815-1040 and leaving a message. 

Local 1482 invites all members in Librarian titles to a special meeting next week on Wednesday, October 11th at 6:30 pm.  We will discuss librarian salaries and access to promotional opportunities.  This is your chance to have your questions answered and opinions heard.  The meeting will be held at DC37 headquarters at 125 Barclay St. in Manhattan. 

Please share this information with your friends and colleagues in librarian titles.

Do you have Federal student loans?  Are you concerned about how much the monthly payments are, or how long it will take to pay them off?  DC37 is holding a workshop on Wednesday, May 17th from 6 to 7:30 that will help you get on the path to eliminating student debt.  The workshop will be held at DC 37 headquarters at 125 Barclay St. in Manhattan.  It is free to union members, but space is limited.  Online advance registration is required. 

Please print out the workshop flier, found here, and post it in your agencies.

At last night's General Membership Meeting all in attendance heard about a couple of terrific opportunities.  One was about an upcoming workshop at DC37 on dealing with student loan debt.  The other outlined how members can earn an online Associates Degree for free via our parent union AFSCME.  Here are the details...

Erase Your Student Debt Workshop at DC37

Student debt is a serious crisis here in the United States, and members of DC37 and Local 1482 are not immune from it.  On Tuesday, October 18, DC37 will hold a free Erase Your Student Debt workshop from 6:00-7:30 pm at DC 37 Headquarters at 125 Barclay St. in Manhattan.  Get the help you need to get on the path towards eliminating your student debt.  Space is limited and online registration is required.  You can register here.

Print out the workshop flier, post in your agencies, and share it with your colleagues.

The AFSCME Free College Benefit

It is AFSCME's mission to give its members every advantage to get ahead.  In partnership with Eastern Gateway Community College in Ohio, they are offering FREE online Associates Degrees in the Arts, Business Management and Criminal Justice.  Early Childhood Education will be available in 2017.  AFSCME's Free College Benefit is available to all members of AFSCME, which includes members of DC37 and Local 1482.  Again, it's 100% FREE!!!

Did you know that Local 1482 Brooklyn Library Guild was the first library union local in New York City?  It's true!  Local 1482 was founded in November, 1966, which makes this year our 50th anniversary.

All current members, retirees, and supporters of the local are invited to our 50th Anniversary Banquet on Friday, November 11th at 7 pm.  The festivities will be held at Buckley's at Nostrand Avenue and Avenue S in Marine Park.  The cost is $60 per person and will cover a full dinner and an open bar. 

To purchase tickets, please reach out to Ron Barber at 646-265-0403 or email him at barber.ron@gmail.com. 

To commemorate this milestone, we are putting together a keepsake journal that will be chock-full of memories and history of Local 1482.  We invite branches and interested parties to sponsor ads in this journal.  The cost of ads is:

• $25 for 1/4 page
• $50 for 1/2 page
• $100 for a full page

Please contact Ron Barber if you are interested in sponsoring an ad.

Share information about this special event with your colleagues.  Print out this full-page flier and post it in your agencies. 

Many thanks to Local 1482 members both past and present.  We'll see you at the banquet on November 11th!