In this issue:
Members in action: Raj Mehra
How to organize around a grievance
We Run NY
Educate, Organize: DC 37 Education Fund: Applications for the Winter 2025 Semester Are Now Available!
Join us! Upcoming meetings
Welcome Home DC 37
Contribute! Share your story!
Members in action: Raj Mehra
My name is Rajesh Kamal Mehra. Most people know me as Raj. I’ve been a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) at Rikers Island Correctional Facility since 2013. I became motivated to get more involved in our union in 2016, when Correctional Health Services became part of NYC Health + Hospitals. This change brought a wave of onboarding, a blessing in a setting like Rikers where it can feel like there are never quite enough people who are passionate about, willing, and able to serve some of the city’s most marginalized populations.
As more Creative Arts Therapists (CATs) joined the team, we began having transparent conversations about salaries despite managerial efforts to stop these discussions. It became clear why they didn’t want us talking about it. We discovered an unsettling disparity. Newly hired CATs working under limited permits were being paid significantly more than fully licensed LCATs with years of direct experience in the setting.
We brought this pay inequity to management’s attention. We expected it to be addressed fairly. Instead, we had to file an out-of-title grievance.
What made this even harder was that the union leadership back then wasn’t particularly supportive. They seemed reluctant to fight for us and said the grievance was unwinnable. Frustrated, I took action: I educated myself about the process by enrolling in the shop steward training course. What I learned was valuable for our grievance, and empowered me to embrace a role at work that has always felt natural: being someone my colleagues could confide in and problem-solve with.
I learned about Team Rebuild, a group of union members forming a slate to take back control of Local 768 and focus on truly representing the needs of members. I joined the slate. Team Rebuild won every single position in the election. Seeing the complete transformation of our Local’s leadership was a powerful reminder that we, the workers, are the union. When we organize and take action, we can reclaim it and shape it to meet our needs.
Recently, I’ve been focusing some attention on local politics, on issues that affect the people I serve and my colleagues. I testified in support of a Transgender Bill of Rights to ensure transgender individuals are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve in our communities, ultimately providing a foundation for them to lead safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
I also testified before the New York City Council’s Committee on Criminal Justice. I expressed support for greater transparency in reporting, measures to enhance staff safety and support, considerations for improving staff retention, and improved conditions for people in custody and the staff who serve them.
I believe local politics is an important platform. Our advocacy can ensure legislators include the voices of those directly impacted by proposed bills and ensure that we also have a seat at the table.
How to organize around a grievance
Have you gotten frustrated or felt like it takes a long time for a grievance to be heard? Can we instead use grievances to build our union and change the balance of power, by taking action from the bottom-up? Here are some tips adapted from Labor Notes, thanks!
- Who else is impacted by this issue? We can always amend a grievance to add more people - our group grievances can be stronger than individual grievances. We can also file an additional connected grievances.
- What action can we take? Sometimes members call and say “fix it.” It’s easy to feel frustrated with Council Reps. There’s often a long delay, up to six months, for grievances? Is there action you and your coworkers can take to raise the issues and build unity and strength in your workplace?
Every grievance can help us build strength and unity, and organize members to win fairness and justice in our workplaces.
We Run NY
Exterminators, proud members of Local 768, keep our parks safe from rats.
Educate, Organize: DC 37 Education Fund: Applications for the Winter 2025 Semester Are Now Available!
Our DC37 Education Fund is now accepting applications for courses that begin in January. For of current offerings, from computer classes to public speaking and more, please click HERE. We especially want to highlight:
Many classes fill up quickly so register today. What do you want to learn?
Join us! Upcoming meetings
Join us for these upcoming events:
- MAT / Stewards Committee - December 18
- Be sure to get your free flu shot, and check out classes and education opportunities and other services here, via the DC 37 Education Fund.
- March 4, 2025 – DC 37 Albany Lobby Day REGISTER HERE
Welcome Home DC 37
Also, welcome home, DC 37! After five years away, our new modernized, state-of-the-art union headquarters is open at 125 Barclay Street in Lower Manhattan. Members can walk into 125 Barclay between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday to be assisted– no appointment necessary. Our Local 768 offices will be completed in February.
Contribute! Share your story!
Want to contribute to the next Local 768 Newsletter? Share your photos, your writing, your poetry, your drawings, your comics, cartoons, and more: https://www.local768.net/content_submission. Thank you!