December, 2022 - President Joe Puleo and Treasurer Marlena Giga had a chance recently to meet with DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and discuss issues of concern for the union going forward into the new year.
September 7, 2022 - Local 983 President Joe Puleo was honored by Labor Press at a special labor luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 7. Puleo received the recognition for his efforts supporting the rights of seasonal workers and fighting to save 200 jobs of entry level workers that were slated to be terminated before July 1, 2022. First Vice President Marvin Robbin, Vice President Thomas DiNardo, Secretary-Treasurer Marlena Giga, Recording Secretary Donald Chapman, Sergeant-at-Arms Ralph Baselice, and several union members attended the premier event honoring Puleo and four other labor leaders.
June 1, 2022 - Local 983 First Vice President Marvin Robbins joined DC 37 Safety and Health and Bronx Shop Steward Sandra Lynch on June 1, 2022, to perform a preoccupancy walkthrough of the new NYPD Bronx Tow pound location.
May 20, 2022 - Local 983 joined together with DC 37 at a May 20 rally in support of Kathy Hochul for Governor. DC 37 is supporting the incumbent governor in her bid for re-election. First Vice President Marvin Robbins proudly displays one of the endorsement signs. Pictured in the group photo are Local 983 Vice President Tom DiNardo, DC 37 and Local 372 President Shaun Francois I, Local 983 President Joe Puleo, DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido, Local 372 VP Donald Nesbit, Local 983 Recording Secretary Donald Chapman, and Local 983 First Vice President Marvin Robbins.
May 4, 2022 - First Vice President Marvin Robbins attended the grand opening ceremony of the new NYPD Queens Tow Pound on May 4, 2022.
Local 983 members joined with DC 37, the Play Fair Coalition, NYC Council Parks Chair Shekar Krishnan, and hundreds of advocates to rally for jobs and funding for New York City parks. The Parks Play Fair Rally on Tuesday, March 22 at City Hall was the first attempt to send a solidarity message to government leaders that they need to protect NYC Parks' funding by allocating 1% of the City budget for Parks.
"We demand that NYC Parks Department jobs that belong to our members such as PEP Officers and Urban Park Rangers, be baselined and included in the annual budget for the Parks Department," said Local 983 President Joe Puleo. "We must stop the $60 million cut in Mayor Eric Adams' preliminary budget."
Local 983 is once again distributing custom union jackets to its members as a thank you for being part of the 983 family. Executive Board members have been visiting different work locations to hand out the jackets, which members were excited to receive. Motor Vehicle Operators and Motor Vehicle Supervisors at Kings County Hospital and the Department of Homeless Services Brooklyn (AKA BKR) were some of the first to receive theirs, as were MVOs and Supervisors at NYPD Fleet Services Division and Metropolitan Hospital.
President Joe Puleo, Recording Secretary Donald Chapman, and Sergeant-at-Arms Ralph Baselice met with New York Congressman Gregory Meeks who represents New York's 5th District on Monday, Jan. 31 in Queens where they were able to discuss many issues that impact New York City and Local 983 members. Some of the topics they discussed were budget items, NYC crime issues, and ways to help preserve jobs, particularly those for Local 983 members.
Local 983 members donated, gloves, socks, hats, and scarves to the New York City Department of Parks campaign to help the homeless stay warm this winter. Secretary-Treasurer Marlena Giga who helped coordinate the union’s contributions, said with members assigned to work in the City’s parks, they often see firsthand the homeless population struggle especially when the temperatures drop to below freezing. She said everything collected is being donated to the Department of Homeless Services, where it will be distributed to individuals and families who are in NYC shelters.
December 2021
Shop Stewards, Officers, and Executive Board members gathered for a training conference in early December that included greetings from DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido, an exercise in effective leadership, duties and responsibilities of a Shop Steward, courses on parliamentary procedure competencies, membership, and legal matters, and and overview of Workers' Compensation and Disability as well as contract review.
Grievance Representative Marlena Giga visited Hart Island on Nov. 16, 2021, where approximately 1 million New Yorkers are buried. Local 983 PEP Officers are now tasked with escorting families of decedents to visit the gravesites of family members buried there. The Island serves as the City's public cemetery. “While visiting Hart Island, I found it to be a beautiful resting placed where the staff is professional and takes pride in providing comfort to the families,” Giga said. She was joined by HRA Assistant Commissioner Thompson who conducted a tour of the Island.
On Sept. 29, 2021, Bronx PEP members gathered for their first in-person event since the pandemic. About 35 members came in staggered shifts during their lunch breaks to participate in the bbq in order to maintain social distancing. Local 983 Secretary-Treasurer and PEP Officer Marlena Giga said the Union was pleased with the turnout and was glad to finally have a chance to bring members together in a safe way with smaller groups in an outdoor environment.
September 25, 2021
The Local 983 Traffic Enforcement District Family Fun Day was at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Traffic Enforcement personnel and their families cam out for fun, food, and entertainment, with special appearances from the Outreach Unit, Recruitment Section, Mounted Unit, K9 Unit, and more. There was a bounce house, sports events, music, a dance contest, relay race, and plenty of amazing food. Thanks to all the volunteers who made this all-day event a huge success.
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