CWA 1180 - HRA Watch

HRA Watch

Just say no
by Arthur Cheliotes
March 2001

While city continues to insist that they want increased productivity from union workers in exchange for raises, their own managers continue to provide examples of how to do less with more. Case in point: HRA's plan to implement the new Job Opportunity Specialist title series.

The truth is the new titles won't help HRA do its job any better (for details, click here to read our feature story). HRA bureaucrats talk about how the new JOS and AJOS titles will allow clients to do "one stop shopping," but this admittedly appealing idea is dead in the water unless the agency actually does something that will have an impact on services. Like hire enough workers to cover the caseloads. But they don't plan on hiring any more people; they just want to re-arrange people's name tags. Just like when they created the so-called Job Centers—but didn't do anything to help create a single new job in New York City.

The Job Opportunity Specialist titles will not improve services for clients. Moreover, for 1180 members and others facing the prospect of taking these positions, there's no incentive to. Because the title is specific to HRA, taking it will lock people into the welfare centers. And HRA's refusal to address the issue of which union will represent the workers means that you could end up working next to someone doing the same job, for thousands less. Or thousands more. It's hard to imagine anyone wanting to take this job under these circumstances.

It's also hard to avoid the conclusion that HRA wants to create tensions among its workers and among the unions that represent them. Maybe they think if we all get mad at each other over the issue of who is making what, we'll forget to blame them for putting us all in this situation. Who knows what their real motivation is; given the fact that they aren't allocating any new resources, you'll have to forgive my cynical assessment that, whatever it is, improved client services ain't it.

At any rate, the important thing for Local 1180 members at HRA—as well as Local 1549 and Local 371 members—is to stay focused and to stay united. Management has the right to create a new title; we can't control that. But we can control our response—we can say no. We can refuse to take these new positions. Imagine if every PAA and Supervisor, every Eligibility Specialist and Caseworker turned down the JOS title and asked for a transfer. They say they'll hire people off the street. But the truth is it takes experience to run these welfare centers. Without us, they can't do it. Without our cooperation, they can't implement this title.

Our experience and expertise gives us power in our workplaces. Let's use it.

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