The LSSA rank and file staged a one-day strike on Wednesday to demand a fair and equitable contract. Members protested outside LSNYC`s CEO apartment in Tribeca, demanding pay equity for lowest-paid employees, better pay rises for all, and stronger protection against layoffs. The vigil was held online in the afternoon as members participated in an open bargaining session, using visual media such as profile pictures and Zoom backgrounds to call for a “fair deal now.” Meanwhile, despite exaggerated claims of budget deficits, LSNYC has been criticized by the union for its low ratio of supporters to high-wage managers. While LSNYC currently employs only three union members for each manager with a higher salary, the Legal Aid Society has an advocacy ratio of five employees for each manager. Due to LSNYC`s management-focused allocation, only slightly more than half of LSNYC`s budget is paid for front-line employees. LSNYC refused to address the issue of the management-to-staff ratio or to discuss a commitment to proportionate redundancies if such measures became necessary in the future. The union estimates that this proposal would save about $1.5 million per year while preserving essential services for low-income families and seniors. Members emphasize the importance of a contract that allows them to pursue their careers while starting a family and planning for their future. “The proposed reductions will likely cost my family an additional $450 per month, for a total of $5,400 per year in health care costs, and my son`s speech-language pathologist would become prohibitive due to increased deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses,” said Terry Lawson, attorney at Legal Services NYC-Bronx. “LSNYC`s proposed cuts threaten our financial security in the jobs we love, where we have already made significant sacrifices.
We call on our management to resolve this strike by giving us a fair contract that does not include cuts at the expense of our most vulnerable members. At the heart of the strike is a dispute over LSNYC`s leadership and the quality of services provided to the organization`s thousands of customers. Lawyers and LSNYC members are concerned that management`s proposed cuts could undermine the organization`s model of retaining experienced lawyers, which would reduce direct legal services to clients. “Maintaining quality legal services to our clients is of paramount importance to us,” said Sonja Shield, an attorney in LSNYC`s Brooklyn office. “We want to gain the experience we need to ensure we are the most effective advocates for social justice. This is simply not possible if we are not able to pursue a sustainable career in direct legal advice. Members of the Legal Services Staff Association (LSSA), the union representing more than 200 lawyers, paralegals, secretaries, litigation servers and other professionals employed by Legal Services NYC (LSNYC), today rejected management`s contract proposal, which included unprecedented cuts to health care and pensions. LSNOC`s proposed reductions in employee benefits and the feared impact on customer service come amid controversial tax circumstances. Despite LSNOC`s pessimistic claims about the Legal Services Corporation`s statewide funding cuts, the organization expects a working capital surplus of $10.5 million by the end of 2013 and does not expect significant layoffs until 2015. The management negotiator also noted that LSNYC can conservatively expect additional working capital increases of $2 million to $3 million per year. Meanwhile, LSNYC has threatened to withdraw all union members from their health insurance in the event of a strike. Workers at LSNYC, the nation`s largest low-income civilian service provider, are on strike for the first time in nearly 20 years.
“LSNYC employees are committed to fighting poverty on behalf of seniors and low-income residents of New York City,” said Melissa Roman, a paralegal in LSNYC`s Queens-Long Island City office. “It makes all of us sad that the leadership of LSNYC forced us into this position.” Legal Services NYC fights poverty and fights for racial, social and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. Our neighborhood offices and proximity locations help more than 100,000 New Yorkers each year. Our services are free of charge. LSNYC will never charge its clients legal representation fees. LSNYC customers expressed concern about the proposed returns and spoke out in support of the striking union members. “I fully support striking lawyers, paralegals and staff, and I fear that these cuts will deprive people in my situation of quality advocacy,” said Alicia Moore, a former client of LSNYC`s Brooklyn office. “When I was about to be deported and couldn`t afford a lawyer, the legal staff was there.
Their expertise helped me every step of the way. These employees are experienced and committed to serving our community, and they deserve a fair contract. A few hours later, just before closing time on May 14, LSNYC offered to add various conditions in exchange for a possible reinstatement of the lump sum pension. This additional proposal was also rejected by union members today. LSSA`s 220 members employed by LSNYC represent thousands of low-income elderly residents of New York City each year. In the final hours of negotiations, the union made an unprecedented offer to pay 2% of members` salaries for health care.