Supporting You, Beyond the Job
Over the last few years, our Union has reimagined the role our Union can play in the issues that affect our members outside of work - issues like the rising cost of child care, the lack of affordable housing, and immigration. These problems affect millions of working people, and have for many years. Our Union won’t resolve them overnight or on our own. So, we’re attacking the problem from every angle: through our contract, legislation, and partnerships with our allies in the labor movement, academia, and the non-profit space.
1: The Rising Cost of Child Care
Our Contract:
We broke ground in the 2023 GRIWA by creating our Union’s first-ever Child Care Fund. In January 2024, GRIWA shops and the Upstate Casinos began making contributions. It’s our hope to begin providing benefits in the next year or two - once the contributions reach a substantial enough level.
99 Union shops contributing to the Child Care Fund.
Our Political Power:
In 2023, we urged lawmakers in Albany to help increase the income limits to qualify for state funds to pay for child care. Those efforts were successful - allowing more HTC members to apply and qualify for assistance. Several members received tens of thousands of dollars towards child care costs each year.
With our Union's support, members received $456k in child care subsides from NY State.
Our Partners:
With the support of the New York City Union Child Care Coalition, we have helped members through the cumbersome process of applying for existing child care vouchers from New York State.
In New Jersey, we’ve partnered with researchers from Rutgers University, who are conducting a study to inform state lawmakers on what child care solutions working parents need and ways to support them. HTC President Rich Maroko joined Rutger’s Child Care Research Collaborative.
2: The Lack of Affordable Housing
Our Contract:
Like child care, we used our leverage at the bargaining table to create a brand-new housing fund in the GRIWA contract. Contributions will begin in a few years.
Our Political Power:
We’ve also taken action in Albany and at City Hall. In March 2024, we partnered with a coalition of unions, led by 32BJ, to lobby for legislation that provided protections for tenants including a new requirement that landlords prove “good cause” to evict tenants in New York City and giving tenants the right to challenge significant rent hikes. We also mobilized to New York City Hall in support of the FARE Act which, if passed, would end forced brokers fees.
Our Resources:
Our Union also put aside resources to help members during housing emergencies during - and since - the pandemic. The Union’s H.E.L.P. fund has provided direct support to over 400 members at risk of losing their homes.
3: Citizenship
Our Partners:
We’ve partnered with the NYC Central Labor Council to assist union members with getting their U.S. Citizenship. Last year, 28 HTC and Local 6 members received free legal assistance and a check covering a portion of their application fee during our Fall Citizenship Fair. And we’re doing it again! This year’s citizenship fair is in September. Call (347) 964-3551 for more details.
Our Contract:
In the 2023 GRIWA, we expanded the Union’s Pre-Paid Legal benefit to over 8,000 members working outside of New York City. Through the Pre-Paid Legal Fund, members can get a lawyer, for free, for issues including immigration, landlord/tenant issues, home sales, wills, divorce, child custody, adoption, consumer issues, bankruptcy, credit issues, and student advocacy.
4: Free Job Trainings
Coming out of the pandemic, our Union restarted our free job training program, offering new classes in English as a Second Language, Computer skills (ranging from the very basics to Advanced Microsoft Word and Excel), a GED prep-class, and a new Front Desk Training Course. The classes are held at the Union’s headquarters at 709 8th Avenue and online.
We are also working with the Benefit Funds to develop a training program for table games dealers ahead of the likely 2025 expansion of casinos in New York City. Eligible members will be able to train to deal Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, and Poker with the goal that they can apply for what promise to be excellent jobs.
Enroll for classes here.
