Stop Transfer of DOL Work!

Stop the Closure of the NYC DOL Unemployment Claims Center!

The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) is planning to close the Unemployment Telephone Claims Center (TCC) located at Hudson St. in Lower Manhattan and transfer the employees to other DOL locations in Troy and Endicott NY.

As many as 250 state employees at the DOL will be affected, and will be forced to choose between their jobs or their communities.

While the labor market has improved recently, unemployment is still high in NYC and this plan will move jobs from Lower Manhattan as it struggles to recover from the terrorist attacks of 9-11. There are a large number of workers, many who do not speak English, who need access to UI benefits. The New York City DOL staff includes many bi-lingual employees who are able to assist these non-English speaking unemployed workers.

Closing the TCC will cost taxpayers and businesses millions in unrecoverable unemployment insurance overpayments, translation services and training

What can you do?
Fax the following letter opposing the closure of the TCC to Labor Commissioner Linda Angello and tell her to stop the closure.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Stop Transfer of DOL Work!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to oppose your plan to close the Unemployment Telephone Claims Center (TCC) located at Hudson St. in Lower Manhattan and transfer the employees to other DOL locations in Troy and Endicott NY.

Contrary to the Governor's goal of redevelopment, the closure will eliminate the only unemployment telephone claims center in New York City, and move 250 jobs out of Lower Manhattan just as the city is struggling to keep and attract jobs in the wake of the attacks of 9-11.

If the TCC is closed the state will lose the familiarity these employees have with the local labor market. The New York City TCC staff includes bilingual employees who are capable of dealing effectively and efficiently with non-English speaking claimants, and closing the TCC will cripple the ability of the state to respond to these claimants costing the state significantly more in contract translation services.

While you claim that your plan to close the TCC is driven by cost savings, your plan may actually cost New York's taxpayers and businesses more for unrecoverable unemployment payments and training, in addition to the cost of contract translation services.

Keep the TCC in New York City; don't force your employees to choose between their jobs and their families and communities.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
September 14, 2005

Background Information

NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS HANDLED IN NEW YORK CITY

FACT: New York State plans to close the New York Center Telephone Claims Center (TCC) without justification for the closure. New York City will lose over 250 jobs due to this closure.

FACT: The Department of Labor (DOL) plans to rely on TCC staff in Troy and Endicott, which will be unable to recruit adequate numbers of Spanish and Chinese speaking staff. This may violate federal court orders regarding unemployment insurance service to claimants with limited English proficiency.

FACT: To replace the NYC bi-lingual staff the State will pay a translation service $1 a minute or $60 a hour vs.$22.73 an hour for state employees ; DOL officials admit that the translation service is not as good as a bilingual staff member.

FACT: The State has spent an unknown amount of money on renovating the NYC TCC, which were just completed in April 2005.

FACT: DOL claims it is losing $9.7 million in federal unemployment insurance (UI) funding, which is contrary to information from the Federal Funds Information for the States. No information available provides independent documentation that DOL will lose nearly $10 million in UI funding.

FACT: Closing the NYC TCC is incompatible with the Governor’s program to revitalize Lower Manhattan in the wake of 9/11.

FACT: DOL has not provided any documentation that closing the NYC TCC will save $10 million

Keep 250 State Jobs in New York City so New York City Residents Can Have Their Unemployment Insurance Claims Handled in New York City

KEEP THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TELEPHONE CLAIMS CENTER OPEN