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Mayor Adams Announces 3 Year COLA for Human Services

Mayor Adams Announces 3 Year COLA for Human Services

In an effort to prioritize the well-being of the city’s human services workforce, NYC Mayor Eric Adams has announced a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) that will provide a 3% annual increase, totaling $741 million, in pay for human services workers over the next three years beginning July 1, 2024.

This move comes as a response to advocacy efforts by organizations such the Human Services Council (HSC), a coalition comprising 170 entities within New York’s non-profit services sector, including Union Settlement.

Dr. Darlene Williams, President & CEO at Union Settlement, was in attendance during the announcement. Dr. Williams is a member of the HSC’s Priority and Strategy Council, which spearheaded the “#justpay” campaign. This campaign shed light on the low wages that New York City’s 80,000 human services workers have endured due to underfunded contracts, with statistics revealing a troubling 30% pay gap compared to their counterparts in the public sector. In 2019, two-thirds of all full-time human services workers were earning below the city’s near-poverty threshold. This has a significant impact on women and minorities — 66% of human services workers are female (66%), 68% are full-time workers of color, and nearly half (46%) are women of color.

Dr. Williams emphasized the importance of this COLA, stating, “Our dedicated staff, alongside countless other human service workers throughout New York City, devote themselves to caring for our communities, yet they have not received the care they deserve. While this marks just one step forward, it is a crucial stride toward establishing fair compensation for our tireless workforce.”

This announcement highlights New York City’s commitment to creating a supportive and equitable environment for its human services workers, ensuring that they can continue to provide high-quality care and support to those who need it most. Including today’s announcement, the administration has invested over $1.4 billion towards wage enhancements for the human services sector.

May 11, 2018

May 11, 2018

Union Settlement Celebrates Service to East Harlem at Annual Spring Benefit
Empower East Harlem Benefit to Honor Arthur A. Klein, MD; Ranjini Pillay; Corporate Partner CORE; and Law Firm Partner Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.
WNBC-TV weather anchor Dave Price will emcee the event on May 16, 2018
(more…)

September 13, 2017

September 13, 2017

Union Settlement Announces New Senior Staff Appointments
Rich Bengloff as the new Chief Financial Officer, Chanda Hill as the new Director of Early Childhood Education, and Bonnie Miller-Ladds as the new Director of Mental Health
(more…)

August 28, 2017

August 28, 2017

Union Settlement Announces Launching of East Harlem 360°
Commercial District Revitalization Program
(more…)

May 22, 2017

May 22, 2017

Union Settlement Establishes Associate Board
Names eight young professionals, including two co-chairs, as founding members
(more…)

April 26, 2017

April 26, 2017

Union Settlement Celebrates 122 Years of Service to East Harlem at Annual Spring Benefit

Empower East Harlem Benefit to Honor Tonio Burgos; Julián Castro; Ramanathan Raju, M.D.; Corporate Partner Deutsche Bank; and Law Firm Partner Proskauer.
Emmy Award-winning actor John Turturro will return to emcee the event on April 26, 2017
(more…)

16 January, 2017

16 January, 2017

Union Settlement Report Identifies Glaring Inequities In Funding For New York City Senior Centers
Some centers receive many times more funding per senior than other centers; statistical analyses demonstrate that differences are not sufficiently explained by attendance, occupancy costs or other possible factors. (more…)

December 20, 2016

December 20, 2016

Union Settlement Survey Reveals Major Concerns and Goals of Locals
Need to improve schools again ranks as top issue of survey participants;
Reducing crime, building affordable housing and creating new jobs are also major objectives. (more…)

July 12, 2016

July 12, 2016

The New York Community Trust Supports the Work of Union Settlement with Two Grants
Funds will Support Two Promising Initiatives in East Harlem. (more…)

July 7, 2016

July 7, 2016

Two New Directors Join Union Settlement
Union Settlement appoints Susan Puder as Director of Development and Communication, and Joy Pittman as Director of Human Resources (more…)

November 16, 2015

November 16, 2015

Robin Hood Provides Increased Grant of $250,000 to Support Youth Employment Services at Union Settlement
East Harlem Young Adults Who Are Out-of-School And Unemployed Will Benefit (more…)

September 14, 2015

September 14, 2015

The LeRoy Neiman and Good Tidings Foundations Gift NYC Students with an Art Studio Classroom at Union Settlement in East Harlem
A joyous dedication ceremony, ribbon-cutting and the inaugural art class for a beautiful LeRoy Neiman Art Studio School located at the Union Settlement Washington Community Center. (more…)

August 19, 2015

August 19, 2015

East Harlem Businesses, Non-Profits, Religious Groups and Government Agencies Hold First Expo
There will be workshops on a wide variety of topics of interest to jobseekers, entrepreneurs and local residents, including Marketing 101, Interviewing Skills, Crowd Funding, MWBE Certifications, Social Media Marketing, Resume Writing, Mental Health issues and more. (more…)

July 20, 2015

July 20, 2015

The New York Community Trust Awards Grant of $441,000 to Union Settlement Association
The Trust’s Brooke Astor Fund for New York City Education Grant will Expand Literacy Program for East Harlem elementary school students who speak Spanish in the Home (more…)

June 23, 2015

June 23, 2015

Union Settlement releases a statement on the New York City 2016 Budget Agreement
David Nocenti: “It is time for the City to come to the bargaining table and provide the funding necessary to end this unequal treatment, which has persisted for far too long.” (more…)

June 16, 2015

June 16, 2015

Union Settlement Association Board of Directors Elects Ruth Pachman New Chair
Union Settlement, East Harlem’s oldest and largest social services provider, today announced that Ruth E. Pachman was unanimously elected Chair of the Board of Directors at the organization’s annual meeting on June 9th. (more…)

May 11, 2015

May 11, 2015

New York Junior League Selects Union Settlement Association as 2015 Community Impact Partner
Awards $50,000 grant for community center renovations. Ribbon-cutting held at Washington Community Center to celebrate completion of project. (more…)

May 5, 2015

May 5, 2015

Get Your Power On at a Block Party for the World
Union Settlement Celebrates its 23rd Annual Ethnic Festival: Empowering East Harlem (more…)

May 5, 2015

May 5, 2015

Union Settlement Association Celebrates 120 Years of Service to East Harlem
East Harlem’s Oldest and Largest Social Services Provider Holds “Solutions Benefit” Honors Theresa Bischoff, Lisa Caputo, and Amy Sherman. (more…)

February 11, 2015

February 11, 2015

Union Settlement Survey Demonstrates Concerns and Needs of East Harlem Residents
Need to improve schools ranks as top issue of survey participants, followed by need for jobs, reducing crime, and building more affordable housing (more…)

December 17, 2014

December 17, 2014

Union Settlement Association Appoints Charles Foster as Chief Financial Officer
In addition to overseeing finance office, Mr. Foster will be part of Union Settlement’s senior leadership team.

November 20, 2014

November 20, 2014

Union Settlement Association Receives Grant from Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone
Union Settlement will offer technical assistance and loan packaging support to local businesses and entrepreneurs

June 6, 2014

June 6, 2014

Union Settlement Association Celebrates 50th Anniversary of its College Readiness Program
Mayor Bill De Blasio Proclaims June 7 “Union Settlement College Readiness Day”

May 6, 2014

May 6, 2014

Children’s Museum of Manhattan Receives Morgan Stanley Foundation Grant of $75,000 to Expand Pre-K Initiative
CMOM’s New Pre-K Community Initiative Brings Permanent Museum Quality Installations and Programs to Union Settlement’s Early Childhood Facilities

April 30, 2014

April 30, 2014

Union Settlement Honors Shaun Osher and Robert F. Quaintance
Annual “Solutions Benefit” Fundraiser Celebrates 50 Years of College Readiness Programs From East Harlem’s Oldest and Largest Social Services Provider

April 15, 2014

April 15, 2014

Deutsche Bank Awards Grant of $125,000
Resources Will Benefit Children, Youth and Families of Mexican Descent in East Harlem

April 9, 2014

April 9, 2014

Announcing New Initiatives to Enhance Economic Growth and Vitality of East Harlem
East Harlem Community Alliance is focusing on enhancing local business activity, employment and access to human services

July 24, 2013

July 24, 2013

Robin Hood Awards $175,000 Grant to Union Settlement to Enhance Programs for Youth Employment
Resources Will Benefit Young People Who Are Out-of-School And Unemployed (more…)