| OSA Newsline -- November 30, 2020
There were many members contacting the union office last week. The Personnel branch of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services has scheduled protest sessions for the recently given Analyst exams.
Those of our members who requested the right to protest are being sent appointments to protest in DCAS computer centers.
We are concerned over the rise of Covid-19 at this time, but the protests are going forward. The DCAS instructions do indicate that the standard precautions will be taken, so that is something.
The instructions indicate that the only questions that will be shown on the computer screen will be those the candidate got wrong according to the tentative answer key, so that will speed up the time spent on the protest.
The instructions are detailed, but clear enough when read carefully. OSA normally encourages members to protest routinely, for many reasons. It does help the accuracy of the exam process and that benefits us all, and our City as well.
On this occasion, we are forced to be more cautious. Candidates have been pressuring Personnel to release the results of their exam and DCAS cannot do so without holding the protest session and, so, the protest session must be held.
So, we are modifying our normal advice. Given the current health climate, some candidates may wish to reconsider protesting.
Situations differ. Some candidates scored as nearly passing the exam. Others were just looking to improve a good score. Still others failed by many points. Each candidate, in this case, must judge for him or herself.
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We held off on making this newsline until we had received the day's mail. The nomination period is now closed.
Nominations were received for all offices. There was only one contested nomination. The position of delegate-at-large received four nominations for three spots. However, one of the nominees, Ajamu Brown of the Department of Design and Construction, became aware that the cost to the union of a mail ballot election in this case seemed excessive. He volunteered, instead, to assume a post in his own Agency chapter.
OSA has always sought more activists. Our widely dispersed work locations need more representatives than we can find and thus we are very happy that brother Brown is joining our ranks.
All of the other nominees were either current incumbents or had served before. A full list will go out in the next mailing.
Members who have not yet viewed the November membership meeting are invited to do so since contracts, welfare fund and early retirement incentives were discussed at length. It can be found at this link.
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The seven videos that together make up the November 11th virtual membership meeting are now posted on this website. You can reach the page by clicking on this link. The next newsline update will be for the week starting Monday, November 23rd.
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Remember our veterans this Wednesday. The union office will be closed in honor of Veterans Day.
The national election appears to have been decided in favor of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, although there are still outstanding legal protests.
We were pleased when President-Elect Biden chose to speak of uniting the country as being most important.
His first job, of course, will still be dealing with the pandemic. Our hope is that Congress now does pass a stimulus bill to tide us over for the next six months. Our states and cities, many businesses, and fellow citizens need a loan. We can and should pay that national loan back once we are well again, but for now we need the help.
We are hoping, over the next few weeks, for the City to clarify its own situation enough so that we are able to get answers on our contract, an early retirement offer and a host of other issues that have been put on hold.
Meanwhile, we are glad to see at least one question answered.
Members have been sending in questions for our November virtual meeting, but if you have one yourself, please email it to meetingquestions@osaunion.org.
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It is the day after Election Day. We do not know much.
We do not know who won the election.
We do not know where the City is going on our contract.
We do not know where the State is going on the early retirement bills, and all of this is deeply upsetting.
We do know we have a job to do this day and every other day and we will do our best, given all of the mentioned uncertainties.
The Executive Board met this past Monday.
Our intention, to accept nominations for union office without the need for a second, was rendered constitutionally sound by a motion to have the union's Corresponding Secretary, John Mazzarella, second all mail nominations received.
This was agreed.
Members are also asked to send in any questions they want addressed at the meeting in advance. A letter to the union office with such questions can be sent by mail or faxed to (212) 686-1231.
Letters should have a note on the outside, attention Vojna. If you are more of an email person, please send them to meetingquestions@osaunion.org, all lower case.
Please send the questions soon. They will have to be sorted by category so answers can be given at the meeting. If a question is unique to you it will likely be answered by personal response, so please include your preferred phone number.
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