Social Service Employees Union. Local 371

Hide Profile

Social Service Employees Union Local 371 is part of District Council 37 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFL-CIO). The union primarily represents New York City workers in the social service professions. Although the origins of the union can be traced back to the 1930s, their modern story begins in the bitter cold of January 1965 when more than 8,000 welfare workers spent 28 days on union picket lines and leaders from what were then two separate entities, the Social Service Employees Union and Local 371, went to jail. Besides winning salary increases and improvements in conditions for their clients, the strike resulted in a number of firsts including the first 100 percent city-paid health insurance, an effective grievance procedure, and the establishment of a panel made up of representatives of labor, the city, and the public that led to what is today known as the New York City's Office of Collective Bargaining. Two more strikes, both unsuccessful, took place in 1967; finally, in 1969, the two unions merged. Under the leadership of presidents Martin Morgenstern, Stanley Hill, Joe Sperling and Charles Ensley, among others, the union has grown in diversity over the years. Although caseworkers still make up the single largest segment of the SSEU's membership, the union now represents over 150 title categories including counselors, social workers, investigators, and residence staff.
Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Stephanie Oursler Papers, ca. 1955, ca. 1960-ca. 1970 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Guide to the New Yorkers at Work Oral History Collection, 1979-2000 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Sol Gorelick Papers, Bulk, 1960-1980, circa 1940-1980 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Michael Padwee Papers, 1966-1979 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Christopher Rhoades Dykema Papers, 1965-1988 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Printed Ephemera Collection on Trade Unions, Bulk, 1880-2009, 1837-2009 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
creatorOf Patrick Knight Papers, Bulk, 1960-1980, 1949-1980 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
creatorOf Social Service Employees Union Records, Bulk, 1960-1999, 1952-2007 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Tamiment Library Web Collection on Labor Unions and Organizations Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
creatorOf Social Service Employees Union Photographs, Bulk, 1965-1995, 1952-2008 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith AFSCME. District Council 37 (New York, N.Y.). corporateBody
associatedWith AFSCME. Local 420 (Municipal Hospital Workers Union) (New York, N.Y.). corporateBody
associatedWith Badillo, Herman, 1929- person
associatedWith Bellamy, Carol, 1942- person
associatedWith Bernhardt, Debra E. person
associatedWith Cohen, Bart person
associatedWith Dinkins, David N. person
associatedWith Dykema, Christopher person
associatedWith Ensley, Charles person
associatedWith Ensley, Charles person
associatedWith Gorelick, Sol, 1916-2004 person
associatedWith Gotbaum, Victor person
associatedWith Hill, Stanley, 1936- person
associatedWith Jorge, Julia person
associatedWith King, Coretta Scott, 1927-2006 person
associatedWith Knight, Patrick person
associatedWith Knight, Patrick. person
associatedWith Koch, Ed, 1924- person
associatedWith Liebowitz, Stuart person
associatedWith Mage, Judith person
associatedWith Mage, Judith person
associatedWith Morgenstern, Marty person
associatedWith Nadler, Jerrold person
associatedWith Oursler, Stephanie. person
associatedWith Owens, Major person
associatedWith Padwee, Michael person
associatedWith Pinkett, Mary person
associatedWith Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives. corporateBody
associatedWith Roberts, Lillian person
associatedWith Sperling, Joe person
associatedWith Tepedino, Joe person
associatedWith Viani, Alan person
associatedWith Viani, Alan person
associatedWith Wurf, Jerry, 1919- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York City NY US
Subject
Anti-communist movements
Civil rights
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective labor agreements
Demonstrations
Labor unions
Labor unions
Municipal officials and employees
Social workers
Social workers
Strikes and lockouts
White collar workers
Occupation
Labor union
Activity

Corporate Body

Establishment 1965-01

Related Descriptions
Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6v74s92

Ark ID: w6v74s92

SNAC ID: 39198688