yellow and white text saying workers are the union

Local 3005

Local 3005 represents approximately 1,300 employees at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). We have the following titles:

  • Administrative Public Health Nurse
  • Architect
  • Chemist
  • City Research Scientist
  • Civil Engineer
  • Criminalist
  • Graphic Artist
  • Scientist in Radiological Health
  • Space Analyst
  • Supervisor of Mechanical Installations and Maintenance
  • Water Ecologist

Current leadership was elected in May 2025 to serve for 3 years. In addition to 6 executive board members, there are 3 trustees who oversee our finances and 3 delegates who attend monthly DC37 meetings to discuss member issues and represent Local 3005's concerns to the larger union.

Organizing model

In an organizing model, members are the union, information transparently flows between leadership to members, and members are closely involved in organizing on workplace issues. In a service model, the union is more like an insurance policy or third party to call when there is a problem. Decisions are made behind closed doors and the primary concern is to keep the peace with management. We want a local that is democratic, transparent, and member-led! Therefore, we are using an organizing model.

Our members, not leadership, are the union! The more members that are actively involved in our union, the stronger our collective power.

Union structure

Local 3005 is part of regional and national organizations composed of workers in similar jobs and roles. Each of these levels of organization have their own constitution and Executive Board, which governs them. 

Local 3005 is part of District Council 37 (DC37), NYC's largest public employee union, representing around 150k members and 89k retirees. DC37 has 60+ different Local unions, organized by factors such as employer and title-groups. DC37 is the collective bargaining agent for our contracts, and it manages the benefit funds that provide us with a wide variety of services. DC 37 is part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which has over 1.6 million members nationwide.