Anthony Wells
President
Anthony Wells was elected President of SSEU Local 371 in 2011, after more than two decades working in every aspect of the union’s activities, from organizing to bargaining to pensions to research. Its 20,000 members include New York City social service workers in every mayoral agency. Additional members are located at Housing Authority, the Health and Hospitals Corporation, District Attorneys’ offices, community planning boards, and the Borough Presidents’ offices.
Anthony Wells began his civil service career in 1980 as a caseworker at the Spofford Juvenile Center in the Bronx. Three years later he transferred to the Bureau of Child Welfare (BCW) Queens Field Office, where he served as a union delegate. In 1988 he joined the union staff as an organizer, becoming Associate Director of Organization in 1990 and Associate Director of Negotiations and Research in 1995. In 1999 he became Vice-President for the Negotiations and Research section, heading the union’s bargaining committee and also representing SSEU Local 371 on the DC37 Pension Committee until his election as President.
He is especially proud of his efforts on behalf of particular groups of city workers facing oppressive conditions or firings. In 2002 he won a standard 35-hour work week for “house parents’ in group homes, who had been compelled to work a 60-hour work week. More recently, when the city abruptly fired eighteen members of the 311 call center staff, he led the fight that resulted in an arbitrator’s ruling that the city was obligated to “discuss the layoffs with the union and to explore feasible alternatives.” This resulted in the reinstatement of all eighteen workers with full back pay. He continues to fight for, layoff prevention, job security, benefits protection and maintaining a level playing field through the civil service system.
Anthony Wells attended New York City public schools and graduated from Baruch College. He received an M.S.W. in Social Work from Stony Brook University in 1987 and a law degree from New York Law School in 2001. He is licensed to practice law in New York and New Jersey.
He is an International Vice-President of AFSCME, Vice President of District Council 37, Chairman of District Council 37 Civil Service Committee, Co-Chair of the Municipal Labor Committee, Trustee of NYSPEC and Executive Council of CBTU.
Doris Murphy
Executive Vice President
Doris Hernandez Murphy, prior to being elected Executive Vice President, served as the Associate Director of Negotiations and Research for SSEU Local 371. In this role, she negotiated contracts, addressed membership issues, lead labor-management meetings, and conducted research in policy and procedures. Doris served as a Grievance Representative for 8 years, representing members in disciplinary hearings, investigation interviews, and grievance hearings. Doris was hired as a caseworker for HRA HASA in 1998 and became an active delegate and staunch advocate for members at her work location. She defended and represented members by resolving issues. She is a proud member of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She was re-elected as a delegate to District Council 37 and an elected delegate to New York City Central Labor Council on December 4, 2020. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Iona College, New Rochelle, New York. Doris has a passion for helping people and her union experiences along with problem-solving skills has aligned her for continued advocacy on behalf of the membership.
Vincent Ciccarello
Secretary Treasurer
Mr. Ciccarello began his career at the Administration for Children’s Services in January 2002. Through a grant provided by the agency, he returned to the Hunter College School of Social Work, where Vincent subsequently graduated and obtained his master’s in social work degree. Obtaining a degree motivated him to take the Civil Service Exam for Child Protective Specialist Supervisor. Mr. Ciccarello was initially promoted to a level 1 supervisor and eventually promoted to a level 2 supervisor. Vincent was introduced to the Union movement by a long-time delegate from the Bronx, which was the location he was assigned to. Mr. Ciccarello realized that the Union was an agent for advocacy which appealed to his sense of justice and fairness. As Vincent continued his journey in this Union movement it has afforded him the opportunity to meet and work with people who help to keep New York the amazing City it is. Vincent Ciccarello was elected a Trustee of the Union in 2011 and in 2015 he was hired by the Union as Grievance Representative where he fought for the rights of members. In December 2020, Vincent was elected by the membership as the Secretary-Treasurer. Vincent is proud to be an important part of the Union and hopes that he can continue to be an advocate for the people who have earned and deserve the respect of the people they serve.
Carl Cook
Vice President of Negotiations and Research
Carl began his career in 2004 as a Community Assistant with the Human Resources Administration in the Office of Child Support Enforcement. Eventually, he was certified from the civil service list as a Caseworker and went on to become a Fraud Investigator. Shortly after being hired Carl became active in the Union and was elected as an alternate delegate by his coworkers for being outspoken at his location concerning workers’ rights and issues.
In May of 2011, Carl began working for the union as a Research Assistant. He became the Associate Director for Negotiations & Research in October of 2012 handling labor relations issues throughout the city. Carl received his Bachelor of Arts degree from The College of New Rochelle in Psychology and his Master of Public Administration from Long Island University. He is a member of the Political Action Committee and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU). In November of 2015, Carl has announced the new Vice President for Negotiations & Research.
Darek Robinson
Vice President of Grievances and Legal Services
Darek Robinson earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland (Eastern Shore) in 1989. He began his career in City service in 1992 as a Juvenile Counselor at the Department of Juvenile Justice and was promoted to Associate Juvenile Counselor I in 2006. He became Associate Juvenile Counselor II in 2009. Robinson became a Union Activist for Local 1457 in 1994 and was elected Vice President in 2004. He was instrumental in the successful filing of the Fair Labor Standard Act Lawsuit on behalf of Local 1457 members. Local 1457 merged with SSEU Local 371 in 2010. Robinson became a grievance representative in February 2014 and was elected vice president of grievances and legal services in April.
Armenta Weekes
Vice President of Education and Organization
Armenta G. Weekes, also known as “Mindy” received her BS in American Studies with a minor in Journalism from the State University of New York Old Westbury. In April of 1989 she began her career as a caseworker in the Administration for Children’s Services. Mindy quickly moved up to a CPSS I and then CPSS II. Mindy became involved with the union after participating in her first demonstration against the Borough Director in Queens. She was a union delegate on location for many years before becoming the Vice President of Organization and Education at SSEU Local 371. Mindy is currently involved in CLUW (Coalition of Labor Union Women), on the Black History Committee, the Political Action Committee and the Women’s Committee. Mindy has been the VP of Organization and Education since 2012.
Tanya Hatcher
VP for Publicity and Community Relations
Tanya Hatcher is currently the Vice President for Publicity and Community Relations for the Social Service Employees Union Local 371.
Tanya is responsible for the publication of our award-winning Unionist oversight and the relevant content that graces the pages. Prior to assuming this position in December 2020, Tanya worked in Negotiations and Research as an Associate Director handing high-level citywide meetings with the City of New York in various agencies on our members’ behalf. Tanya joined the union in August 2014 as an organizer.
Tanya began her career with the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) in July 2002 as a Child Evaluation Specialist, now known as Child & Family Specialist. She quickly became a strong advocate for the children and families she served, in addition to a strong delegate for the members she represented. She continues to be a voice for the voiceless and an unwavering representative for members of our union.
Tanya holds a Bachelor Degree in Social Work from the historically Black Clark Atlanta University and a Master Degree in Social Work from Yeshiva University. Tanya is also a licensed as Social Worker by the State of New York. In addition, she is a member of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionist (CBTU), National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Americo Reyes-Santiago
VP for Legislative and Political Activities
Americo spent the majority of his life as a service provider where from the early age of 14, he helped anyone who he was fortunate enough to encounter. He began his career with the city as a case worker at the New York City Housing Authority, assisting residents with anything from rent delinquency, domestic violence, addiction rehabilitation and so much more. He went on to become one of the youngest Community Center directors in NYCHA and afterward, the supervising coordinator for the cluster of facilities in the North Bronx working out of the Bx. Borough Office. Americo build relationships with Community Based Organizations and Elected Officials securing the much needed funding for the programs throughout the Borough. Several years later, Americo became the Assistant to the Administrator within NYCHA’s Social Service department for the borough of Manhattan. He assisted in the supervision of over 50 staff members, servicing tens of thousands of residents. During his tenure at the New York City Housing Authority he participated at round tables where his shared ideas were the contributing factor to many of the policy changes at the agency.
In late 2013 the Wells Administration asked him to join the team and after two months of deliberation, he did. Americo went to work immediately, doing a cost analysis on the monthly expenditures for printing. He recommended the union print everything in house which led to a contract negotiation with Konica Minolta. This resulted in a savings of over 175 thousand dollars per year. He was appointed the Assistant to the President providing essential guidance on important member issues, operational needs and is the goto in most crisis situations.
Americo is a Delegate for the Central Labor Council, a member of LCLAA & CLUW and has a publishing company with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He has an array of skills, political insight and his vast knowledge of the labor movement, plus his commitment to the members of this Union keeps him focused and ready for all tasks.
