Public Employee Press
Local 983 offers prep course
Forty Urban Park Rangers enrolled in a course offered through the union’s Education Fund to prepare for a promotional exam to become Associate Urban Park Rangers.
The six-session course began in late November; the test was given on Dec. 12.
“If UPRs pass the exam with a score of 70 or higher, they can be promoted to Associate Urban Park Ranger and earn as much as $64,000 to start,” said Local 983 President Joe Puleo. AUPRs and UPRs are Peace Officers who educate park patrons and keep city parklands and beaches safe.
The starting salaries for AUPRs pay almost $17,000 more than the $47,125 base salary UPRs earn annually, Puleo said. The rate of pay typically increases when the union finalizes its negotiations with the city for a new contract. Salaries also increase when recurring pay increases and other enhancements negotiated by Local 983 are adopted.
Retired Local 983 member Rueben Rios led the opening session. “To pass this exam you need to focus on the positive, have a good attitude, be on time and be prepared,” he told the class.
PEP Sergeant Ruthie Perez is a provisional assigned to Bronx parks. “I took the promotional class to become a civil servant in my title,” said the 22-year Parks Dept. veteran and shop steward. “The course offered good refreshers and clarity on procedures that I think helped me pass the exam.”
“The union is all about helping our members advance their civil service careers,” said Puleo. “This is one of the many tools we give our members at no cost to help them reach their goals.”
