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A Dynamic Vision: Meet Fareed Michelen DC 37’s Organizing Director By MIKE LEE As part of the ongoing effort to expand the union’s power base, District Council 37 hired long-time union leader and activist Fareed Michelen in September to head the union’s Organizing Department.Michelen brings more than two decades of experience and dynamic leadership in labor to the department, which has recently secured new waves of membership from New York non-profits, the private sector, and cultural institutions. Before arriving at DC 37, Michelen served as an organizer for 1199SEIU, Special Assistant to the Secretary-Treasurer for the New York State AFL-CIO, and Director of Organizing at the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA). His family was a strong inspiration and influence early on. “My mom was a teacher and later an administrator, active in pro-union and other causes,” Michelen said. “Dad is a doctor and now the Chief Medical Director of Arch Care. While at Bronx Lebanon Hospital, he supported the formation of the Committee of Interns and Residents. The interns who graduated med school were working 18-hour days, several days a week. He helped them organize and got the doctors to support their strike actions. “My grandfather was always politically involved,” Michelen continued. “He was actually the first commissioner of [...] — Dec 20
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Beloved School Crossing Guard Mourned Story and Photos by MIKE LEE It happened in seconds Krystyna Naprawa, a veteran Local 372 School Crossing Guard, was struck and killed by a privately operated dump truck on Friday, Oct. 20. She died in the line of duty just after safely helping several people cross a busy intersection in Woodhaven, Queens. As a singular, vital presence in the community, the 63-year-old crossing guard served for more than a decade, ensuring safety for children attending the school nearby her post. Just before the accident, a video camera captured Naprawa assisting a small group of pedestrians, including a mother and her baby, at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard. She had just returned to the front of the curb when the driver turned in her path. Before she had time to react, the truck fatally struck. Naprawa’s family, coworkers, union siblings, and the surrounding community were devastated by her death. The following Monday, her family and neighbors were joined by Local 372 leaders and elected officials for a candlelight vigil at the site of the accident to mourn and pay tribute to the public worker who paid the ultimate price while serving her community. “We are deeply saddened [...] — Dec 20
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Breaking Ground Workers Rally for Contract All photos by Julian DeJesus By MIKE LEE and JULIAN DEJESUS In the summer of 2020, workers at homelessness support organization Breaking Ground began their campaign to join District Council 37. They filed for recognition on Aug. 27, 2021, and Breaking Ground management recognized their intention to unionize two months later. That was just the beginning for the more than 250 workers at Breaking Ground. After the workers unionized, negotiations for a contract began with Breaking Ground management. Breaking Ground is New York’s largest non-profit developer and operator of supportive housing, with more than 4,400 transitional and permanent housing units under its management. The agency also runs street homeless outreach programs in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and midtown Manhattan. Nearly two years after being recognized as DC 37 members, the workers, who professionally and compassionately interact with at-risk individuals daily, are still without a contract. Members and their allies rallied on Oct. 19 to call attention to management’s refusal to negotiate in good faith. Dianelle Rutledge, member of Breaking Ground’s Bargaining Committee and Safety Committee. “We need more money. I’m one paycheck away from homelessness,” said Tawan Guy, a painter at the Breaking Ground Schermerhorn location. “It makes me feel [...] — Dec 20
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Union Celebrates Italian Heritage DC 37 Executive Director Henry GarridoLocal 1455 President Michael DeMarco, Chair of the DC 37 Italian Heritage Committee Story and Photos by MIKE LEE DC 37 members and activists joined union leaders to celebrate the history and heritage of Italian-Americans and rejoice in being together in the first Italian Heritage Committee-sponsored public event since the pandemic. The 25th Annual Italian Heritage Month Celebration was an opportunity for members and guests to come together for fun and fellowship, and a chance for old friends and colleagues to spend a Saturday together. Held at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach, Queens, the celebration honored the heritage and accomplishments of Italian-Americans, including their role in the labor movement. Italian-American immigrants such as Arturo Giovannitti, a leader of the 1912 Lawrence Textile Strike, and Angela Bambace, who served for half a century in the leadership of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, are just two out of many important figures who built American labor into the powerhouse it has been for more than a century. Following their example, Italian-American labor activists remain a driving force at DC 37, serving in leadership positions both as elected officials and staff. DC 37 Italian Heritage Committee [...] — Dec 20
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Elections 2023: Union Support Key in Important City Council Races By MIKE LEE Hard-fought campaigns, a significant victory for a Brooklyn City Council member, and an upset in the Bronx were the key storylines of the New York City General Elections on Nov. 7. In the thick of it were DC 37’s election Volunteer Member Organizers (VMOs), known for decades as the “Green Machine,” who fanned out across the city to push for the union’s endorsed candidates. Labor Strong, a coalition of the City’s most powerful labor unions comprised of DC 37, the Hotel Trades Council, SEIU 32BJ, the New York State Nurses Association, and Communications Workers of America District 1, played a decisive role two years ago in electing the most progressive City Council in New York City history. This year, Labor Strong was critical in changing the political landscape in Brooklyn’s 42nd District, where community advocate Chris Banks soared to victory in the Democratic Primary Election against incumbent Council Member Charles Barron. In all but one district, the coalition’s efforts secured wins for several DC 37-endorsed candidates during the general election. DC 37’s Political Action team worked diligently to spread the union message. From phone banks to door-to-door visits with union members and potential voters, an army of [...] — Dec 20