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CBTU 52nd Convention: An Agenda that Promotes Growth By LESLEY WILLIAMS The 52nd International Convention of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) was an extraordinary event, attended by over 1,400 delegates and guests, including delegations from Africa and Canada. The event took place from May 24-30, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The theme of the convention was “Confronting Radical Dangers to Our Families and Our Future.” The well-structured event identified issues of concern and offered comprehensive approaches to evaluate and collaboratively address them. One of the first events was the Retirees Conference chaired by Donald Afflick, DC 37 Retirees Association’s VP of Political Action & Legislation. The Retirees Association was well represented by members from New York and Florida. A representative from the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) highlighted the importance of Social Security and the significant threats it currently faces, namely privatizing Social Security and raising the retirement age. The ARA’s position, on the other hand, is to strengthen and expand Social Security. Seniors’ wellness and mentoring were also important agenda items and were widely discussed and debated. The role of retirees as mentors to the youth was well illustrated by CBTU’s president the Rev. Terrence Melvin in his greetings, which emphasized the significant contribution of retirees [...] — Sep 20
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New State Law Addresses Informing Benefits for 9/11’s Forgotten Victims By MIKE LEE On the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center that unleashed deadly toxins in lower Manhattan, legislation to fully address the “forgotten victims” of the attacks was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul. These victims are those who worked at businesses in the surrounding area and remain at risk for multiple illnesses associated with the attack. Dozens of types of cancer continue to be diagnosed in first responders and others involved in the cleanup of the World Trade Center site. The legislation, which unanimously passed the New York State Assembly and Senate in June, will expand participation in programs devoted to compensation and health care for those living and working in the area of the 9/11 attacks. Now made law, New York’s 9/11 Notice Act directs businesses in the toxic exposure zone to inform their current and former employees of the right to register for the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) and the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). Health resources and financial compensation apply not only to first responders, but also to anyone who lived or worked in the area. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, less than 10% of [...] — Sep 20
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Snapshots Local 372 Honors Scholarship Winners Board of Education Employees Local 372 held its 19th Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet on June 16. At the dinner, seven students were honored for their character and academic achievement by the Local 372 Scholarship Committee. Scholarship recipients were Lisa-Ray Edwards, Sophia Weg, Sarah Mashiat, Ryan Devlin, Martina Ibrahim, and Zoe Castello. Devrin Goodridge was awarded the Wydenia S. Perry Scholarship. PDIG Celebrates Pride and Inclusiveness at Queens Parade Solidarity and pride was the agenda when the DC 37 Pride Diversity Interest Group (PDIG) Committee celebrated the struggles and accomplishments of the LGBTQIA++ community at the 31st New Queens Pride Parade and Multicultural Festival in Jackson Heights, on June 4. Photo: Valentin Colon Mayor Adams Signs Union-Backed Healthcare Transparency Act At a June 21 ceremony in City Hall, Mayor Eric Adams signed the Healthcare Accountability & Consumer Protection Act. The new law, strongly supported by DC 37 and other New York City unions, establishes the Office of Healthcare Accountability, making New York City the first municipality to have an agency tasked to monitor and gather data on hospital prices in the City’s hospital systems. Photo: Thea Setterbo Local 983 Re-Elects Joe Puleo and His Team for [...] — Sep 20
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Labor Day: A Celebration of Union Power By MIKE LEE The muggy heat didn’t stop thousands of union members, families, and allies from marching in the 2023 NYC Labor Day Parade. Under this year’s theme of “We Organize, We Rise,” New York City’s unions claimed midtown Manhattan as theirs, led by Grand Marshal Nancy Hagans, President of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), and other union leaders and elected officials. An annual tradition in union solidarity, DC 37 gathered as a powerful family to celebrate this year’s hard-won victories. This includes wins in the State and City budgets, significant progress in organizing campaigns in the public and private sectors, and successfully negotiating and ratifying one of the best economic agreements in recent history. The new contract reflects the fighting spirit of DC 37’s membership. DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido was impressed with the turnout and the enthusiasm. “This is a day where we celebrate our victories: a new contract, growth in numbers, and participation. But on Monday, we continue the fight,” Garrido said. Olivia Duong, President of NYPD Technical Professional Employees Local 3778, which proudly sees 100% membership, joined the parade alongside several of her members. “My membership is about 300-strong, and the majority [...] — Sep 20
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Editor, Writer and Activist: Bill Schleicher Passes at 80 By MIKE LEE With time, history comes into focus. This is the case in the passing of former Public Employee Press Editor William “Bill” Schleicher who died at home in The Bronx on Aug. 20 at 80 years old. Schleicher never shirked from a battle, particularly for equal rights and economic justice, beginning with his experience as a civil rights activist organizing voter registration campaigns in Tennessee with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Schleicher moved to New York City, entering civil service as a caseworker in the Welfare Department where he was later promoted to supervisor. As a member of Local 371 prior to its joining with SSEU, he participated in the January 1965 Welfare Workers strike, a watershed event in District Council 37 and New York City’s labor history, and in the 1967 strike. In 1969, he joined the staff of DC 37’s newspaper, Public Employee Press, as a reporter. In his 45-year career as a union communicator, Schleicher built a reputation as a risk-taking, hard-nosed reporter and photographer. Whether riding in a helicopter to photograph overhead views of a significant labor rally in the 1970s in Washington, D.C., or sneaking into The New York Times newsroom to [...] — Sep 20