District Council 37

  • Snapshots
    Black History Month is Back at DC 37 Headquarters For the first time in five years, the DC 37 Black History Committee, chaired by Local 1930 President Deborah Allman, commenced its month-long celebration at 125 Barclay St. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 3. Pictured: Evangelist Selene Crawford sings the Black National Anthem. DC 37 Leaders Meet to Discuss Strategy at Annual Retreat Presidents from nearly every DC 37 local gathered with the union’s senior staff for the annual Local Presidents’ Leadership Summit Jan. 31-Feb. 2. The conference, held days after President Donald Trump was sworn into office for the second time, focused on ways to combat the effects of Project 2025’s implementation, harnessing the union’s political power in the upcoming New York City elections, and new ideas for building a stronger union through internal and external organizing. — Mar 18
  • Scam Alert: Don’t Fall for Predatory Mailers
    By MIKE LEE In the last few months, DC 37 members have reported receiving emails, letters, and postcards claiming that giving up their union membership would result in a “raise.” The messages have appeared in the form of phony checks and holiday cards. The groups sending the erroneous communications have one ultimate aim — to undermine and eventually dissolve labor unions. To carry out this agenda, they use an array of deceptive tactics to collect personal information and convince union members to give up their union benefits and protection. These “door-to-door union killers” are part of a national effort to roll back hard-won wage increases, pensions, job protections, and other benefits that workers have gained through organizing. They receive their funding from predatory, anti-union billionaires like the Koch family. The groups claim their recent efforts convinced more than 200,000 public workers nationwide to opt out of union membership, costing their unions hundreds of millions of dollars that would have otherwise gone to their health care and education funds for direct services. By falling for these scams, workers not only receive little in return, but also lose their voice in negotiations for better wages and benefits. To report questionable union-related mail [...] — Mar 18
  • Union’s Health & Security Fund Launches Benefit Fairs
    By MIKE LEE Union members and retirees gather at an information table at the first H&S Benefit Fair in DC 37 headquarters. Now that DC 37 has returned to 125 Barclay St. in lower Manhattan, the union’s headquarters serves as host for many member events, including the new DC 37 Health & Security Fund Benefit Fairs that kicked off Jan. 28. The fairs strive to educate DC 37 members and retirees on their eligible benefits and enhanced services. Staffers from every Health & Security Plan unit answered members’ questions, assisted in updating records, and handed out information about partner health care providers. William Bifulco, Administrator of the DC 37 Health & Security Plan, was pleased with the turnout and interaction with members. “We are here to serve the needs of our eligible workers and retirees,” Bifulco said. “Hosting these fairs at our beautiful renovated headquarters is key to ensuring our members understand how comprehensive their benefits are and how to best utilize them.” H&S plans to host the benefit fairs twice per month to reach as many members as possible while welcoming them into their new union home. “It is clear that when our members see our updated facility, they [...] — Mar 18
  • Museum Workers Rally Against Layoffs
    By ACACIA RODRIGUEZ With light from the setting sun illuminating the front of the historic Brooklyn Museum, members from Local 1502 and United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2110 rallied to protest the reckless layoff of more than 40 staffers, including curators, assistants, conservators, retail workers, educators, and security guards. More than 200 people chanted on the picket line outside, while inside, the executives’ invite-only “Chairman’s Dinner” honored trustees, donors, and their guests. Under Director Anne Pasternak’s leadership, the museum faces a looming $10 million deficit. Management is seeking to cut costs by laying off union members making between $42,000-$80,000 while taking just a 10% cut to management salaries, the highest of which is more than $1 million. In 2024, the museum celebrated its 200th anniversary with extravagant events, an overhaul of branding, and the opening of a new restaurant. There is currently a 2026 renovation planned for its Arts of Africa collection. Local 1502 President Wilson Souffrant noted the museum recruited management with high salaries to oversee the new developments, but their lack of success meant cuts to workers who make the museum run. “We are the backbone of this museum,” Souffrant said. “This was a deficit management created, not [...] — Mar 18
  • DC 37 Executive Board Sworn In for Three-Year Term
    By JUSTINA RAMLAKAHN On the evening of Jan. 28, delegate members from each local union represented by DC 37 convened at the union’s new headquarters. At the top of the agenda for their first meeting of the year was the swearing in of DC 37’s executive board, including newly re-elected Executive Director Henry Garrido, Board President Shaun D. Francois, I, Treasurer Maf Misbah Uddin, and Secretary John Hyslop. The slate was unanimously approved during a vote at the delegates meeting on Nov. 26, 2024. As a result, seven new vice presidents joined the DC 37 Executive Board: Renee Belmar, President of Local 1070, Court, County and Department of Probation Employees Richard Kowalczyk, President of Local 3599, NYC Department of Environmental Protection Technical Professional Employees Anthony Lackhan, President of Local 1549, NYC Clerical-Administrative Employees Lenore McShane, President of Local 384, City University of New York and Educational Opportunity Centers Vinny Musillo, President of Local 1508, Uniformed Park Supervisors Samantha Rappa-Giovagnoli, President of Local 3005, NYC Health Department Technical Professional Employees Ron Riccardi, President of Local 1087, NYC Prevailing Rate Employees Though the tone of the evening was celebratory, a heaviness hung in the air as earlier in the day President Donald [...] — Mar 18