By LILLIAN ROBERTS
Executive Director
District Council 37, AFSCME

District Council 37, we have a lot to celebrate this month. On Oct. 30, our Negotiating Committee capped a tough round of bargaining with an economic agreement with the city. The proposed contract provides sound, significant raises for 100,000 members and protects our benefits with no changes in health coverage and pensions. Given the difficult fiscal times ahead, the security of a union contract and the two 4 percent raises are a good deal.

And a few days later, on Nov. 4, change came to America with the sweeping presidential victory of Barack Obama. The eloquent, inspiring young senator from Illinois won election with a mandate for broad-based economic change — health care for all, tax justice and a stimulus plan to put people back to work and help cities and states close their growing fiscal gaps.

It is a new day — certainly a day I thought I’d never see. After so many years of struggle for equality and justice, the election of an African American as president of the United States is a historic change. Equally impressive is the fact that millions of Americans showed on November 4th that we have learned to see people as people, judging them not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. The American people also deserve credit for voting for their clear economic interests and not being diverted by personal attacks and mudslinging.

I believe this election means a new beginning with gains for all Americans. President Obama, along with a Congress that values the workers who make America happen at home and defend it abroad, will work with us as we leave the harsh desert of the Bush years behind. I believe we can expect a responsible end to the war in Iraq, which has been draining $12 billion a month from public services. We can also expect advances in education, health care and jobs. We will see more good jobs at excellent pay; many of them will be “green” jobs and many will represent great opportunities for DC 37 members. Together with our country’s new leadership team, we can make a huge difference in the lives of working families.

On Election Day, we proved the power of our votes and our political ­action Green Machine. Labor played an important part in winning this election (see pages 6-7), and I want to salute the DC 37 members who volunteered November 4th and those who took their own vacation time to work for Obama in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Virginia, Florida and Nevada.

Vote YES on proposed contract
I must also salute the 56 local presidents who make up our DC 37 Negotiating Committee. As the city grapples with a fiscal crisis, they stayed focused and fought for our members, winning substantial pay increases retroactive to March 2008, with no changes in benefits orpensions, and another wage hike in March 2009.

The Negotiating Committee and the DC 37 Delegates have voted overwhelmingly to recommend the proposed contract. Now the decision is in your hands. You will soon get your ballot in the mail (see details). For your vote to count, your ballot must be received by 9:00 a.m. December 8th.

I have already begun pressing the city to pay our raises quickly after the vote, hopefully by the end of the year. I urge you to vote yes to ratify the contract.