Public Employee Press

Heritage committee celebrates 24th Anniversary

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

The DC 37 Latino Heritage Committee kicked off its 24th annual Latino Heritage celebration with the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 15 at union headquarters. "Enhancing Future Generations with Inclusion and Diversity," was the theme announced by committee Chair Carmen Flores at the ceremony.

Starting the series of events was Local 420. Its celebration featured a performance of traditional Mexican dances by East Harlem's Ballet Folklorico. Local 420 President Carmen Charles acknowledged the contributions of the many Hispanic members in her local and welcomed DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido, who spoke at the event. "Latinos cannot be taken for granted by one political party and insulted by another," he said.

Social Service Employees Union Local 371 held its event on Sept. 25. Before the festivities began, Executive Vice President Yolanda Pumarejo asked for a moment of silence in memory of Melba Scarborough, who worked at the Human Resources Administration. Former New York State Assembly member and author Nelson A. Denis was the evening's keynote speaker. Denis spoke about his new book, "The War Against All Puerto Ricans," which chronicles the involvement of the United States in the affairs of the Caribbean island, highlighting the repression by the federal government of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico. Denis made a connection with the laws passed by the U.S. Congress that have stunted the political and economic viability of the island and contributed to Puerto Rico's current fiscal and political crisis. "There are 47 hedge funds involved in Puerto Rico today and they are starting to drool over all the opportunities they want to exploit," Denis explained.

In his remarks Garrido addressed Puerto Rico's crisis and called on Congress to help the island. "We do not want our pension funds to be used to create an austerity plan for Puerto Rico," he added.

The Local 371 cultural presentation featured a performance by the Cuban charanga trio Yerason, and the highlight of the evening was provided by salsa singer Herman Olivera and his orchestra.

Officials appreciate union support

Board of Education Employees Local 372 had its Latino Heritage celebration on Oct. 2. A program of invited guests was topped off with the swinging salsa sounds of Brooklyn's Conjunto Imagen, featuring vocalist Frankie Morales. Local 372 President Shaun D. Francois I welcomed several elected officials and union leaders to the Friday night affair.

Among the invited guests were City Council member Adonis Rodriguez, who was a student at City College with Garrido. Both were involved in the struggle against tuition increases at CUNY. Rodriguez thanked the union for supporting his election campaigns in 2001 and 2003.

State Assembly member Guillermo Linares, the first Dominican elected official in the United States, also thanked DC 37 for the support he received when he ran for a school board position in Upper Manhattan. "I could not have won that election without the support of Local 372," Linares said. Linares went on to express his concern about rising rents and the lack of affordable housing. "Displacement is sweeping the city like a tsunami and if something is not done to stop it we're going to be extinct," Linares
warned.

Bronx State Assembly member Michael Blake, whose father belonged to a hospital workers union, attended the celebration and emphasized union solidarity in his speech. "It doesn't matter which union you belong to," Blake said. "We are all part of the brotherhood and sisterhood of labor."

— Additional reporting by Diane S. Williams