Laborers Local 924 celebrated the retirement of four stalwart leaders who helped build DC 37 into one of the strongest municipal employees unions in the country.

Laborers built New York City with their physical strength and put DC 37 on the map with their fearless dedication to organizing and their confidence that in solidarity there is truly strength. On Sept. 26, Laborers Local 924 held a retirement dinner-dance to celebrate the career of former Local President James Welsh, one of those early union builders and a lifelong union activist.

"James was on the front lines and helped build our union," said Executive Director Lillian Roberts. She cheered Mr. Welsh's contributions to "making DC 37 into one of the largest and most progressive labor unions" in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

AFSCME Secretary Treasurer William Lucy came from Washington to attend the event, which also honored the retirement of Local 924 Executive Board members Pete Bartomeo and twin brothers Anthony and Louis Cattoggio.

Fighting for jobs and dignity

Mr. Welsh transferred from City University to the Parks Dept. in 1955 and worked in St. James Park in the Bronx. He said, "I got involved with the union to see how my dues were being spent."

Mr. Welsh quickly became a Shop Steward - his first step on a long road toward winning benefits, protections and dignity for city workers. As one of two grievance reps under then president Joe Zurlo, Mr. Welsh said, "At that time there was no pension, no collective bargaining, no health benefits to speak of. We had to fight for everything we got."

The union struggle is ongoing, and Mr. Welsh recalled his role in the demonstrations, marches and strikes that "almost shut down the city" in the 1950s, '60s and '70s and established DC 37 as the most powerful municipal union.

He was part of the historic battles for union welfare benefits and decent pensions and against massive layoffs and age discrimination. The local faced down headstrong mayors and tyrannical commissioners like Robert Moses, who "never respected unions or the working people of the city," said Mr. Welsh.

And he was with DC 37 in the civil rights movement when the union marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to guarantee constitutional freedoms and rights for all Americans.

"Working with James Welsh was a real eye opener," said his successor, Local 924 President Kyle Simmons, who also was master of ceremonies at the retirement affair. "He gave me an education in labor history and organization. Jimmy's door was always open to members. He is a gentleman and a friend who is always willing to help."

Elected secretary of Local 924 in 1978, Mr. Welsh became president in 1991. He was the third president in Local 924's 50-year history.

Mr. Welsh summed up his four decades as a DC 37 unionist: "I've learned we can't be complacent and we can't wait until a crisis arises to get involved. We've got to always be ready to fight for our cause."