Public Employee Press

Blue Collar conference
Sharpening stewards' skills

Shop stewards and presidents from 11 locals united in solidarity at this year’s DC 37 Blue Collar Division conference, which was held upstate at the Villa Roma Conference Center Oct. 31 through Nov. 2.

“The Blue Collar Division is the solid foundation on which DC 37 was built,” DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts told participants. She
recalled the union’s historic beginnings when thousands of Laborers in Local 924 struck for union rights and fair wages. As she led the growth surge of the 1960s, many blue collar activists helped organize tens of thousands more members.

At the three-day retreat, the division’s shop stewards and activists learned about grievance procedures, health and safety protocol, agency shop provisions and developments in contract negotiations.

“Blue collar jobs are very dangerous. Your members have experienced more fatalities than any other job titles in DC 37,” said Health and Safety Director Lee Clarke. She urged attendees to lobby for legislation to strengthen the complicated Workers Compensation laws and to improve job safety.

DC 37 represents a strong and diverse group of non-uniformed city workers, from architects to zookeepers, said Research and Negotiations Director Dennis Sullivan, “and every job is valued.” The challenge, he said, comes with being
one of the first unions to negotiate with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg during the current fiscal crisis.

The mayor, a self-made billionaire business executive and emerging politician, expects unions to fund their own raises through increased productivity and givebacks. DC 37 members, mainly city residents, are being squeezed by higher rents, taxes and transportation costs. Mr. Sullivan said, “We have to believe in the process, support our union, stand up to management and strike, if necessary.”

Increase member participation
“Our union has the power to change things for the better,” Ms. Roberts said, reminding the group of their successes at the Oct. 29 rally and in the Nov. 4 election, their democratic participation in collective bargaining, and the rehiring of half the 3,000 DC 37 members laid off in the spring.

“These retreats give unionists time to reflect on what gets lost in the daily hustle and bustle,” Mr. Sierra said. “They educate members and remind them of the importance of the labor movement.” Ms. Roberts commended him and the division’s grievance and council reps for “putting members first, resolving issues without complaints, and being organized, disciplined and reliable.”

The conference was planned by Larry Kelly of the DC 37 Education Dept. and coordinated by Yesenia Colon, the division’s secretary.

“This meeting was the best yet,” said Local 1505 executive board member Charles Willis. “The camaraderie of our union brothers and sisters was terrific. We’re fighting for a better contract and leaving a legacy for the next generation of civil servants.”

— Story and photos by Diane S. Williams