Public Employee Press

DC 37/ AFSCME STRONG: MOBILIZE, AGITATE AND EDUCATE
Local 1505 is union strong

Stacks of union green cards were collected Nov. 6 as Local 1505 enrolled hundreds of seasonal employees at the local's annual holiday party at the union hall. The local signed up hundreds of members as part of the DC37/AFSCME Strong campaign.

"Many of our members were agency shop fee payers," Local 1505 President Dilcy Benn said. "My members work seasonal, some work two months, some three, some nine. We get new members all year round and wanted to make sure they get everything they are entitled to as full union members."

Local 1505 represents City Parks Workers, Debris Removers, Staten Island Ferry Attendants and Parks Service Workers in the Dept. of Parks and Recreation. This year they celebrated hard-won achievements like the right for permanent Parks employees to transfer within the department, and their new blue uniforms that distinguish them from Assistant Parks Services Workers, who wear green.

Benn introduced DC 37 leaders, including new Blue Collar Division Director David Catala, Associate Director Oliver Gray, and others. Members won raffle prizes and each took home a Local 1505 jacket.

"Don't let anyone look down on what you do," Benn said. "Not many people can work outside in bitter cold or work a weed whacker in 100-degree weather."

— Diane S. Williams