Public Employee Press

Workers fight Brooklyn Central Laundry sell-off

"These are the people on the frontlines fighting to save your jobs and keep this facility operating. They fight your battles while you work," boomed Local 420 Chapter Chair Hulie White as he introduced DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts and union staff to Brooklyn Central Laundry workers Dec. 2 at a lunch-hour meeting.

Over the muffled whir of commercial washers and dryers, the leaders outlined the union's battle against the city's latest attempt to privatize laundry services as part of its "Road Ahead" plan to close HHC's huge budget gap. Hospitals Division Director Audrey McConney chaired the session, which included Local 420 2nd Vice President Togba Porte.

"We have an agreement with the city to keep the work here and bring more work in. We are in court to make sure it stands," said Roberts. "This is a class struggle of working people against big business. I'm fed up with the way we are being treated. We will not be pushed out the door."

The lawsuit DC 37 has filed to stop HHC's plan to contract out its laundry services and lay off the Local 420 members is still before the court. The union's request for an injunction banning the layoffs was denied Nov. 15, because layoffs had not been officially announced yet and HHC had not yet negotiated a contract with a vendor. Union leaders learned that management officials planned to announce a vendor in mid-December, after this newspaper went to press.

DC 37 Assistant Associate Director Henry Garrido recounted the union's 12-year struggle against privatization of BCL. He pointed out that repeatedly the workers have proved that they do the job better and with significant savings of four cents per pound compared with any private contractors. BCL processes over 10 million pounds of laundry a year. Drivers in Local 983 deliver the laundry to facilities. HHC's plan would allow a contractor to run the Brooklyn facility, which needs about $2 million in renovations.

DC 37 is pressing the City Council, the state Legislature and its political allies to support the 80 unionized laundry workers. Even four of the five Republicans are among the 41 City Council members who have signed a letter to HHC President Alan Aviles opposing the cutbacks and privatization.

"No one can do our jobs," White said. "This is a war we are fighting against HHC and Mayor Bloomberg."

—Diane S. Williams