Public Employee Press

Local 1549’s 40th Anniversary:
From dream to powerhouse

By JANE LaTOUR

Back in the 1960s, city employee Thomas Hagen had a dream. His dream led DC 37 to organize a union for the city’s clerical workers. In 1964, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees granted a charter to the new union, Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549. Mr. Hagen became the first president of the local. “I was an international vice president then,” recalled DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. “I signed the charter very proudly,” she said.

On Dec. 4, 2004, Local 1549 members, officers, staff and honored guests celebrated the 40th anniversary of the union. Recording Secretary Loretta Y. Jones served as the program’s MC. “Thomas Hagen brought us from collective begging to collective bargaining,” she said.

Political allies of the local attended, including New York City Central Labor Council President Brian M. McLaughlin, who is also a member of the state Assembly, and three mayoral hopefuls — former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields and City Council Speaker Gifford Miller.

“Our program showcased activists,” said Ms. Jones. “We spotlighted the people who brought us this far.” Ms. Jones herself is part of that history, with 25 years as a union activist.

“I was laid off in 1975. When I came back as a Paralegal, I found out that there was no career ladder.” Ms. Jones organized a group of co-workers to meet with DC 37 leaders. “And that’s how we got that!” she explained.

Local 1549 Pre-sident Eddie Rod-riguez was elected in 2001 to lead the local, which by then had grown into a 22,000-member powerhouse. His activist credentials were forged in 1976 while he worked for the Human Resources Administration. “I got involved because I saw things that management was not doing. It made me feel good to help people out,” said Mr. Rodriguez. He became a shop steward, and a leader was launched.

Over the evening, four decades of history unfolded. Cheryl Minor, Local 1549’s 3rd vice president, mounted a photo exhibit in the ground floor lobby at union headquarters. Candid photographs caught members and officers in a multitude of memorable moments.

A specially prepared video provided an opportunity for officers, members, and retirees to take a walk down memory lane. “The 1960s?” said Executive Vice President Lenora Gates. “It seems like a million years ago. In the 1960s, I was working in the Post Office and the postal workers went on strike.” In the intervening 40 years, she started as a 911 pioneer in the Police Dept. and advanced to her current leadership position.

Those 40 years have brought major gains for the local’s members. As Local 1549 activist Carmen Flores said, “Collectively, the members can make changes. The future is in our hands!”