Public Employee Press

Local 384 runs union prep school for activists

Local 384 is initiating a push to spur greater union activism in the workplace.

About 30 executive board members/ shop stewards of City University of New York and Educational Opportunity Centers Local 384 participated in an intensive training conference in Atlantic City, N.J., Dec. 11-13 to improve the union’s services and urge rank-and-file members to become more active.

“The conference really created a buzz among the participants, who came away with a renewed commitment to help protect the rights of their co-workers and to get more people involved in the union,” said Local 384 President Esther (Sandy) Tucker. “Many members — even activists — are unaware how much the union offers,” Tucker said. “We are eager to educate our members about the opportunities available to them.”

Roberts speaks
The participants learned about the union’s mission and resources during talks at the conference by District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, DC 37 and Local 372 President Veronica Montgomery-Costa, Director Stephanie Velez and Assistant Director Hector Coto of the DC 37 Professional Division.

In workshops, speakers equipped activists with tools to protect their co-workers from abuses and provided crucial information about workplace issues. Conference workshops covered grievances, contract enforcement, safety hazards at work, Workers’ Comp, pension and retirement issues, and the role and responsibilities of shop stewards.