Sylvia Hinds-Radix, DC 37 immigration attorney, runs for judgeship in Brooklyn

Attorney Sylvia Hinds-Radix, chief counsel of the DC 37 Immigration Program, announced that she will be running for the Democratic nomination for Kings County Civil Court judge in the Sept. 11 primary.

“If I am elected, I intend to administer the law firmly but fairly, with great understanding and compassion,” said Ms. Hinds-Radix. “Being a judge is a great responsibility because people’s lives are involved.”

Ms. Hinds-Radix has been a DC 37 attorney for 15 years, first with Municipal Employees Legal Services and then with the Immigration Program she helped start for the union’s growing number of immigrant members.


It’s “40 and out” for Emmett Washington, heroic Laborer

Laborer Emmett Washington retired late last year after a 40-year career with the city, a career that included a remarkable act of heroism.

“All of us in Local 924 are proud of Emmett,” said Local President James Welsh, “both for his long years of dedicated servce and for the way he saved a man’s life back in 1977.”

On March 21, 1977, as flames roared through a Health Dept. laboratory, Washington groped his way through smoke and fire to a supervisor who lay unconscious beside tanks of gas that could have exploded at any second. He dragged the man to safety. When firefighters got to the site at First Avenue and 26th Street they found Mr. Washington battling the fierce flames.

As he began to plan for retirement in 1997, the Laborer’s heroism was honored with a citation from the New York City Fire Dept.


100 Year Association presents honors and awards scholarships

Four members of DC 37 were proud recipients of the Isaac Liberman Public Service Award for outstanding achievements by civil service employees.

The 100 Year Association of New York presented the awards in a ceremony on Dec. 12 at City Hall.

The late Iftekhar Hossain, who was an Assistant Civil Engineer and member of Local 375, was honored for saving the city hundreds of thousands of tax dollars and dramatically cutting construction time on a railroad bridge in Long Island City.

Gary Cullen, a Park Supervisor and member of Local 1508, was honored for saving a drowning child and for alerting the public to a man shooting a rifle on Orchard Beach in the Bronx. Mr. Cullen is also known for his contributions to wildlife conservation and assistance to birdwatchers.

SSEU Local 371’s Selina Higgins of the Administration for Children’s Services was honored for her leadership in setting up mechanisms to protect children.

Local 154’s Barbara Skinner, who works at the City Commission for Human Rights, was honored for helping teenage mothers and fathers by establishing a community service organization, From this Day Forward.

In addition, many children of DC 37 members received scholarships from the organization. They include Robin Chan, Local 372; Ijeoma Anyanwu, Local 371; Meredith Bodgas, Local 1759; Neil Shah, Local 1407; and the following children of Local 375 members: Sharmin Haque, Ruby Lien, Melanie Pincus, Marianna Shnayderman, Bosede Adenekan, Michael Brennan, Sayani Niyogi and Shirin Shakir.

Bucks for books at DC 37 College

Book buying was easier for the nine lucky members who won the drawing and received last year’s $25 book awards from the Alumni Association of the DC 37 Campus of The College of New Rochelle. “This is a way for us to help students and let them know about the Alumni Association on the union campus,” said Association President Susan Gatson.


Arlene Poggi retires from H & S Plan after 33 years of service

Arlene Poggi, a manager in the DC 37 Health and Security Plan, retired last year after a 33-year career at the union. Ms. Poggi started as a Claims Examiner in the DC 37 Welfare Fund (as it was then known).

Soon she was not only serving DC 37 members but also helping her coworkers as a Shop Steward in Local 153, OPEIU.

She rose through the ranks to manage the fund’s dental, prescription drug, podiatry and optical units. She saw the staff of the Health and Security Plan grow from 21 to 340 while the value of the benefits for members rose from $4 million to $195 million a year.

“Arlene contributed a great deal to the development of our claims processing systems,” said Roslyn Yasser, administrator of the Health and Security Plan. “She will be greatly missed.


Local 384 retiree stars at Senior Institute

Rochelle Mangual, a retiree from Local 384, was valedictorian as her class graduated Nov. 30 from the Institute for Senior Action.

The 27 students focused on subjects that included the legislative process, public speaking and media relations.

“I learned techniques for applying political pressure to make progress on the needs of seniors,” said Ms. Mangual.

“We are proud of her and our other members who have studied at IFSA,” said DC 37 Retirees Association President Alma Osborne.


Former Associate Director Edward J. Maher is mourned

Pioneer union builder Edward J. Maher, a skilled behind-the-scenes administrator during a two-decade career at DC 37, died Jan. 3 at 78. He started as a field rep in 1959 and soon became associate director and a top aide to then Executive Director Victor Gotbaum. Mr. Maher contributed greatly to the rapid early growth of DC 37.

Maher provided the vital staffing and logistical support to help win the crucial hospital workers’ organizing drive in 1965.

“He was loyal, hardworking and dedicated,” said Lillian Roberts, his long time associate and now a DC 37 consultant.

In 1980 he left DC 37 to become Roberts’ top deputy when she was named New York State Labor Commissioner. His five children and five grandchildren survive him.