Public Employee Press

Local 1407 brings the union to the members

A Local 1407 initiative called "Bringing the Union to the Membership" keeps members informed about the attacks on public employees emanating from Washington, Albany and City Hall.

At the lunchtime worksite meetings, Local 1407 President Maf Misbah Uddin and Vice President Jed Matalon encourage members to help DC 37 battle deep budget cuts that threaten jobs.

They also urge members to join the campaign of DC 37's parent union - the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - against the nationwide effort to gut government services and employee pensions and health benefits.

More than 100 members of the local of Accountants, Statisticians and Actuaries attended a lunchtime meeting Feb. 3 at the Finance Dept. office at 345 Adams St. in Brooklyn.

This year the local has held similar meetings at the Comptroller's Office, the Teachers' Retirement System, the New York City Employee Retirement System and other Finance offices.

"Our goal is to hold about 100 on-site visits every year," Uddin said.

"Now we are approaching these meetings with a sense of urgency because of the unprecedented political assaults on public employees, who have become scapegoats in the budget crises of cities and states," he said.

Members at the sessions have expressed concern about the Bloomberg administration's plans for cutting pension and health benefits and negotiating a new economic agreement.

At meetings, Uddin encouraged members to participate in the DC 37's Lobby Day on May 3 and urged them to visit their state legislators and City Council members.

To participate in the Albany lobbying, members should call the DC 37 Political Action and Legislation Dept. at 212-815-7521.

Information about AFSCME's "Stop the Lies" campaign, which aims to counter the disinformation about public employees, is available on the AFSCME Web site at www.afscme.org. Members can sign up to receive e-mail alerts from the campaign about the challenges facing public employees and how they can fight back.