Public Employee Press

Henry Garrido promoted to Associate Director

DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts named Henry Garrido an Associate Director of District Council 37, effective Jan. 1. Garrido has a track record of effective leadership as architect of the union's white paper series on contracting out, an issue where DC 37 is gaining substantial support from elected officials.

Because of his successful research on contracting out and uncollected city revenues, Roberts nicknamed him "Detective Garrido." Winning "green" jobs for members is another important focus for Garrido, who will serve alongside Associate Director Oliver Gray.

"We do extensive research to strengthen our advocacy for our union members and for the public. These issues affect the lives of our members, their families and the entire community of working New Yorkers that we are part of," Garrido said.

Garrido trained as an architect at City College; inspired by the work of architect Marcel Breuer, his dream was to build affordable housing.

Mother was a union activist

He served as a Council Rep in the Schools Division until November 2005, when Roberts promoted him to Assistant Associate Director. In 2009, he attended the six-week Union Leadership Program at Harvard University. "The curriculum was outstanding," he said. "This was a rare opportunity to study with colleagues and peers."

Garrido was born in the Dominican Republic and came to the United States at 13 with his family. His mother worked in a Queens garment factory and was an active member of UNITE, the needle trades union. He and his wife, Ingrid, have two children, Christopher, 13, and daughter Leslie, 11.

Garrido hopes to serve as a bridge between older union leaders and the young generation coming into the labor movement. "This and the attack on the civil service are among my biggest challenges. Hopefully, our members will be agitated and educated enough to get active in the fight against a social policy that seeks to drive people to the bottom of the economic ladder," Garrido said.

"I consider myself very lucky for this opportunity that DC 37 and our executive director have given me," he said. "I have learned so much from our members. Every grievance I ever filed became a part of my life. I am doing what I was born to do."