Public Employee Press

Local 1549
Advocacy and action

By GREGORY N. HEIRES

More than 200 Local 1549 shop stewards and activists gathered Jan. 25 for a conference that focused on union advocacy and political action.

Union political analysts and politicians briefed members on crucial local, state and national issues.

Participants also learned about internal organizing - how to strengthen the union by reaching out to their coworkers and encouraging them to support DC 37's agenda at the ballot box, workplace and bargaining table.

Analyzing the national political landscape, John English, the area field services director for DC 37's parent union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said a concerted effort is underway around the country to undermine the power of public-employee unions.

A case before the U.S. Supreme Court, Harris v. Quinn, could cripple unions economically if the court rules that "agency fee payers," who are not union members, cannot be required to contribute their "fair share" toward the cost of union services such as negotiating pay increases.

Local 1549 President Eddie Rodriguez was unable to attend the conference because he was at an AFSCME meeting where union leaders were briefed about the Supreme Court case and the national union's strategy for combating the nationwide attack on public-employee unions, which is nearing New York. In January, thousands of Pennsylvania public employees demonstrated against proposed legislation that would let non-members be freeloaders.

One of the purposes of Local 1549's conference was to launch a campaign to encourage agency fee payers to sign up as union members. The effort is part of a union-wide initiative to educate members about the importance of union representation and strengthen grassroots support for the union's agenda. (See here.)

Natasha Isma, vice chair of Local 1549's Political Action Committee and chair of its Next Wave Committee, which encourages young members to become more active in the union, and 3rd Vice President Alvin Williams encouraged participants to use the communication tools they learned at the conference to get their coworkers involved in the mobilization.

"We need you to take this information back to the members," Williams said. "We need you involved."

Political Action Chair Carolyn Askew urged members to participate in the AFSCME Lobby Day on March 4 and the DC 37 Lobby Day on May 6.

Anna Nowland of the DC 37 Organizing Dept. and DC 37 Clerical Division Director Renee Gainer and her staff led the training. Gainer generated loud applause and a lot of laughs when she said, "We are a kick-ass union" that wants to get more members involved.

During the session on internal organizing, participants broke up into small groups to discuss how they would carry out onsite organizing. This exercise included role playing, coming up with suggestions for communicating effectively in one-on-one situations and "mapping," creating a document that outlines the structure of the workplace.

A bad state budget

Guest speakers, introduced by Susan Chin and Erica Vargas, assistant directors of the DC 37 Political Action and Legislation Dept., included Public Advocate Letitia James, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams; Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, City Council members Laurie Cumbo, Alan Maisel (District 46-Brooklyn), Ben Kallos (District 5- Manhattan) and I. Daneck Miller (District 27-Queens), the former president of Transport Workers Union Local 100, and a representative of City Council member Rory Lancman (District 24-Queens).

Courtney Brunelle, a legislative and political coordinator with AFSCME New York, briefed activists on the priorities of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, which consist largely of cutting taxes, including corporate income taxes and the estate tax, and freezing property taxes with small relief for ordinary New Yorkers in the form of a tax break for renters. He opposes Mayor Bill de Blasio's proposal, which DC 37 supports, to tax New York City's wealthiest residents to pay for pre-kindergarten and after-school programs.

During the last three years, the state has lost 90,000 public service jobs. Last year, the jobs of 30,000 teachers and 20,000 other public-service workers were eliminated.

DC 37 Field Services Director Barbara Ingram-Edmonds encouraged members to get involved with the union's Labor, Faith and Community Outreach Program. Union Rep Kevin McLaurin, a deacon in his church, shared how he is integrating his union activism and his faith.

"We need to bridge the gap between what we do as labor leaders and as faith leaders," Edmonds said. The program aims to unite the "beloved community" around common issues, such as affordable housing, community services and a fair contract for public employees.

Participants told PEP that the conference successfully conveyed the challenges and threats to the union and underscored the urgency of fighting back.

"We need to implement our agenda," said Charles Fili, an Eligibility Specialist 1. "But we need to have more education."

"Our fight is never over," said Valerie Crosland, a 911 Police Communication Technician. "We have had a pay freeze for four or five years. We have to support the union in collective bargaining so we can meet the cost of living. We have to take the information back to coworkers and inspire them and teach them about the union's priorities."

"We in the labor movement are struggling," said Yolanda Medina, the education field coordinator for AFSCME's Eastern region, after activists wrapped up the session on internal organizing.

"We can't do it alone. We need you - the internal organizer - to help."

"They are trying to destroy us," said Executive Vice President Alma Roper, emphasizing the severity of the conservative assault on unions and working people.

"So many people have died for where we are today," Roper said. "We will not die. We are going to fight."

"We have a newly elected progressive leadership in this city," said Ralph Palladino, 2nd vice president of Local 1549, who handles the local's political activities and coordinated the training. "But we have to be vigilant. The point is that we have to mobilize."