Public Employee Press

A commitment to union activism
Local 371 celebrates 1965 welfare strikers, honors Ensley

By MIKE LEE

Veterans of the 1965 welfare strike were special honorees at Local SSEU 371's annual scholarship fundraising dinner on Jan. 29.

Scholarships were presented to four students at the second annual Charles S. Ensley Scholarship fundraising dinner, which also honored other labor dignitaries. The packed gala was held at Russo's on the Bay in Howard Beach, Queens.

Named in honor of the late former president of SSEU Local 371, the Charles S. Ensley Scholarship Fund was created for SSEU Local 371 members and their families to help further their education in labor studies.

The evening paid homage to the brave and committed members of SSEU and Local 371, whose January 1965 walkout changed the course of labor relations in New York City.

The impact of this victorious 28-day strike was far reaching: It set the stage for the massive growth of the public sector unions, especially DC 37's parent union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and it reformed labor-city relations, establishing the framework for creating what later became the Office of Collective Bargaining.

"The foundation of the labor movement"

Important advances in wages and benefits were made, including the first union education fund and fully- financed health insurance for members. The unity shown by the strikers with their clients empowered the nascent welfare rights movement, which led to further reforms in the benefits system in New York City.

"The 1965 strikers, Charles Ensley and Lillian Roberts represent the foundation of the labor movement," said DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido, referring to the deceased Local 371 president and to the recently retired head of DC 37. "New York City is a better place because of each one of their commitments to improving the lives of workers," he said.

At the event, the four winners of the Charles S. Ensley Scholarship received their awards. The recipients Andra Maria Cojoc, Jerome B. Lane Jr., Jeffrey Wilson and Sheryl Calderon will use the scholarship money to hone their skills as committed union activists as they pursue their studies in the Labor Studies program at the CUNY Joseph S. Murphy Institute.

"I want to start by thanking all of you for supporting and keeping the legacy of Charles Ensley alive by moving the union forward through education," said Yolanda Pumarejo, executive vice president of SSEU Local 371. "Unions are critical for workers to assert their collective interest; to fight for better working conditions and to build dignity and that is why there is a war on unions today. If you do not think so, look at all the ways they are trying to dismantle us - union by union, county by county, state by state."

In his remarks, SSEU Local 371 President Anthony Wells stated, "Recent reports have indicated that the Koch brothers plan to spend $889 million on the 2016 election cycle. If labor does not have a voice in the election, we cannot be at the table. We will be returning to the days of the oligarchs and robber barons. We have to fight this at every level, be it federal, state or local."

The local presented a special Golden Service Award to Lillian Roberts, in appreciation for her six decades of service to the labor movement, and for the accomplishments during her 12-year tenure as the courageous leader of DC 37. Along with Garrido, AFSCME President Lee Saunders was on hand to present the award to Roberts.