Public Employee Press

Part 1: events from Feb. 2-Feb. 12, 2015
Black history is American history

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

The DC 37 Black History Committee began its month-long celebration of America's Pan-African roots, culture and achievements at the 34th annual observance in February at union headquarters.

Committee Chair and Local 1113 President Deborah Pitts led the traditional ribbon cutting and libation ceremony with Jacob Azeke, a DC 37 retiree, who explained the cultural significance of the African custom.

"This month is not just Black history but our history," said Executive Director Henry Garrido. "In February black Sanitation workers in Memphis went on strike for fair wages and working conditions. In New York City our own SSEU Local 371 Homemakers and Case Workers stood in the freezing cold 50 years ago striking for union recognition and better treatment for themselves and the people they help.

"Ours is a social movement centered on the lives of working people," Garrido said. "Tell what is good about the union. We are the ones who bring change for good to all."

Labor under attack

Local 1113 sponsored the Feb. 2 opening with guest speaker Board of Education Employees Local 372 President Shaun D. Francois I. "The accomplishments and contributions Black people have made are too great to limit to one month," he said. "The courts are trying to reverse the gains we have achieved. Our ancestors did not have unions to fight for their safety and wages."

"The Supreme Court is about to decide the union's future," Pitts said. "Labor is under attack. Conservatives want to destroy everything the union movement has done for this country and for workers. Things we take for granted - the five-day work week, safe working conditions, pensions, and child labor laws - were fought for on picket lines and at the bargaining table.

"If they take away the union's ability to collect dues, we are no longer employees but slaves again," Pitts said, referring to the court case.

New York Public Library Guild Local 1930's event on Feb. 5 honored Dr. Mae C. Jemison, the Chicago native and Stanford University graduate who in 1992 boarded the space shuttle Endeavor. Local 1930's Deborah Allman performed a one-woman play, "Up and Up: The Dr. Mae C. Jemison Story." The event also featured Charisa the Violin Diva.

Social Service Employees Union Local 371 honored Malcolm X and its Homemakers. "That cadre of brave workers won bargaining rights and changed this city," said President Anthony Wells.

Politicians including Assistant Assembly Speaker Felix Ortiz Sr., State Sen. Dave Sanders, City Council members Darlene Mealy, Andy King, I. Daneek Miller, who is Labor Committee Chair, and others, Public Advocate Leticia James, Hon. Sylvia G. Ash, a Kings County Supreme Court justice, and Hon. Robin K. Sheares, a Civil Court judge in Kings County, were at the Feb. 6 celebration with radio legend Bob Law.

"We have an extraordinary legacy. We take pride in being the first; I am the first Black nationally syndicated radio host," Law said candidly. "But those who came after me are richer. It's better to be number one, not first."

"New York City has the greatest income gap, the greatest education gap, injustice gap, mortality gap and cancer survival gap," Law said. "Savage inequalities exist in our city," he said, because of widespread race, gender and income disparities.

"We say Black lives matter," Law said. "A young Black male is killed every 28 hours. Don't let it become an empty slogan." He called for a 90-day economic boycott of fast food restaurants to send a message and harness the buying power of African Americans, who spend $1 trillion annually.

"Whatever was achieved was not from a miracle, it was from those who struggled and died," said Local 1407 President and DC 37 Treasurer Maf Misbah Uddin at the Feb. 9 event with Charles Jenkins, president of the New York City chapter of CBTU, and Ali Rasoulinejad, legislative director for Council member Miller.

DC 37's Political Action Committee presented a panel discussion on police brutality Feb. 12 that featured Local 1549 member Sheila Collins; Local 371 member Patricia Newman Ricks; Monifa Vanderley from the Communities United for Police Reform, and Donna Lieberman, the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Leiberman and Vanderley stressed the importance of unions to social justice, and thanked DC 37 for supporting the Community Safety Act, which created the Office of the Inspector General that is now responsible for monitoring the NYPD. The event also featured teen cellist Gregory Llewellyn.

The American slavery system was a global economic engine that enriched European monarchs and New World businessmen, who profited from the limitless supply of free labor - kidnapped Africans and indigenous peoples. The Black History Committee honors those who fought oppression to gain freedom and equality. Garrido said, "Our histories are not separate. We might have come in different ships, but we are all in the same boat."

— Additional reporting by A. Alvarado and M. Lee