PEP, April 2008: Save OTB

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

With their jobs on the line, hundreds of Local 2021 members bused to Albany March 18 to bet that state lawmakers will do right by DC 37 and save the city’s Off-Track Betting Corp.

At the special Lobby Day to save OTB, DC 37 fought to protect 1,300 members’ jobs and called for legislation to provide a more equitable distribution of OTB revenues.

“I’m optimistic about being able to save our jobs,” Local 2021 President Lenny Allen told members. As PEP went to press, OTB was planning to issue pink slips to employees beginning April 18 and to close operations by June 15 if state lawmakers failed to act by April 1.

“We need a long-term fix and we need it now,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. “The politicians need to see we are serious. If we don’t exist, if OTB doesn’t exist, the state will lose a billion dollars a year. So our problem is their problem, too.”

Union fights back
OTB generates $1 billion each year for the state and, due in great part to its outstanding employees, the operation has a reputation never marred by scandal or deficits.

Currently, a disproportionate 74 percent of the $125 million in profits OTB generates is poured into the bankrupt New York Racing Association.

At a meeting of Local 2021 members on March 5, leaders outlined the union’s fightback plan, the Political Action Dept. launched telephone and letter writing campaigns, and members made placards for the Albany trip.

State lawmakers at the union’s Albany rally included Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Sens. John Sabini, William Larkin, Diane Savino and Martin Golden, who sponsored new OTB legislation and promised to “not let you down.”

The union has widespread support from the City Council and the State Legislature, and on Feb. 8, Roberts met with U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, who has agreed to help. Allen and Roberts met with the former governor Jan. 25 and in early March with Bruno and Silver, who are committed to helping.

“We are busy crafting a plan to fix OTB. You will not be dumped onto the unemployment lines. Let’s end the threats of closure that are making your life miserable,” Silver said. “The mayor has no right to use your lives as city employees as bargaining chips.”

OTB’s future has been uncertain for the last eight years: Mayor Rudolph Giuliani threatened to sell it, and in 2007 and this year Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he would close OTB if the city did not get a fair share of the profits. While OTB would lose 1,500 jobs, repercussions of its closing would be felt citywide, affecting businesses and neighborhoods and driving bettors back to illegal bookies.

“We are about building jobs and creating opportunities and you don’t do that by handing out pink slips,” said Larkin.

“We are trying to stabilize your lives. No one should wonder about the future,” Bruno told members. “We need the Assembly to partner with us to build permanence, remove uncertainty and include the ability for you to retire. You have sent a strong message to all of us on how important an issue this is.”

After hearing lawmakers pledge to stand by the Local 2021 members and save the billion-dollar-a-year OTB business, Ms. Roberts, Mr. Allen and Political Director Wanda Williams said they are hopeful the Legislature will enact a permanent solution by the April 1 budget deadline to save OTB and 1,300 members’ jobs.

You can help save OTB: Go to www.dc37.net.