PEP, April 2010: Union to Albany: Save Our Services (SOS)

Fighting on the frontlines for a fairer state budget, DC 37 sent hundreds of unionists to the 39th annual Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus in Albany from Feb. 12-14.

“This will be a year of many challenges, but we are taking off the gloves and rolling up our sleeves to make sure our jobs and the public services we provide are protected,” said DC 37 Associate Director Oliver Gray.

The “Many Cultures, One People, One Destiny” minority conference drew thousands to the state capitol and featured Gov. David Paterson, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and other lawmakers.

“It’s up to us to send a message to Washington that they must do better and pass the Employee Free Choice Act and real healthcare reform,” said DC 37 Treasurer and Local 1407 President Maf Misbah Uddin.

District Council 37 played a leading role in facilitating several caucus workshops that examined the impact the governor’s proposed budget would have on vital services incommunities of color.

On a panel on education, DC 37 and Local 372 President Veronica Montgomery-Costa exposed many flaws plaguing charter schools. “There is an explosion of boutique charter schools that are not accountable for the quality of education they provide and have decreased access to quality public education for New York City’s 1.1 million school children,” she said.

Sharing labor’s perspective with a panel examining the proposed state budget, DC 37 Political Director Wanda Williams said, “Public services are being accessed by growing numbers of unemployed New Yorkers in need, and these services must be adequately funded.”

“This budget would have a devastating impact on minorities and the communities they live in and would harm public hospitals and clinics,” said Research and Negotiations Assistant Director Moira Dolan, who spoke on a health care panel.

Tax the rich

Local 299 President Jackie Rowe-Adams, who heads a Harlem-based anti-violence group, was part of a juvenile justice panel that included Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. A workshop on family law was facilitated by attorneys Linda Keller, Jacqueline Pointdujour and Kaiesha Scarbrough and Social Worker Tessa Hackett-Vieira of DC 37’s Municipal Employees Legal Service.

“Many would be surprised to learn that New Yorkers who earn about $20,000 annually are taxed at the same rate as multi-million-dollar corporations,” Williams pointed out. “DC 37 is exposing the unfair tax burden working families carry. We are here in Albany to fight for a millionaires’ tax, for fairer taxation of corporations, for New York City’s fair share of state aid to municipalities and Disproportionate Share in Hospitals funds.”

“The climate is worsening because of severe budget deficits, but we will have a place at the table to protect our piece of the pie,” said Gray. Socked by back-to-back snowstorms, New York City stayed open in great part due to the work of DC 37 members, he said. “When it comes to providing essential services, our members do the job best for less.”