Public Employee Press

Building an activist network


DC 37 is working to establish a network of activists at the City University of New York. The activists played a key role in helping DC 37 turn out hundreds of members for a rally on March 10 to demand a fair contract and proper funding for CUNY. Five days before the demonstration, about 20 of the CUNY network activists gathered at union headquarters in Manhattan for a weekend training session.

The training focused on the immediate task of encouraging members to attend the rally as well as the union's long-term goal of getting more members involved. DC 37 is setting up Member Action Teams on campuses to build up union power in the workplace.

At the training, the participants learned how to reach out to coworkers through one-on-one conversations, and they received background information to be able to update members about the fight for a new contract. The old contract expired six years ago, and CUNY workers haven't receive a raise in seven years.

"I am tired of living paycheck to paycheck," said Roxana Galindez, a Custodian Assistant at Queens College, during the training. Galindez was one of the speakers at a gathering of CUNY supporters at the Community Church of New York after the rally.

"It's important for workers to get involved," said Yolanda Cortijo, who is also a Custodian Assistant at Queens College. "New people have new ideas," she said, suggesting the union will become more vibrant if a greater number of members become active.

After the training, Halroy Taitt gathered signatures for a petition calling upon the state to fund CUNY properly. "Anything for the cause," he said.

If you are interested in participating in the next CUNY training, call the Organizing Dept. at 212-815-1095.

— GNH