DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts was honored March 8 by the New York City Central Labor Council and on March 22 by the Federation of African-American Civil Service Organizations, Inc.

The Federation gave her its Leadership Award at its spring luncheon, and the CLC presented its Distinguished Service Award at its annual dinner.

CLC President Brian McLaughlin said it was appropriate that Ms. Roberts received the high honor on International Women’s Day. He pointed out that in 1981 she became the first African-American woman named New York State Commissioner of Labor.

He said Ms. Roberts “has dedicated years of her life to advancing the cause of working men and women and to fighting for justice and fairness in our society.” “Low-wage workers, immigrants, workers of color and women have been hit hard,” she told hundreds of labor leaders at the dinner. “Yet the city and state are cutting services — libraries, hospitals, schools — and threatening the jobs of municipal workers,” she said.

“We hear employers calling on working families to ‘make sacrifices.’ But we don’t see employers making sacrifices. The budget crisis will affect public employees directly — some now, others at the bargaining table —but the economic crisis will affect all working families.

“We can’t have a city where the workers make all the sacrifices and our city’s diverse communities are hurt by service reductions. DC 37 intends to fight the cutbacks and fight for our members — at the bargaining table and in the streets.

“Let’s close ranks, build labor solidarity and support one another in these difficult times. We need to fight back and work together to build a better future for every working man and woman in this city.”