Over 1,500 government employees — including 300 DC 37 members — went to the state capital March 30 to forcefully share their views on policy and budget issues with legislators.

They joined in the massive grassroots Lobby Day organized statewide by DC 37’s parent union, the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees. AFSCME is the largest public employee union in the nation and has more than 400,000 members in New York State. DC 37’s substantial participation was coordinated by the union’s Political Action and Legislation Dept.

The rank-and-file activists lobbied state lawmakers on issues that affect all working families. AFSCME President Gerald McEntee, State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts addressed the group at the Convention Center in Empire State Plaza.

Focusing on issues in the governor’s proposed budget that threaten low and middle income workers, the throng of members came prepared to fight for court-ordered school funding and against cuts to health services and Medicaid.

Medicaid cuts
They fanned out to legislators’ offices with thousands of signed petitions calling for $1.5 billion to be restored to Medicaid.

The governor’s proposed cuts would make it difficult for seniors and disabled children to get quality care and would limit access to needed long-term nursing home care.

Members called on their lawmakers to uncover the Big Apple’s $10 billion back room business — privatization — and stop the contracting out of public services. Also on the unionists’ agenda was a proposed bill prohibiting any company that accepts state aid for economic development from outsourcing jobs out of state.

AFSCME members also lobbied for workplace safety and the legal prosecution of perpetrators of workplace violence, permanent agency shop, contract accountability and improvements to New York State’s weak workers’ compensation laws.

— Diane S. Williams