Public Employee Press

Letters to the editor

How Roberts helps Sewage Treatment Workers in talks
I need someone to explain to me how the leader of our union, Executive Director Lillian Roberts, has not come to the aid of our local. I am a Sewage Treatment Worker for 21 years, and for the last 7 years my union brothers and I have not had a contract.

Ms. Roberts, our job is not glamorous, but it’s as important as anyone else that you represent.

We deal with anything that comes into our sewer system, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

When you and the rest of the union members are home on holidays or enjoying the clean beaches, we are working hard.

I’m asking you to please help us. Everyday we are hurting more and more.

—José R. Lebron
Local 1320

Editor’s note: District Council 37 is working hard to alleviate the economic pain you feel, so please don’t let that misery cause you to strike out against your true friends.

Lillian Roberts marched with the STWs and spoke at Local 1320’s rally in November. She has provided everything the local has requested in this all-out fight for economic justice, including union lawyers and access to top political officials.

Finally, when she attended the funeral of union brother Gennaro Montello in January, she showed again that her heart is with the STWs.

Hits endorsement
You won’t print this letter, since you never publish any letters critical of the DC 37 leadership. But I have to express my outrage over the union’s endorsement of Republican Serphin Maltese who was beaten in November by Joseph Addabbo for the State Senate.

Maltese was one of the most right-wing members of the Legislature and an anti-gay bigot who has led efforts to block gay civil rights measures.

By endorsing him, DC 37 betrayed its gay and lesbian members as well as the principle of solidarity. I can’t imagine the union endorsing a racist or anti-Semite because he might have been “good” on some bread-and-butter labor issues.

Joseph Addabbo is a progressive Democrat, not a reactionary bigoted dinosaur like Maltese. I am truly ashamed of my union and furious at its betrayal of members like me.

—George De Stefano
City Research Scientist, Local 375

Thanks union lawyer
I am a retired senior and homebound. I was with Local 1549 as a supervisor with BMA at 34th Street. I recently had the pleasure of getting help from Larry Baker, who was the lawyer for Retirees living in Florida. He has been a great help to me and I wish to thank him and recommend him to anyone who needs a lawyer.

—Ruth Schwartz
Local 1549

Grateful for DC 37
I am a new member and am very grateful for the union that we have. It is a great help in times such as these. We are the ones who hold the city up, and we are the ones constantly targeted for cuts.

There are other ways in which this deficit can be bridged, but not on our backs. We must continue to lobby and rally to accomplish more victories.

Our cause is our families and homes. We cannot sustain more job losses.

Additional cuts to HHC and other city agencies would be devastating and would not help an already hampered system. We ask for no handout. We will continue to fight via lobbying, rallying, voting, e-mailing and letter writing, to preserve what we have worked for.

—Katherine Brown
Local 420