Public Employee Press

Town hall meetings bring the union to clerical staff

In a series of town-hall style meetings, Local 1549 is bringing its message that public-sector employees are under attack to members in their home boroughs.

With a range of speakers on various topics, the huge local of clerical-administrative workers is emphasizing the critical importance of membership involvement in the fightback.

Clerical Associate II José Ramirez came early April 6 and stayed until the end of the Queens meeting in the Elmhurst Hospital auditorium. "I needed to find out what is going on with the budget, the civil service tests, our contract negotiations and the campaign to keep our benefits," said the 24-year veteran member, who works in the hospital's Medical Records Dept.

Local 1549 President Eddie Rodriguez gave a fiery talk about the fight to preserve collective bargaining in the public sector. Emphasizing the role that members' struggle played in winning the right to negotiate pay, benefits and working conditions, he noted that every benefit members currently enjoy was achieved through bargaining.

Assistant Clerical Division Director Renee Gainer outlined the right-wing Republican assault on public-sector pensions and benefits and Social Security. "Everything we've ever fought for is under attack," she said.

Dennis Deahn from the DC 37 Health and Security Plan provided expert answers to members' pension questions and encouraged those with problems to call his office for appointments.

Local 1549 Executive Vice President Alma Roper outlined all of the resources available to members and urged them to read the Public Employee Press, join one of the many Local 1549 committees and participate actively in their union.

Hundreds of members attended the decentralized union meetings, which were also held March 15 at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, April 11 at Metrotech in Brooklyn and April 13 at Mount Sinai United Christian Church on Staten Island.

"You learn a lot at these meetings," said Ramirez.