Public Employee Press

Union sticking with former OTB workers

DIANE S. WILLIAMS

Former Off-Track Betting employees weighed their future March 16 at a Local 2021 membership meeting. "Our goal is to solve this problem, get you back to work and restore retirees' health benefits," said President Lenny Allen.

DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, Allen and Political Director Wanda Williams are leading the fight in Albany, where lawmakers were crafting bills to help former OTB workers. In February, a state appellate court issued a temporary restraining order protecting retirees' health benefits that will stay in effect until the full court rules on the issue.

After a decade of fiscal mismanagement and its failure to win Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection, NYC OTB closed down Dec. 7. Republican state Senate Leader Dean Skelos and Sens. Martin Golden and Andrew Lanza are now working with the union "to help achieve our goals," said Allen.

The $14 million that OTB had in escrow was distributed to racetracks. "This money could have kept OTB open until March and paid for the severance our members deserved," Allen told the packed meeting.

He called for an investigation of whether OTB's board of directors properly exercised their fiduciary responsibilities to the corporation. Under the board's direction, OTB was dismantled quickly, before Gov. Cuomo and Albany legislators took office.

Local 2021 members and leaders at the meeting pondered whether a new betting operation would be public or private and whether it would hire laid-off members and provide the same pay and benefits as NYC OTB.

"Your union has not abandoned you," Allen said. "If the right bill is introduced, DC37 will support it and work hard to get it passed." He said that getting legislation for the Local 2021 members is a priority for DC 37's May 3 Lobby Day in Albany.