Public Employee Press

Local 1549 activists:
Moving forward together

By GREGORY N. HEIRES

More than 160 Local 1549 activists and stewards are ready to rumble - in the political arena.

The members left an all-day Saturday conference Feb. 2 with a clear picture of the right-wing attack on government and how public employees can fight back.

"This training was very interesting and motivating," said Eligibility Specialist Alicia Smith, who participated in the conference, whose theme was "Moving Forward Together-2013."

Smith, a member of the Local 1549 Next Wave Committee of young activists, added, "It gave us the tools for lobbying and talking to people in the community whose support we need."

Local 1549 elected leaders and top staffers from DC 37 and its parent union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, briefed the activists about the union's political and economic challenges.

Around the country - and in New York State - unionized public workers are threatened by attacks on traditional pensions, budget cutbacks, privatization, assaults on civil service and takeovers of local governments by unelected financial control boards that critics call "fiscal dictatorships."

Is government too big?

"We hear all the time that government - you - is too big and has gotten out of control," Brian McDonnell, AFSCME's New York political and legislative director, told participants. "The whole public sector is under attack."

In New York, McDonnell said, public employees are threatened by the new cap on property taxes (which limits funding for public services) and Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposals to limit employer contributions to pensions to 12 percent of payroll and establish a fiscal control board.

DC 37 Political Action and Legislation Director Wanda Williams spoke about efforts to dismantle civil service protections, undemocratic "fast-track legislation" that avoids serious public discussion, and years of deep cuts to social programs.

Faced with this harsh political reality, the activists took to heart the advice to find strength from fear that came from guest speaker New York State Sen. Eric A dams, who was introduced by Local 1549 Executive Vice President Alma Roper.

"This is about sending a message saying we are not going to take it anymore," said AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Laura Reyes, the keynote speaker.

"We know there are people out there who want to take away our collective bargaining rights," said Local 1549 President Eddie Rodriguez. "But are we going to allow that? Of course not."

Victories in politics

While there was much talk of doom and gloom, the speakers pointed to important victories, including the union's work to re-elect President Barack Obama and help expose the City Time payroll computerization project scandal, which resulted in a dozen indictments and brought hundreds of millions of dollars in stolen funds back to the city. Renee Gainer, director of the Clerical- Administrative Division, observed that last year, the 435 Eligibility Specialists and 69 Police Communications Technicians.

AFSCME Communications Director Christopher Policano suggested that the current debate over government is a philosophical - or ideological - battle that challenges public employees to win the war of ideas. Noting that 1 percent of the residents of the city control 40 percent of the wealth, Policano urged the activists to question the view that wealth will naturally trickle down to everyday people.

"It's important that we talk about ourselves as members of the community," he said.

"When you have a new person coming into the workforce and you say "union," it's like you are from Mars," said Local 1549 2nd Vice President Ralph Palladino, who coordinated the conference, before a message-training session where members spoke poignantly about their jobs. "We have to reach people who haven't heard of unions before."

Palladino, together with Carolyn Askew, chair of the Local 1549 Political Action Committee, Natasha Isma, vice chair, and Recording Secretary Carmen Flores, made concluding remarks. Third Vice President Alvin Williams and Secretary-Treasurer Gerald Johnson offered lunchtime greetings.