Public Employee Press

Activists take DC 37's message to Albany
Somos conference presses for immigration reform

The theme of the 26th annual Somos el Futuro conference that brought Latino activists from all over New York State to Albany for cultural presentations and political workshops on the weekend of March 22-24 was "The Time Is Now," for immigration reform and a host of other concerns.

The conference started with the traditional Saturday labor breakfast hosted by the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, where President Sonia Ivany emphasized LCLAA's support for comprehensive immigration reform. The conference also demanded action on raising the state's minimum wage.

That evening Brooklyn State Assembly member Felix Ortiz, who chairs the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, which sponsors the weekend, hosted a reception where DC 37 Blue Collar Division Director Jose Siérra, received the group's Labor Leadership Award. Siérra acknowledged the importance of his mentors, former SSEU Local 371 officers Benny Garcia and Julia Jorge. Garcia, a founder of the union's Latino Heritage Committee, "was not only a mentor to me but to a whole generation of Puerto Rican and other Latino union activists." Siérra said in a brief acceptance speech. New York City Comptroller John Liu presented commendations to Local 154 President Juan Fernandez and Young Dreamer and Make the Road activists for their labor and community leadership.

Legislative workshops tackled issues important to the Latino community, and Kim Medina of Local 1707 and Oscar Alvarado of Local 1549 were panelists in a session on women in the workplace.

Medina emphasized the importance of affordable day care for women to be successful in the workplace, and Alvarado highlighted his local's struggle to have civilian employees handle desk jobs at the New York Police Dept. "That would free Police Officers to patrol the streets, increase employment opportunities for clerical workers and save money for the city," he explained.

—Alfredo Alvarado