Public Employee Press

New staff in Research and Legal depts.

The Legal Dept. and the Research and Negotiations Dept. have recruited four talented professionals to improve services for DC 37 members.

Assistant General Counsel Meaghean Murphy graduated in 2004 from the City University of New York Law School, which emphasizes public service, and worked as a labor lawyer for the Organization of Staff Analysts. She enjoys “the diversity of the titles DC 37 represents,” she said, citing “workers who inspect transformers and underground vaults” and others who “provide food for school children.” Murphy and her husband, “a proud member of the Teachers’ union,” have a 1-year old boy, Finn.

Born in Jamaica, Fordham Law School graduate Erica Gray-Nelson brings broad experience and commitment to “the union side of labor relations,” to her new position as assistant general counsel. She worked for Florida’s attorney general and practiced employment and labor law at a major Long Island firm. She appreciates the opportunity to “fight for justice in the workplace” by helping to get members’ jobs back and working on litigation and grievance arbitrations.

David Moog, the president since 2003 of Assessors, Appraisers and Housing Development Specialists Local 1757, is now a Senior Analyst in the Research and Negotiations Dept. He has degrees in finance and public administration from New York University and Baruch College and has worked at the city Law and Finance departments.

He will focus on reducing contracting out “to protect members’ jobs, pay and benefits,” said Moog, who has two daughters, Berenice, 10, and Cecilia, 13.

New Research Dept. Assistant Director Ray Santander brings the union a formidable background in financial analysis. He earned a degree in economics from Columbia University, worked at engineering giant Ebasco and for former City Comptroller Harrison Goldin, and headed his own market research firm. Santander has three sons and volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America.

Santander’s grandparents emigrated from the Basque country of northern Spain to the mining camps of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, where his grandfather joined the United Mine Workers. His family’s arduous path planted a love of history and deep respect for the working class in Santander’s heart. “I feel honored to come to work every day on behalf of the working people of New York City,” he said.