PEP, June 2011: Street heat battles cuts

Public Employee Press

Street heat battles cuts

Following labor's May day tradition, DC 37 members and retirees hit the streets throughout May to protest cuts at city agencies, CUNY and Brooklyn Central Laundry.

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS
with Alfredo Alvarado and Greg Heires

DC37's fightback campaign invoked the spirit of May Day all month long and drew members, activists and retirees to five protest demonstrations together with other unions and community, immigrant, religious and student groups.

Buoyed by the uprisings that shook governments from Madison, Wisc., to Cairo, Egypt, unionists sent powerful messages with angry but peaceful marches and rallies. DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts joined other labor leaders and political allies in denouncing the contracting out, layoffs and cuts to education and other vital city services in Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's proposed budget.

Demanding that the rich pay their fair share in taxes and calling for immigration reform and increased job creation, DC 37 members stood proud at the May Day observance in Foley Square organized by the state AFL-CIO, the New York Immigration Coalition and community groups.

May Day marches in the United States won the 8-hour workday in the 1880s and went worldwide as a day of protest and celebration for workers. But the day was little observed here until 2006 when immigrant rights groups and union supporters took up the cause. More recently, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, DC 37's national union, has used the day to build solidarity and answer attacks on government services and public employees.

"WE FIGHT BACK!"

"Governors waging war on public employees need to know we fight back," said Jeff Oshins, chair of the Labor and Political Action Committee of Civil Service Technical Guild Local 375.

DC 37 members marched with City University of New York faculty, staff and students May 5 to demand fair contracts and fight cuts in state and local funding. "The city and state should be investing in education during these difficult times, not making these enormous cuts," said Local 375 President Behrouz Fathi.

On May 9, hundreds of members rallied at Health and Hospitals Corp. headquarters against the plan to privatize and close Brooklyn Central Laundry. Roberts joined Local 420 President Carmen Charles, City Council members Mathieu Eugene, Jumaane Williams and others at the protest. "You want war, we'll give you war!" said Charles.

DC 37 and Local 420 have defeated repeated city attempts to privatize the laundry. Under Section 11 of the economic agreement, DC 37 answered HHC's plan May 23 with a counterproposal calling for keeping the work at BCL. The DC 37 Legal Dept. is currently in the discovery phase of a lawsuit charging the city with breach of contract for failing to bringing all HHC laundry work into BCL and hire 40 additional workers, said DC 37 lead Attorney Robin Roach.

On May 11, AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Lee Saunders and Roberts joined day-care workers in Council 1707 who rallied against the mayor's plan to end day-care subsidies for 16,500 low-income families and close child care centers around the city.

"We have got to stand up for the children and working parents like never before!" said Saunders.

"I have to work. I rely on that center to take care of my daughter. If they take it away, what are we supposed to do?" asked Erica Santiago, who brought her daughter, Scarlett, 4, to the rally.

The next day, May 12, DC 37 unionists rallied at City Hall with teachers, students and parents to send a resounding message to the mayor: "No layoffs! Money for schools, no tax cuts for millionaires!"

"Shame on the mayor for trying to balance the budget by laying off teachers, child protective workers, health-care, parks and other vital city workers," Roberts said. "This budget directly goes after the most vulnerable New Yorkers. City Hall is cutting the safety net," said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

"It's time for Bloomberg to act responsibly!" said Roberts. "Stop throwing away billions of dollars on private contractors when public employees do the job better! Start collecting the millions of tax dollars wealthy businesses owe the city! Start putting the city's working families and our children first!"