Public Employee Press

Institute highlights safety issues

Legislation to protect members at social service agencies from violent attacks by clients was a pressing issue discussed April 14 at the union's Grassroots Lobbying Institute, which was organized by DC 37's Political Action and Legislation Dept. and attended by 400 union activists.

Clerical and social service staff at the Human Resources Administration are often assaulted by clients who are denied benefits or have to wait on long lines. "This has been an issue since I've been here," said Local 1549 and DC 37 President Eddie Rodriguez.

"We have a great opportunity to pass this bill to make it a felony to assault employees at any social service agency," said SSEU Local 371 President Anthony Wells, citing the support of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assembly member Keith Wright. The union also supports whistleblower legislation sponsored by Assembly member Rory Lancman to eliminate the requirement that public employee whistleblowers first notify their supervisors of the improper activity, "to avoid retaliation," said Lancman. "DC 37 is well represented in Albany, because you advocate on behalf of issues important to everyone in our state," he added.

Protecting members against shady debt settlement companies was another priority on the agenda. Associate Director Robert Martin of DC 37's Municipal Employees Legal Services warned about using these companies and recommended that instead, members reach out to MELS "sooner rather than later."

The keynote speaker was State Senator Shirley Huntley, who blasted Mayor Bloomberg's plans to close schools and urged union members to continue to fight cutbacks and contracting out.

By the end of the Lobby Institute, the activists were well prepared to discuss these issues with their elected officials at the union's May 1 Lobby Day, but while they were bussing to Albany a power outage closed down the state capital and postponed the mass lobbying effort.

Congressional Primary June 26
DC 37 endorsements
Candidate	Area Covered	District
Yvette Clarke	Brooklyn	9
Nydia Velazquez	Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan, Queens	7
Charles Rangel	Upper Manhattan	13
Rory Lancman	Queens	6
Charles Barron	Brooklyn	8