Public Employee Press

Local 2627 high-tech project boosts services

Every Monday morning, Local 2627's office morphs into a video studio as President Robert Ajaye and Grievance Rep Michael Lanni produce a new weekly YouTube message for local members.

The video team isn't ready for Hollywood, but they do get Ajaye's five-minute improvised talks on union business into cyberspace lickety-split at virtually no cost.

Within minutes, Lanni, who sometimes also appears as a talking head, posts the video on the local's YouTube account and sends the link to webmaster Francisco Olvera so members can access the video at Local 2627's Web site (www.local2627.org).

Recent videos covered the local's education benefit, DC 37 benefits, the city's proposed title restructuring, the governor's furlough plan, the status of contracts, the local's fights over title changes at MetroPlus HMO and the Dept. of Education, and a pay dispute at the Dept. of Education. The local's only investments were a $70 computer video camera and an $89 floodlight.

"A lot of people can't get to union meetings, so we do all we can to improve communication with members," Ajaye said.

The weekly video message is part of an initiative to use the high-tech talents of leaders and activists in the computer workers' local to improve services for the 4,100 members.

The initiative includes improving the Web site; scanning local records, contracts and agency regulations; building an e-mail network; tracking grievances; and creating a new database.

Ajaye uses the Local 2627 e-Alert System, established with Web-based shareware, to inform members of breaking news and union meetings and activities.

DC 37 Delegate Julie Leibowitz, a Computer Specialist (operations) at the Housing, Preservation and Development Dept., volunteered to work on the database, which lets Ajaye and Lanni create lists of members for site visits.

She is using DC 37's database and information gathered at local meetings to create member profiles, including biographies; job titles; telephone numbers and home, work and e-mail addresses.