Public Employee Press

Roberts receives a lifetime achievement award

DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts received a lifetime achievement award June 6 for her contributions to the labor movement.

Lee Saunders, secretary-treasurer of DC 37's parent union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and Raglan George Jr., executive director of AFSCME District Council 1707, presented the award.

"I grew up poor and with a humble background," Roberts said, as she accepted the award. "That's why I dedicated myself to helping working people."

The awards ceremony occurred the day after AFSCME and the labor movement received a setback in Wisconsin as Gov. Scott Walker handily survived a recall election prompted by his heavy-handed support for a law that stripped public employees of their collective bargaining rights. Saunders, the evening's keynote speaker, lamented the defeat but noted that the Republicans also lost control of the state government as an anti-labor senator was ousted.

Roberts was among 15 leaders and activists, including DC 37 Retirees Association President Stuart Leibowitz and Local 375 Chapter President Ahmed Shakir, at LaborPress Inc.'s Heroes of Labor Awards ceremony, which was held at EmblemHealth's Manhattan headquarters.