By LILLIAN ROBERTS
Executive Director
District Council 37, AFSCME
I would like to thank every DC 37 member
who voted on our new contract in the mail balloting that concluded Aug. 25. By
participating in such huge numbers 55,543 members cast their ballots
you gave your union a tremendous vote of confidence. And you showed again that
democracy thrives in District Council 37.
As your chief negotiator, I
am gratified by the results: An impressive 96.8 percent voted YES
to ratify the economic agreement (53,773 to 1,740). That says our members believe
its a great contract. The favorable percentage ties the record, and even
in locals whose presidents voted No, the members voted overwhelmingly
Yes!
The 32-month pact (July 1, 2005 to March 2, 2008) includes
compounded pay raises that add up to 9.42 percent, over $40 million for our union
benefits, a plan to ease the residency rules, a salary review committee and no
concessions at all.
The new money will be in October paychecks for most
members, who will receive raises totaling 5.15 percent and substantial back pay.
I am already pressing hard to jump start the salary review process and working
with City Hall on joint legislation to ameliorate the residency requirements.
Our next raise, 4 percent, is due in five months on Feb. 1, 2007.
Winning
a fair contract: our highest priority
The towering
Yes vote shows that this union listens to its members. Your Negotiating
Committee the presidents of all the locals in DC 37 understood members
needs and spoke up effectively. We all owe a vote of appreciation to the committee
and to the union staff who worked closely with them. Through the long months of
negotiations, members support and patience gave the committee strength.
The yes votes by the committee, the Delegates Council and now you,
the membership, validate a magnificent negotiating success our best contract
in many years.
Winning a fair contract for our members has been my highest
priority since I became your executive director in 2002. I am proud that we have
achieved this together but its my duty to tell you that we cannot
take the time to rest on this victory.
Within the next few days, we face
important tests of our organizing ability and our political power the Labor
Day Parade Sept. 9 and the Primary Election Sept. 12. And the Congressional election
Nov. 7 our most important challenge in many years could represent
a much-needed turning point in U.S. history.
We focused on building our
power in politics and organizing Aug. 7-11 at the international
convention of our parent union, the American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees. Our DC 37 delegates helped AFSCME, the nations
largest public service union, adopt a top-to-bottom strategic overhaul aimed at
making ourselves strong enough to take back Washington and turn back the constant
attacks of the Bush administration on working people, minorities and women.
Thousands of DC 37 unionists marching behind labors banner on Saturday,
Sept. 9, will demonstrate our ability to involve members in the fight to meet
our legitimate needs. Together, we will send a message to the enemies of working
people: Your days in control are numbered. Your constant cuts in health
care and education are about to end.
Help
make a more just society
I encourage members
to bring their families and friends to multiply our numbers as we mobilize for
our jobs, our communities and our future. DC 37 marchers will assemble at 11 a.m.
on East 46th street between Fifth and Vanderbilt avenues.
We are suffering
under an administration in Albany that has never given up on closing hospitals,
blocking court-ordered education funds that would give New York City kids their
fair share, and favoring tax cuts for the rich over jobs for the rest of us.
On Primary Day, Tuesday, Sept. 12, we can change the face of state government
by voting for Eliot Spitzer for governor, David Paterson for lieutenant governor,
and candidates for the Legislature who care about working families. You can volunteer
to help build a brighter future for our state Sept. 12 by returning the coupon
on the back page of this PEP or simply by calling the District Council 37 Political
Action Dept. at 212-815-1550.
Just as our solidarity brought us a great
new contract, strengthening our involvement in the political process can get us
a better government. As soon as we win on Sept. 12, we will go to work electing
a Congress committed to keeping the promise of America to working families nationwide.
Thats who we are.