Public Employee Press

PEP stands out in local and national contests

Public Employee Press, the official publication of DC 37, won a total of 17 awards in the annual contests of the New York and national labor communication associations.

Associate Editor Diane S. Williams won the Metro NY Labor Communications Council's most prestigious honor - the Mary Heaton Vorse award - for her moving article, "Housing Hell," about a DC 37 member living in public housing after Hurricane Sandy. Public Employee Press took first place for general excellence in its circulation class.

PEP Photographer Clarence Elie-Rivera won third place in the best photo category for his photograph of school lunch workers. Associate Art Director Elroy J. Dobson received the third place award in graphic design for a story about a middle school free lunch program.

In the feature category, Williams won first place for a story about maritime workers while Associate Editor Alfredo Alvarado won third for his feature about DC 37 member and musician Joe Bataan.

Sr. Associate Editor Gregory N. Heires and Williams shared the first place prize for best news writing. Heires' article dealt with organized labor's growing participation in the environmental movement. Williams' story was about the rescue work of DC 37 members after a gas explosion in Harlem. Heires also won second place for a column about fast-food workers and took third in the unique performance category for his coverage of DC 37's campaign to sign up agency fee payers to the union.

PEP won seven awards the International Labor Communications Council's contest.

Dobson won first place in design for PEP's story on New York City's free middle school lunch program. He also took a third place award for his front page designs.

Williams won first place in the feature category for "Housing Hell," and an honorable mention for her story on the Harlem gas explosion. She also received a second place award for her profile of the deceased political activist and former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela.

Heires won third place for his feature, "Workers Suffer as Boss Lives in Luxury," which describes how the head of the Queens Public Library enjoyed a bloated salary and perks while carrying out service cuts and layoffs.

Elie-Rivera won best photo essay for "New Vessels for a Cleaner New York," about Local 2906 Maritime Workers.

"Our success in the contests is a testament to our communication staff's commitment to telling positive stories about the dedicated public service workers in New York City," said DC 37 Director of Strategic Initiatives Christopher Policano, PEP's editor-in-chief.