The International Labor Communications Association rated DC 37’s Public Employee Press the best union newspaper nationwide in its category last year.

PEP received the First Award for General Excellence in the ILCA’s 2002 labor journalism contest, which drew more than 1,000 entries.

DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts presented the award to the PEP staff Nov. 26 at the Delegates Council meeting. PEP also won awards for its photography, cartooning and graphic design. And the Communications Dept. won an honorable mention for a brochure about District Council 37’s Professional Division.

“Communicating with our membership is very important, and PEP is DC 37’s main way of doing that,” said Ms. Roberts. “Throughout the history of DC 37, PEP has always been part of the fight on behalf of our members. We are all very proud of the newspaper staff.”

The contest judges wrote that PEP “seems to have it all, from the mundane (meetings, union services) to big issues of the day.”

They said articles in PEP are “colorfully and cleanly presented with attitude, energy and respect for members’ power and cultures. Wonderful use of color and art. The quality of the content makes it a clear winner.”

PEP Editor Bill Schleicher said the newspaper staff believes that “well-informed members are the essence of a strong and democratic union like DC 37.” He said PEP works aggressively to be on the front lines of the union’s struggles. “If the Public Employee Press helps stop even one layoff, if we inform one disabled member about their rights on the job, if we help one worker sign up for a class and move up the career ladder — then all our efforts are worth it. For all of us, it is an honor to work for all of you,” he told the delegates.

PEP’s other awards included first prize for a cartoon about rebuilding New York by freelance artist Gene Suchma, second prize for a photo of Librarian Jayne Pierce with students by staff photographer George Cohen, and third prize and honorable mention in graphic design for layouts by Assistant Art Director E.J. Dobson and former Artist Jaee Pathak. Molly Charboneau and Mr. Dobson produced the Professional Division brochure.

DC 37’s Amalgamated Professional Employees Local 154 won honorable mention among newsletters for its publication, the Professional Touch, and SSEU Local 371’s newspaper, The Unionist, won third prize among feature stories.