PEP, March/April 2011: Letters to the Editor

Public Employee Press

Letters to the Editor

Thanks for coverage of Pride Conference

I want to thank the Public Employee Press for covering the Empire State Pride Agenda's LGBT Pride Conference.

One of the panels, "The Successful Election/Appointment of LGBT Unionists," was a "how to" for acquiring and fulfilling an official union position at the local level.

I took part in that panel as an appointed union representative and as a transgender individual. Many union members, both LGBT individuals and their allies, have joined together to form Pride In Our Union, fighting discrimination, economic injustice, and disrespect. These issues are especially relevant to transgendered people.

Inspired by the history of United Tradeswomen told by Jane LaTour in her book "Sisters in the Brotherhoods," I plan to organize a United Transwomen group to address harassment, isolation, and special health issues. Any transwomen interested in joining a group like this, regardless of transitional stage, please contact me at canzoneri.kelly@gmail.com. Discretion assured.

—KELLY CANZONERI
Shop Steward, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Local 1503

Free retiree courses

I was looking forward to taking the Mandarin Chinese course, but I have been told that since I am a retiree I am not eligible. I called and offered to pay for the course but was referred to a person to call for a list of retiree classes.

I understand funds are appropriated and participation has to be restricted.

I hope provision can be made to accommodate persons like myself. I do appreciate all the union does for its members!

—JUDY ROBINS
Retiree

Editor's note: DC 37 Education Fund classes are funded through contributions that New York City makes on behalf of covered active employees. These contributions are not made for retired mem-bers; therefore, they are not eligible to take Education Fund courses. The fund does not charge for any of its programs and is not permitted to accept payment for ineligible individuals to attend classes. You may want to contact the DC 37 Retirees Association, which offers courses free for retired members.

Calls for early out

Today, Feb. 11, on WOR's John Gambling radio show, Mayor Bloomberg stated that a buyout or early retirement offer is not an economically sound policy. He said, "It does not save money after the first year."

How can this be if the positions are not refilled until the economy is on a more solid footing? Can the mayor be challenged on this?

Are the peripheral costs of thousands of layoffs - such as welfare, food stamps and unemployment insurance - factored in? Can the union request to see the mayor's analysis? Can the union come up with its own analysis?

I believe it is the unions' responsibility to make this an issue in order to preserve and protect their younger, more vulnerable workers, whose livelihoods are at stake.

—MARK SHOENFIELD
Local 2627

Mr. Mayor, tell the truth

It always amazes me when the politicians start charging that municipal workers' benefits are breaking the economy. In reality, it is the massive fraud and recklessness of Wall Street and the wasteful spending of millions of dollars on private outside contracts.

How about when the politicians give themselves nice raises and great healthcare and don't want the working people to have the same? I read in the Daily News about the mayor's staff getting a raise. He said that municipal workers got a raise.

I am a municipal worker, and my raise was 40 cents an hour. Mr. Mayor, your staff received much, much more. It's about time you stop picking on us and do right by us. That is the only fair thing to do.

—LUCY CALVARY
Local 372