Public Employee Press

PEOPLE PERSON OF THE MONTH

Sallie Robertson
School Crossing Guard

"Sexy” Sallie Robertson has been a School Crossing Guard and member of Local 372 for 30 years. She’s been an active member of PEOPLE for almost as long.

PEOPLE is the Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality, the political action committee of DC 37’s national union, AFSCME. “As a volunteer I contribute each pay period,” Robertson said. “PEOPLE helps get the right candidates elected.” As an activist, she reaches out to members at union meetings and on the job.

“Sometimes I see members with their PEOPLE jackets on and just say, ‘Why not increase your contribution? Even a dollar more will help.’ If someone is looking to drop out, I let them know they need to belong because they count and DC 37 can’t do it alone.”

Members’ voluntary contributions help elect candidates in state and federal elections, and help AFSCME lobby to protect Social Security and other issues important to labor and working families. PEOPLE supports politicians, regardless of party affiliation, who stand up for public employees and workers’ rights. Sallie Robertson is affectionately known around DC 37 as ‘Sexy Sallie.’ For her, that name is a silver lining to a cloud.

“They call me Sexy Sallie because I am a two-time cancer survivor — breast and ovarian,” she said. “At a support group I was told to think of something good about myself. I chose the name because it made me feel good, the group started calling me that, and now everyone at DC 37 does. It makes me smile, because I know what I have overcome.”

Sallie Robertson is busy. She’s a Local 372 shop steward and Executive Board member, DC 37 Women’s Committee activist, sergeant-at-arms of the local Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, chair of the Political Action Food Committee and an assistant PEOPLE coordinator in her Flushing, Queens, community. But she makes time to volunteer for the breast cancer walk every October.

“Everyone can’t give the same, but every little bit helps,” she said. “With PEOPLE contributions, maybe we can get the president we want and get rid of Bush. That’s plenty enough reason for me.”

DC 37 members can contribute through voluntary payroll deductions. Members already in PEOPLE can increase their contributions. A member who contributes $2 or more per pay period is automatically enrolled in the VIP Club and receives a jacket and pin. The minimum voluntary contribution is
50 cents per pay period. To sign up or learn more about the program, please call DC 37 PEOPLE Coordinator Sandra Murchison at 212-815-1550.

— DSW