NEWSLINE, October 2008

VOTE NOV. 4
ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS
–
Page 5
Local 237
NEWSLINE
S
Vol. 42, No.8
D
EAMSTE
FT
R
RNATIONA
TE
N
O H R O
October 2008
I
R
Citywide Contract Secured
Before the Economic Storm
As the stock market crashed and
major financial firms threatened to collapse on Sept. 16, Local 237 President
Gregory Floyd and Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg stood firm with an agreement
providing two 4 percent raises over two
years to more than 9,000 city workers.
“It’s a timely deal in a tough climate,” said
Floyd, emphasizing that the contract’s compounded raise of 8.16 percent not only exceeds
the projected rate of inflation (5.4 percent) but
also provides an additional annuity of .25 percent
with a $200 lump sum contribution to the active
and retiree Welfare Funds.
Local 237 negotiators, led by Floyd, brought
the historic contract to agreement one day before
the end of the old contract, with no givebacks, and
may set the pattern for other city employee unions
during the greatest fiscal crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. “It’s the best contract we’ve
had in 10 years,” Floyd noted.
“Today’s agreement allows the city to fairly
compensate the members of Local 237, who provide vital city services,” said Bloomberg at a
Continued on page 3
President Gregory Floyd is joined from left by Secretary-Treasurer Ruben Torres and Mayor Michael
Bloomberg as he speaks to the press at City Hall.
Building a Bridge Over
Troubled Water
At press time, major news
headlines were spelling out the
“End of an Era,” “Stock Market
Runs Wild,” “Decline of the
American Empire.” Our nation
appears to stand on the brink of
ruin, threatening to take the global economy down with it. Meanwhile, Congress is trying to hammer out the biggest government
bailout in history.
History is also being made by
the first African-American nominee for president of the United
States, Barack Obama, who is
leading the march, demanding
change, heralding a new era, that
would renew the American
Dream, not just for the wealthy,
who grew accustomed to record
profits during the past eight years
of the Bush administration, but
for workers, who have seen their
living standards decline over the
same years that greedy unregulated big-businesses got richer.
Continued on page 3
President Greg Floyd and Democratic Presidential Nominee
Barack Obama shake hands at the Democratic Convention in
Denver as Floyd’s wife, Wendy Bolton Floyd, looks on.
2
NEWSLINE, October 2008
Local 237 Member Services
UNION HEADQUARTERS
216 West 14th Street
New York, NY 10011-7296
212-924-2000
LOCAL 237 DIVISIONS
CITYWIDE DIVISION, 2nd Fl.
Donald Arnold, Director
Peter Gutierrez, Deputy Director
Al Soto, Deputy Director
Randy Klein, Assistant Director
Skilled Trades
(Citywide and Housing)
Donald Arnold, Director
Health and Safety
(Citywide and Housing)
Donald Arnold, Director
Diane Stein, Coordinator
HOUSING DIVISION, 2nd Fl.
Remilda Ferguson, Director
Brooklyn, Queens & Staten
Island
James Giocastro,
Deputy Director
LONG ISLAND DIVISION
1727 Veterans Memorial
Highway
Suite 308
Islandia, NY 11749
631-851-9800
John Burns, Director
Benedict Carenza,
Deputy Director
John Sepulveda,
Assistant Director
Long Island Welfare Fund:
For information on the various
funds call 800-962-1145
RETIREE DIVISION, 8th Fl.
Provides a variety of pre- and
post-retirement services, including pension and health insurance counseling to members.
(Pension counseling by appointment, Thursdays only). General
retirement counseling and
retirement planning series during spring and fall.
212-807-0555
Nancy B. True, Director
LOCAL 237 DEPARTMENTS
(Citywide and Housing)
SKILLED TRADES, 2nd Fl.
Donald Arnold, Director
HEALTH AND SAFETY, 2nd Fl.
Donald Arnold, Director
WELFARE FUND, 3rd Fl.
The Fund administers the eligibility, enrollment, disability,
optical and death benefits
directly by the Fund’s in-house
staff, as well as prescription
and dental programs indirectly.
212-924-7220
Paul E. Juergensen, Director
LEGAL SERVICES, 4th Fl.
Lawyers advise and represent
members on covered personal
legal problems, including domestic relations (family court proceedings, divorce and separation), purchase and sale of a primary residence, wills, adoptions,
credit and consumer problems,
tenant rights and bankruptcies.
PERSONNEL, 5th Fl.
Edmund Kane, Director and
Chief Negotiator
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND
SPECIAL PROJECTS, 5th Fl.
Felipe Luciano, Coordinator
POLITICAL ACTION &
LEGISLATION, 6th Fl.
Local 237 protects members’
rights by helping to sponsor legislation that is important to members, and by opposing initiatives
that would hurt members.
Patricia Stryker, Director
GRIEVANCES/DISCIPLINARY
PROBLEMS, 6th Fl.
For grievances and job related
problems, first contact your shop
steward and/or grievance representative. If they cannot resolve
the issue, they or you should
contact your business agent.
Mal Patterson, Director of
Grievances and Hearings
Deborah Singer Esq.,
Grievance Coordinator
CIVIL SERVICE BAR
ASSOCIATION, 7th Fl.
212-675-0519
Gloria Johnson, Esq., President
Aldona Vaiciunas,
Office Administrator and
Grievance Coordinator
John Picucci, Esq.,
Grievance Representative
CSBA Welfare Fund
Alicare 212-539-5117
COMMUNICATIONS, 8th Fl.
Tania M. Lambert, Editor
Local 237 Newsline
Website: www.local237.org
EDUCATION
8th Floor
Provides a variety of training
and educational advancement
opportunities for members.
212-807-0550
Frederick Dunn, Director
USEFUL NUMBERS
FOR PRE-RETIREES
NYCERS (New York City
Employees Retirement System)
By Mail: 335 Adams St., Suite
2300, Brooklyn, NY 11201-3751
In Person: 340 Jay Street,
Mezzanine, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Gen’l Information: 347-643-3000
Outside NYC toll-free:
877-6NYCERS
Internet
www.nyclink.org/html/nycers
NYC Department of Education
Retirement System
65 Court St., Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-935-5400
Social Security Administration
800-772-1213
NY State and Local Retirement
Systems
518-474-7736
A Message From
the President
Keeping Moral Obligations
When the Going Gets Tough
U
nacceptable! Just over one month ago a
5-year-old child fell to his death at the
New York City Housing Authority’s
Taylor Wythe apartment complex in Brooklyn. The elevator where the accident occurred was scheduled to be modernized in
2004, but the work was twice deferred because of cuts in federal aid; and this is simply
unacceptable. Facing a nearly $200 million
operating deficit, NYCHA is daily losing the
ability to meet the needs of its residents and
ensure the safety of its workers.
As the representative of nearly 9,000 employees of the Housing Authority, Local 237
Teamsters has challenged members of the federal government to immediately address this
problem and meet their obligation to fund
public housing. Even if NYCHA was properly
funded, this accident may have unfortunately
occurred, but the incident serves as an appalling example of the federal government’s
failure to fund public housing.
From 2001-2008, NYCHA accumulated a
deficit of $611 million, including $450 million which was cut from funding for renovations including elevator repair. Other basic
maintenance services, including carpentry,
sanitation, painting, and heat and HVAC
maintenance are often delayed because of federal cutbacks. The failure of the federal government has severely diminished the quality
of life for residents and created a danger to
workers who lack the proper equipment and
resources.
From Day One
From my first day in office as President of
Local 237, I have fought to restore funding for
public housing and protect the jobs of our
members. It is a moral imperative that the
nearly half a million residents and workers of
public housing have an opportunity to receive
the educational, recreational and employment
services NYCHA was created to offer. This is
an ongoing struggle that our collective conscious demands we cannot and will not lose.
In addition to carrying the flag in the fight
to save public housing,
Local 237 earned a substantial victory this past
month when it reached a
tentative labor agreement
with Mayor Bloomberg.
While the financial markets were crumbling and
tens of thousands of jobs
were put at risk, Local
237 negotiated the successful settlement of a
contract that guarantees
the protection of our
members during these
economically uncertain
times.
Contracts are judged
by three primary qualities: 1) is the wage in-
crease greater than the rate of inflation; 2)
how does the contract compare with other
unions throughout the country and within the
city; and 3) what is the economic climate of
the employer. The contract we reached not
only meets all measuring tools, but actually
exceeds every characteristic of a fair and successful contract.
The wage increase we negotiated is over 4
percent a year, for a total increase of 8.16 percent for the two-year duration of the contract.
Comparatively, the rate of inflation over the
next two years is expected to be 5.4 percent;
therefore, our contract provides for a wage increase nearly 2.8 percent greater than the average rate of inflation, guaranteeing that our
members will see significant gains throughout
the term of the agreement. Further, the average wage increase for a two year period
throughout the country is only 6.4 percent.
Our contract package will put us at least 2
percent ahead of other contracts being settled
nationwide at this time. And, aside from the
wage increases, we arranged for the city to
contribute $200 per retiree to the Retiree
Health and Welfare Fund and .25% of additional compensation to purchase recurring
benefits.
The financial outlook for the city, state
and our country is bleak. The State faces a $6
billion deficit and the city anticipates a $3
billion budget deficit; and that was before the
collapse of our financial market came into effect. However, even during these dire times,
Local 237 was able to secure the best possible
financial package for our members.
In the coming months, the collective
strength of our union and that of all other
municipal workers will be put to the test by
an economy struggling to survive. But as always, your leadership at Local 237 is prepared to act on your behalf and will continue
to explore all possible avenues to ensure that
our members receive the benefits they are entitled to and the services they deserve.
Bill Kresse
MEMBERSHIP, 2nd Fl.
Provides membership services
and records, including address
changes.
Laverne White,
Administrative Manager
212-924-1220
Office Hours:
Mon.- Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mary Sheridan Esq., Director
Kenneth Perry Esq.,
Deputy Director
GREED
NEWSLINE, October 2008
3
Citywide Contract Secured Before Economic Storm
Continued from page 1
press conference.
Asked whether municipal unions
could expect similar terms, the mayor
said, “It depends on the chaos in the
marketplace and how it works out.”
He added that the city had been negotiating with Local 237 “for awhile
and it’s in our budget.”
The contract covers 24 months
and 13 days from Sept. 13, 2008,
through Sept. 25, 2010. It was kept
to two years because the market
conditions are so uncertain.
Raises take effect Oct. 10, 2008,
and Oct. 10, 2009, (October 12 for former Local 832 members), and were
delayed 13 days to provide the additional .25 percent equity fund package and a $200 lump-sum payment to
the active and retiree welfare funds.
Health and pension benefits, vacation and sick pay were all preserved.
At press time, ballots were
mailed to Citywide members, including school safety agents, special
officers, food service workers and
many other titles, for a ratification
vote to be counted at headquarters
on October 10.
Toast of the Towns
Negotiating Committee Backs
Ratification of Citywide Pact
“This is the first time in the 26 years I’ve worked for the city that
we’ve been on a par with the raises given to the uniformed unions,”
said Gloria Watkins, an evidence and property control specialist for the
NYPD.
“It’s not bad. Half a loaf is better than none. Things are getting so
tough people are growing corn in their backyards,” said Joseph Pagan,
an inspector with the Department of Environmental Protection in
Queens.
“No givebacks, that’s very good. You don’t want to give up what was
won in previous contracts,” said Det. Princess Campbell, a special officer with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
“The contract is better than we got in previous years. President Greg
Floyd worked hard to get it for us,” said Cheryl Mauro, a school safety
agent in the Staten Island Command.
Gloria Watkins
Congressman Edolphus Towns, second from left, is joined by supporters at
a fundraiser held last month in his honor. The event, hosted by Dr. Arlee
Griffin, pastor of the Berean Missionary Baptist Church in Brooklyn, was
attended by legislators, labor leaders and the clergy. Pictured above, from
left, are: New York City Comptroller William Thompson, Towns, Dr. Arlee
Griffin Jr., Local 237 President Gregory Floyd, Congresswoman Maxine
Waters, Assemblyman G.K. Butterfield, Assemblyman Darryl Towns, and
Congressman Anthony Weiner.
Local 237
NEWSLINE
216 West 14 St., New York, NY 10011
212-924-2000
Website: www.local237.org
e-mail Newsline: Tlambert@local237.org
Local 237 Newsline (USPS 700-000 ISSN 1083-3536) is published 10 times a year in the
following months: January, February, March, April, May, (June, July and August will be
combined into one issue), September, October, November and December by Local 237,
International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 216 West 14 Street, New York, NY 10011.
Periodical postage paid at New York, NY. Postmaster: Send address changes to
Local 237 Newsline, 216 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10011.
Executive Board
Gregory Floyd Richard Hendershot
President
Vice President
Evaristo Pabon Jr.
Trustee
Ruben Torres
Patricia Stryker
Secretary-Treasurer Recording Secretary
Noreen Hollingsworth
Trustee
Newsline and www.local237.org
Edmund Kane
Trustee
Tania M. Lambert
Editor
Local 237 Telephone Numbers
Citywide Division .................212-924-2000
Housing Division..................212-924-2000
Long Island Division ............631-851-9800
Welfare Funds .....................212-924-7220
Education Department.........212-807-0550
Legal Department ................212-924-1220
Health & Safety ...................212-924-2000
Retiree Division/
Pension Counseling ..........212-807-0555
Membership.........................212-924-2000
CSBA...................................212-675-0519
If you move...
Please send your change of address in writing to Membership to insure that you
continue receiving your newspaper.
Metro NY
Labor
Communications
Council
Joseph Pagan
Princess Campbell
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Continued from page 1
President Gregory Floyd, who attended his first Democratic National
Convention in August as an alternate
delegate for Obama, met the candidate, who has gathered even more
strength since the financial crisis underscored the misguided policies of
the Republican administration.
At the Denver convention, Floyd
witnessed the enthusiasm and hope
that forged solidarity among labor
unions across the nation to endorse
the candidate who is determined to
restore a thriving middle class.
“What you see on television
cannot explain the spirited mood
you find here,” Floyd was quoted as
saying in The Chief. He also provided convention coverage nightly to
News 12, which broadcast the interviews in Brooklyn and the Bronx.
The Party’s Over
Since the Democratic and Republican conventions ended, Wall
Street’s downward spiral has dominated the news. One after another,
major investment firms collapsed,
including Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac, Lehman Brothers, Merrill
Lynch, and AIG.
“The party’s over for compensation for CEO’s who take golden parachutes as they drive companies into
the ground,” said House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi.
New York City is especially hard
hit since it is heavily dependent on
the financial services industry,
which contributes an estimated 10
percent of the city’s tax revenues.
Before the crisis, the city’s unemployment rate shot up in August as
jobs were eliminated due to the economic downturn.
As a consequence, Mayor
Bloomberg ordered 2.5 percent cuts
in all city agency budgets, totaling
$1.5 billion over two years.
Bloomberg remains optimistic
about saving jobs, however. “I don’t
think we will get to the point of layoffs,” said the mayor,
On the other hand, Republican
nominee John McCain was caught
off-guard by the crisis, calling the
economy “fundamentally strong” one
week, and “the most serious crisis
since World War II,” the next week.
What’s worse than his flip-flopping, McCain was quoted in the
Washington Post as saying that civil
service “has mutated into a no-accountability zone, where employment
is treated as an entitlement, good performance as an option and accountability as someone else’s problem.”
As Congress weighs complex
proposals to bail out the so-called
“Casino Capitalists,” and we prepare to vote for the next president
of the United States on Nov. 4, keep
in mind that the Teamsters have
given careful consideration, time
and money to support the most
promising candidate to bring legions of workers through the storm
into a safe harbor where decent
jobs, wages, benefits and hope
abide. That candidate is Barack
Obama.
4
NEWSLINE, October 2008
Housing Matters
She Rose Above Expectations
The first female elevator mechanic employed
by the New York City Housing Authority started
her career in search of fair wages. “I had to support
two children and I noticed that men usually make
more money than women,” recalls Maristela
Checa, so “I looked for a man’s job.”
Her rise was not straight up, but took several
interesting turns. Checa enrolled in a trade
school, where a lecturer announced a training
program for elevator helpers. She enrolled in the
program and worked as an apprentice at several
NYCHA sites. After earning her journeyman’s
certificate, and passing the civil service test, she
applied to NYCHA and was hired as the first female elevator helper in 2002.
The job is physically demanding and includes climbing 25 or more stories in high-rise
buildings; moving heavy parts; crawling and
working in narrow spaces, and handling live
electrical circuits and moving elevators.
Proving herself up to the task, Checa passed
the civil service test and was promoted to elevator mechanic on April 28, 2008, again making
NYCHA history as the first woman in the title.
Another female elevator mechanic, Althea Diehl,
who was also hired as a helper several months
after Checa, was promoted to elevator mechanic
on the same day as Checa.
The next stop for the pioneering women is
supervisor of elevator mechanics.
Checa, who works in Manhattan’s Wilson
Houses, says she plans to keep rising. “Why not?”
she says. The Ecuadorian native and single mother of two adult children says she likes everything
about her job. “It’s a challenge and it’s different.”
The only problem is, “It’s messy. I don’t look neat.”
Boy’s Death Renews Calls
To Boost NYCHA Funding
The death of a 5-year-old boy on
Aug. 19, due to a faulty elevator at
Taylor-Wythe houses in Brooklyn,
renewed urgent calls to increase
federal funding for the New York
City Housing Authority.
Local 237 President Gregory
Floyd and union officials rushed to
the scene of the accident to investigate the circumstances and represent the elevator inspectors and
mechanics, who are union members.
“They are conscientious workers,” Floyd was quoted as saying in
The Times. “They take a lot of pride
in their work, and they’re doing the
best job they can do under the circumstances.”
Jacob Neuman and his 8-yearold brother were on their way to
NYCHA Boosts
Headquarters’
Safety
Prompted by Local 237 advocating for the safety of members employed by The New
York City Housing Authority,
the agency recently installed
turnstile metal detectors at its
250 Broadway headquarters in
Manhattan and will also install
them at 90 Church Street.
Special officers report that
they
routinely
confiscate
weapons from hostile visitors,
are assigned to contentious
hearings for lease terminations,
and protect employees and residents from violent threats on a
daily basis. Special officers will
also receive additional training
in self-defense, apprehension
and arrest of violators on housing grounds.
school when the elevator in their
12-story building stalled between
the 10th and 11th floors and the
doors opened. Police say that Jacob
tried to jump to the floor below but
lost his footing and fell 10 stories
down the shaft.
Citing federal funding cuts as
contributing to the maintenance
deficiencies at HA that led to delayed elevator repairs, Floyd noted
in the Chief-Leader that “The incident serves as an appalling example of the federal government’s failure to meet its obligations to fund
public housing.” He also emphasized that other basic maintenance
services, including carpentry, sanitation, painting, heat and air conditioning are delayed due to cutbacks.
Immediately
following
the
tragedy, Floyd sent a letter to Mayor
Maristela Checa is the first female elevator mechanic
employed by New York City Housing Authority.
28 Senators Back Call to Aid NYCHA
Just a few weeks before tragedy struck in a broken Brooklyn public
housing elevator and Wall Street plunged into financial crisis, 28 U.S.
senators urgently requested an additional $500 million (FY) 2008 emergency supplemental appropriation for the Public Housing Operating
and Capital Funds in a letter to the U.S. Senate chairman of the committee on appropriations.
The Public Housing Operating Fund is used to finance the portion
of operating costs that are not covered by tenants’ rent contributions
and is essential to maintain safe, affordable public housing. The letter
pointed out that “public housing is a national asset serving nearly 3
million low income, disabled, senior citizens and families while stabilizing neighborhoods throughout America.”
The letter also emphasized that HUD estimates indicated 2008
funding will cover just 81 percent of the needed amount to maintain
services. The shortfall is made worse by years of underfunding. “Without these essential funds,” the letter said, “public housing authorities
will be forced to make huge cuts in staffing and inspections.”
To see the complete letter with 28 signatures, visit our website at
www.local237.org and see “Dozens of U.S. Senators…,” under “Latest
From Local 237.”
Michael R. Bloomberg, requesting that
the mayor join him in calling on federal officials to live up to their prom-
ise to fund public housing. Copies
were sent to the New York State governor, senators and legislators.
Seeing is Believing at Millbrook Houses
The apartment at Millbrook
Houses in the Bronx is filled with
an accumulation of toxic debris
left by previous tenants. Local 237
Business Agents Curtis Scott and
David Gonzales, with Health and
Safety Coordinator Diane Stein,
visited the site recently to document the extraordinary conditions
reported by the caretaker J’s who
said they saw rats, were bitten by
insects and inhaled sickening
fumes as they attempted to clean
it up.
The union stopped the job and
exterminators were sent in, but that
was not enough. Local 237 then
contacted the Borough Office in
Long Island City, which sent a specially trained technical services
team to complete the so-called
“move-out.”
NEWSLINE, October 2008
5
★ ★ ★ VOTER POWER 2008 ★ ★ ★
Compare the Candidates
And See Why the Teamsters Back Obama
Vowed to slash federal spending on contractors by 10 percent and
save $40 billion.
Economic Crisis
Backs cuts to help working people, seniors, homeowners and unemployed. Wants to eliminate tax cuts for people earning above $250,000.
Voted to raise federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour.
Wants to raise public investment in training workforce and creating better jobs. Pledges to stop rewarding companies that send jobs overseas.
Would provide affordable, portable coverage for all by expanding public
programs, and creating a national health plan with guaranteed eligibility.
Plans to withdraw troops by end of 2009.
Wages
Labor
Employee Free
Choice Act
Co-sponsored EFCA, which would give workers the right to organize
and choose a union without employer harassment and intervention.
Opposed to privatization.
Taxes
Social Security
Health Care
Iraq War
Oil Prices
Plans to eliminate oil needs in 10 years.
Flip-Flop: First he said the economy was “fundamentally strong.”
Later, when Wall Street tanked, he said, “We are in the most serious
crisis since World War II.”
Wants to make Bush tax cuts permanent and lower corporate tax from
35% to 25%.
Voted to let states drop out of minimum wage increases.
Voted against minimum wage hike 19 times.
Crossed picket lines to appear on the “Tonight” show. Voted to hire permanent replacements for striking workers. Voted to outsource federal
contracts overseas and privatize government jobs.
Voted to block Senate vote on EFCA, protecting anti-labor interests.
Like Bush, intends to privatize the program and reduce benefits.
Proposes individual health savings accounts combined with private
insurance.
Seeks only conditional withdrawal.
Backs summer gas tax holiday and offshore drilling.
Endorsements for the General Election, Tuesday, Nov. 4
United States Congress
District/Candidate
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
County/Borough
Timothy H. Bishop (D/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
Steve J. Israel (D/I/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
Peter T. King (R/I/C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
Carolyn McCarthy (D/I/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau
Gary L. Ackerman (D/I/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Gregory W. Meeks (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Joseph Crowley (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens, Bronx
Jerrold L. Nadler (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . Manhattan, Brooklyn
Anthony D. Weiner (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . Queens, Brooklyn
Edolphus Towns (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Yvette Clark (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brooklyn
Nydia M. Velazquez (D/WF) . . . . . . . Brooklyn, Manhattan
Michael McMahon (D/WF) . . . . . . . Staten Island/Brooklyn
Carolyn B. Maloney (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . New York, Queens
Charles B. Rangel (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
José E. Serrano (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx
Eliot L. Engel (DL/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx, Westchester
Nita M. Lowey (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Westchester
John Hall (D/I/WF) . . . . . Westchester, Duchess, Rockland
New York State Senate
Kenneth P. LaValle (R/C/I). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
John J. Flanagan (R/C/I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
Caesar Trunzo Sr. (R/C/I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
Owen H. Johnson (R/C/I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
Carl L. Marcellino (R/C/I). . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau, Suffolk
Kemp Hannon (R/C/I). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau
Craig M. Johnson (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau
Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. (R/C/I) . . . . . . . . . Nassau, Suffolk
Dean G. Skelos (R) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau
Shirley L. Huntley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Frank Padavan (R/C/I) . . . Queens, Bellerose, Whitestone
George Onorato (D). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Hiram Monserrate (D/WFP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Malcolm A. Smith (D/WF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Serphin R. Maltese (R/C/I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Toby Ann Stavisky (D/W) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Martin Malave Dilan (D). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Velmanette Montgomery (D/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
John L. Sampson (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Eric L. Adams (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Kevin S. Parker (D/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Martin J. Golden (R/C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Diane M. Savino (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . Staten Island, Kings
Andrew J. Lanza (R/I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Staten Island
Daniel Squadron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York/Kings
Liz Krueger (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
Carl Kruger (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
José Serrano (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx
Thomas Duane (D/L/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
Bill Perkins (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
Eric T. Schneiderman (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . New York/Bronx
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Ruben Diaz Sr. (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx
Pedro Espada ((D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx
Jeffrey D. Klein (D/I/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx, Westchester
Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . Westchester
Ruth Hassell-Thompson (D/WF). . . . . Bronx, Westchester
Suzi Oppenheimer (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Westchester
Thomas P. Morahan (R/C/I/WF) . . . . . . Orange, Rockland
William J. Larkin Jr. (R/C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Orange, Ulster
Vincent L. Leibell III (R/C/I) . . . . . . . Putnam, Westchester
Stephen M. Saland (R/C). . . . . . . . . . Columbia, Dutchess
New York State Assembly
Marc S. Alessi (D/I/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
Fred Thiele Jr. (R/I/C/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
Patricia A. Eddington (D/I/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
Steven Englebright (D/I/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
Ginny Fields (D/I). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
Philip Ramos (D/I/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
Michael Fitzpatrick (R/C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
Philip Boyle (R/I/C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
Andrew Raia (R/C/I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
James Conte (R/C/I/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau, Suffolk
Robert Sweeney (D/I/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suffolk
Joe Saladino (R/C/I/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau
Charles D. Lavine (D/I/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau
Robert Barra ((R/IC/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau
Rob R. Walker (R/I/C/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau
Michelle Schimel (D/I/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau
Thomas McKevitt (R/C/I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau
Earline Hill Hooper (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau
David McDonough (R/I/C/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau
Harvey Weisenberg (D/I/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau
Thomas Alfano (R/I/C/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau
Ellen Young (D/I/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Audrey Pheffer (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Mark Weprin (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Rory I. Lancman (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Ann Margaret Carrozza (D/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Nettie Mayersohn (D). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Andrew Hevesi (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
William Scarborough (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Margaret Markey (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Michelle Titus (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Vivian Cook (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Barbara Clark (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Michael Den Dekker (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Jeffrion Aubry (D/L) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Michael Gianaris (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Catherine Nolan (D). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Anthony Seminerio (D/C/R/I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
José Peralta (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Queens
Inez Barron (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Helene Weinstein (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Rhoda Jacobs (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Karim Camara (D/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
James Brennan (D/L/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
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Steven Cymbrowitz (D/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Alec Brook-Krasny (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
William Colton (D/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Dov Hikind (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Peter Abbate Jr. (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Joseph R. Lentol (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Felix Ortiz (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Joan Millman (D/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Vito Lopez (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Darryl Towns (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
William F. Boyland (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Annette Robinson (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Hakeem Jeffries (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
N. Nick Perry (D/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Alan Maisel (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kings
Janele Hyer-Spencer (D/I/WF) . . . . . . . . Kings, Richmond
Matthew Titone (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richmond
Louis Tobacco (R/I/C). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richmond
Michael Cusick (D/I/C/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richmond
Sheldon Silver (D/L/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
Micah Z. Kellner (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
Deborah Glick (D/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
Linda Rosenthal (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
Adam Clayton Powell (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
Daniel J. O’Donnell (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
Keith Wright (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
Herman Farrell (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
Adriano Espaillat (D/L/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
Jonathan Bing (D/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
Brian Kavanagh (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
Richard Gottfried (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York
Peter M. Rivera (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx
Aurelia Greene (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx
José Rivera (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx
Michael Benjamin (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx
Naomi Rivera (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx
Jeffrey Dinowitz (D/L/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx
Michael R. Benedetto (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx
Carl E. Heastie (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx
Carmen Arroyo (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx
Ruben Diaz Jr. (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx
Luis M. Diaz (D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bronx
J. Gary Pretlow (D/I). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Westchester
Amy Paulin (D/I/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Westchester
Adam Bradley (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Westchester
Sandra Galef (D/I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Westchester/Putnam
George Latimer (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Westchester
Richard Brodsky (D/WF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Westchester
Michael Spano (D/C/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Westchester
Kenneth Zebrowski (D/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rockland
Ellen C. Jaffee (D/I/WF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rockland
Nancy Calhoun (R/C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Orange, Rockland
6
NEWSLINE, October 2008
Local 237 Shows Its Colors and
African-American Day
ocal 237’s contingent, led by President
Gregory Floyd, stepped out boldly for the
African-American Day Parade on Sunday,
Sept. 21. They wore T-shirts printed with
the word “Audacity,” referring to Barack
Obama’s second book “The Audacity of Hope:
Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream,”
and waved Teamsters for Obama posters for all to
see. A black and white photograph on the T-shirt
featured the Teamsters who gathered for the 1963
civil Rights march in Washington, D.C.
The largest such parade in America, it was
viewed by nearly one million spectators along Adam
Clayton Powell Boulevard from 111 St. to 142nd St.
The theme was “Power Through Unity.”
Floyd said the annual parade — this was the
39th — was “an opportunity to display pride in
black achievements and reaffirm our commitment
to encourage more contributions to the nation and
the world.”
Among the many dignitaries in attendance
were several chosen as grand marshals: Gov. David
Paterson, former mayor David Dinkins, Congressman Charles Rangel, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and
Comptroller William Thompson.
L
These two photos are by Calvin Sewer
Political dignitaries, including, from left, Comptroller William Thompson, Congressman Charles
Rangel, and Gov. David Paterson, prepare to step out on Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard.
Above, Parking Control Specialist Tanisha SmallsHunter is joined, from left, by her daughter, Zuri, and
son, Malik.
Right, Local 237’s contingent assembles behind the
union banner.
Sitting with President Gregory Floyd on a Harlem stoop are, from
left, Business Agents Michelle Walters and Yvette Martinez.
NEWSLINE, October 2008
7
d Pride at 2 September Parades
Labor Day
ou could hear Local 237’s contingent
coming down Fifth Avenue chanting
“Obama for President,” to the rhythm
of the Panamanian International
Marching band. Led by President Gregory Floyd, our members were among 50,000
marchers representing 400 affiliated unions of
the NYC Central Labor Council.
The parade up Fifth Avenue, from 44 St. to
72 St. on Saturday, Sept. 6, was especially important in displaying labor’s solidarity amid the
chaos of the national economy. It also honored
the brave men and women of the Wounded Warrior Project, this year’s Honorary Grand Marshals. The Project is a nonprofit group that raises awareness and funds to help severely wounded war veterans.
Political dignitaries, including Mayor
Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker
Christine Quinn, came to celebrate labor’s contributions to the quality of American life. Last
year, instead of a parade, a rally was staged at
Ground Zero in support of 9/11 rescue workers
and pending legislation for their health-care
funding.
Y
Left, George Serrano,
a Citywide business
agent, lifts his poster
for all to see.
Right, City Council
Speaker Christine
Quinn stops by to
thank President
Gregory Floyd for his
support, especially
with public housing
issues.
Orlando
Melendez, a
Caretaker J, and
his son wait to
begin their tradition of marching
up Fifth Avenue.
Photo by Calvin Sewer
The
Panamanian
International
Marching
Band’s horn
section
makes itself
heard.
Left, Floyd greets
maintenance worker
Paul D’Amato and
his family.
Right, members of
Local 237’s
Executive Board join
Floyd on the front
line. Pictured from
left are Chief
Negotiator Edmund
Kane; Recording
Secretary Patricia
Stryker; Floyd; and
Vice President
Richard Hendershot.
8
NEWSLINE, October 2008
In Celebration of Italian
Heritage Month
President Gregory Floyd was
awarded the Aberdeen David Labor
Achievement Award by District
1199J at its 17th Annual Aberdeen
S. David Memorial Scholarship
Fund Awards Dinner.
The July 17 event, held at The
Newark Club in Newark, N.J., also
honored Laurel Brennan, secretarytreasurer of the New Jersey State
AFL-CIO, with the Women’s Leadership Award; Luis Quintana, councilman-at-large, City of Newark, with
Andiamo With
Assemblyman
Peter Abbate
As chair of the Governmental
Employees Committee, New York
State Assemblyman Peter J. Abbate Jr. is our go-to guy in Albany.
The Italian-American Brooklyn
native is the prime sponsor of
Local 237’s public employee pension bills. In addition, he is the
Chairman of the Subcommittee on
Safety in the Workplace, and a
tireless advocate for labor.
Abbate represents Brooklyn’s
49th Assembly District, which includes a large community of people of Italian heritage. He has visited many nations, with a special
stop in Italy to better understand
his roots. Abbate also contributes
to his heritage by serving as treasurer of the New York Conference of
Italian American State Legislators.
Each year, Abbate introduces
hundreds of bills, most of them
drafted by public sector labor
unions. The bills vary in purpose,
including expanding pensions,
enhancing civil service benefits
and amending the Taylor Law.
In an interview with the Sun,
Abbate defined his role in Albany:
“If you left it up to business,
they wouldn’t be doing anything
for anyone,” said Abbate. “I don’t
look at it like I’m doing something
for the unions. I look at it as if I’m
doing something for the working
men and women in the state.”
On October 23, Abbate will be
the keynote speaker at Local 237’s
First Italian Heritage Celebration,
from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at
union headquarters, 216 West 14
Street in Manhattan. Don’t miss
this chance to meet him, ask your
questions, and thank him for a job
well done on our behalf.
Back to School Kickoff
The Department of Education
invited New York City public school
students and their families to a Fam-
NOTABLE & QUOTABLE
“Education is being able to differentiate between what you do
know and what you don't; it's
knowing where to go to find out
what you need to know; and it's
knowing how to use the information once you get it.
William Feather
District 1199J Gives Floyd
Achievement Award
ily Back to School Kickoff in Central
Park. The purpose of the Aug. 16
event was to answer questions and
offer information about programs
and services for students. Local 237
members employed by DOE as Educational Facilities Officers in the Executive Protection and Gang Intelligence Units were on hand to provide security coverage. Pictured
above, from left, are Sgts. Gerald
Sanders, Willy Luna, Jeanette I.
Taveras, Hector Roman and Miguel
Diaz.
the Legislative Award; Anne Maloney, president, Sele-Dent Inc., with
the Outstanding Service Award; and
Glenwood Smith, 1199J executive
board member, with the Myrtle
Hartsfield Labor Award.
The scholarship fund is named
in honor of the late Aberdeen David,
first president of District 1199J. It
has provided scholarships totaling
more than $150,000 to top achieving
children of members, including 10
this year.
President Gregory Floyd holds his award and is flanked, from left, by 1199J officials Pedro Fanduiz, secretary-treasurer; Susan M. Cleary, president, and Craig
Ford, vice president.
Elevator Mechanic’s Son
Rises in Coast Guard
Lt. John Michael Fiorentine is congratulated by President Bill Clinton at his 2000
graduation.
Local 237 Elevator Mechanic
John Fiorentine’s son, John Michael,
is a lieutenant in the U.S. Coast
Guard and was recently honored
with the opportunity to give the
commencement address to the
spring graduating class at the Coast
Guard’s Cape May, N.J., boot camp.
Lt. Fiorentine, who graduated
from the Coast Guard Academy in
2000, served on a Navy destroyer in
Japan and commanded his own
ship, the USGC Cushing, in Virginia
and Puerto Rico before his current
assignment as a Coast Guard career
counselor in Washington, D.C.
NEWSLINE, October 2008
ATI
RN
TE
S
R
IN
The Department of Juvenile Justice held a graduation ceremony for
six special officers, 25 juvenile
counselors and two congregate care
specialists at their headquarters on
Aug. 15.
Local 237’s Citywide Division
Director Donald Arnold, along with
DJJ Commissioner Neil Hernandez,
was on hand to congratulate the new
officers: Aaron Bryant, Dion Harper,
Darrell Isley, Jonathan Jones, Lumel
Robinson and Monica Tindle.
Rev. Alfonso Wyatt, vice-president of the Fund for the City of New
York, delivered the keynote address,
stressing the important role the
graduates will play in the lives of
young people in detention and the
opportunities DJJ provides for
youths with innovative programs to
turn their lives around.
Local 237 Citywide Division Director Donald Arnold, left, and DJJ Commissioner
Neil Hernandez flank newly graduated special officers.
Moving on Up
EAMS
TE
FT
DJJ Officers Graduate
O
R
R
Congratulations to…
...HPO RODNEY BONDS of Dr. Susan Smith McKinney Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Brooklyn on the birth of his first granddaughter,
Imann Souglin, who checked in on August 7. The baby weighed 6
pounds, 2 ounces.
•••
...Staten Island Command School Safety Agents who were recently promoted to Level 3. They are: NJERI CONNOR, borough office; MIGUEL
REYES, Port Richmond H.S.; JOE DIGIOIA, New Dorp H.S., and WILLIAM
JUSTIANO, I.S./H.S. 43.
•••
...SGT. FRANCISCO J. LOPEZ at the Department of
Homeless Services, who was promoted in June
and married Glenia Lopez on Aug. 16. Sgt. Lopez
has seven years of service and is assigned to headquarters at 33 Beaver Street. He also teaches at
Auburn Family Shelter.
•••
...SSA CHARISSE NELSON of Brooklyn North Command on the birth of her
second child, Erik Darnell Butler, on Aug. 10. Baby weighed 8 pounds
3 ounces.
•••
...SSA MAHKIA MURRIEL of Brooklyn North Command on the birth of her
second boy on Aug. 31. Baby weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces.
•••
...SSA KRYSTAL BOOKER of Prospect Heights H.S. in Brooklyn South
Command on the birth of her son, Damir Maurice Harris, on Sept. 13.
Baby weighed 4 pounds and 7 ounces.
•••
...HOSPITAL POLICE OFFICER HILDA VALENTIN who was promoted Sept. 21
to assistant director of HPOs at Coney Island Hospital.
We’d like to hear from you. If you’d like us to report on what’s
happening in your life, drop a line to Teamster Notes, Newsline,
216 W. 14 Street, NY 10011, or call 646-638-8636,
or e-mail Tlambert@local237.org.
CONDOLENCES TO...
Recently promoted to superintendent of Edenwald Houses in the Bronx,
Eric Martinez, far left, is congratulated by supervisory staff at his former
work site, Marble Hill Houses in the Bronx. Pictured, from left, are Martinez;
Antony Luciano, superintendent; Gary Tompson, supervisor of caretakers;
Orlando Pardo, assistant superintendent and Edgar Pizarro, supervisor of
caretakers.
Promotion
TODD RUBENSTEIN was appointed grievance coordinator for the
Citywide Division effective Sept. 15. His salary will be $1,971 per week
($112,492 per year) and he will receive an auto allowance of $860 per
month ($10,320 per year).
CORRECTION
An article in the September Newsline on page 8, entitled “City College Officers Catch a Thief at Dawn,” misidentified the name and rank
of Campus Peace Officer Peter Malachi.
…the family of the late JOE POLICASTRO, formerly a maintenance worker at
Kingsborough Community College, who died July 22. Policastro, who
had 13 years of service, is survived by his wife, Peggy, and children Debbie, Pat and Joey.
•••
…SCHOOL SAFETY AGENT LEON BROWN of Brooklyn South Command, on
the death of his father, Leon Brown Sr., on Aug. 7. The funeral service
was held on Staten Island.
•••
…SSA PEARLINE MAHON of Clara Barton H.S. in Brooklyn South Command, on the death of her mother, Mabel Mahon, on Sept. 5. The funeral
service was held in Barbados, West Indies.
•••
…the family of the late SSA JANICE SUMPTER, formerly assigned to the Region 6 CSE Office. The funeral service was held Sept. 19 in Brooklyn.
•••
…SSA L3 MORRIS WATSON, on the death of his father, Willie Jackson. The
funeral service was held Sept. 19.
•••
…the family of WAYNE CLAYBOURNE, a former Department of Homeless
Services police officer, who died Aug. 12 at the age of 51. The late Officer Claybourne had six years of service at the Help Women’s Shelter in
Brooklyn, and is survived by his wife Sandra, his son Wayne Jr., four
daughters: Urasia, Diesha, Linda, and Wayneisha, and his mother, Irene.
•••
…the family of LISA DOCKERY, a former Department of Homeless Services
detective, who died Aug. 29. The late Officer Dockery had eight years of
service at the Help Women’s Shelter in Brooklyn, and is survived by her
fiancé, Hollis Russ, her sons Kareem and Kahari, her daughter, Kalea, and
her mother, Veronica.
9
10
NEWSLINE, October 2008
Added to the Roster of Retirees
HPO Bagley Set to Pack Her Bags
Hospital Police
Officer Rebecca S.
Bagley holds her
retirement plaque
and is joined, from
left, by Citywide
Division Deputy
Director Al Soto,
Sgt. Donald Collins
and shop steward
Lt. Rachel Evans.
The Metropolitan
Hospital veteran,
who retired recently with more than 22 years of service, says she plans to travel to Florida and Alaska, and “enjoy life.”
The Life of Kiley
Town of Babylon veteran Gerard
Kiley holds his retirement
plaque
and is flanked, from
left, by Long Island
Division Deputy Director Ben Carenza
and Director John
Burns. A celebration was held at
Babylon’s Hibernian Hall for Kiley,
who retired July 30
with 25 years of
service. A member of the “Kiley Clan,” of about 10 siblings, Gerry
Kiley has newfound quality time to spend with his family.
Housing Members’
Daughter Wins $10,000
Hoffa Scholarship
Aleena Paul’s parents can
breathe easier now that their daughter was awarded $10,000 by The
James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund. The 18-year-old scholar’s parents are Housing Division
members, Sebastian and Elezebeth
Paul.
The Stuyvesant High School
graduate says she wants to become a
pediatrician and care for people who
do not have many resources. “My
dreams cannot become reality unless
I can receive an excellent education
at a great college,” Aleena wrote in
her application, adding, “This scholarship will make my path to achieving this goal much easier.”
A freshman at Union College in
Schenectady, N.Y., Aleena is participating in the AMC Leadership in
Medicine program, an accelerated
eight-year program consisting of an
undergraduate education at Union
followed by a medical education at
Albany Medical College.
“A scholarship lessens the anxiety my parents and I feel about paying for college,” says Aleena, whose
mother is a housing assistant at Astoria Houses in Queens, and her father is a housing assistant at Baruch
Houses in Manhattan. Her sister,
Merin, is 14 years old.
Her achievement was years in
the making, as Aleena built a strong
academic record with high grades
and impressive community service.
She was a member of the Arista National Honor Society; president of
her school’s Indian Culture Club; a
Bronze Winner in the Greater Metropolitan New York Math Fair, and a
volunteer at North Shore University
Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., among
many other accomplishments.
Aleena, an Eastern Region applicant, was among one hundred
winners of the 2008-2009 James R.
Hoffa Scholarship. One-hundred
scholarships are awarded annually
to applicants competing in five geographic regions where the Teamster
parent’s local union is located. Thirty-one of the awards total $10,000
each.
These four-year scholarships are
disbursed at the rate of $2,500 per
year and are renewable annually.
Sixty-nine awards are one-time
grants of $1,000. The scholarships
are disbursed to the college or university at the beginning of the recipient’s freshman year.
New Undertaking for Overton
Wayne Overton,
a former special officer with the Department of Juvenile Justice, holds
his plaque at a retirement party held
in Brooklyn’s Boulders’ Creek restaurant.
The veteran officer, with 28 years of
service, retired June
19 from the Bridges
facility in the Bronx. Joining Overton, from left, are Patricia Alvarez,
shop steward; Felecia Cannon, Local 237 business agent, and Pete
Gutierrez, Citywide Division deputy director. Overton says he plans to
return to his North Carolina roots and work in the family funeral home
business.
Scholarship winner Aleena Paul holds her Certificate of Merit and is flanked, from
left, by President Gregory Floyd, sister Merin and Secretary-Treasurer Ruben Torres.
All meetings listed below will be held at Local 237 headquarters, 216 W. 14 St., Manhattan.
The shop steward and chairperson of each title are required to attend. The monthly meeting
schedule is also posted on our Website: www.local237.org.
CITYWIDE DIVISION
Dept. of Homeless
Special Officers..........................Oct. 14 .......5:30 p.m.
Citywide & HHC Technical Titles.....Oct. 16 .......5:30 p.m.
Professional Titles ..........................Oct. 21 .......5:30 p.m.
Dept. of Education (DOE)
Food Service Managers ............Oct. 22 ............4 p.m.
Evidence and Property
Control Specialists.....................Oct. 22 .......5:30 p.m.
DOE Food Service Supervisors......Oct. 24 ............4 p.m.
HRA Special Officers ......................Oct. 27 .......5:30 p.m.
CUNY Campus Peace Officers.......Oct. 29 .......5:30 p.m.
Administration for Children’s
Services (ACR) Special Officers..Oct. 29 ............6 p.m.
Educational Facility Officers,
Executive Protection Unit ............Oct. 30 .......5:30 p.m.
HOUSING DIVISION
Roofers ...........................................Oct. 14 ............6 p.m.
Caretaker Ps...................................Oct. 21 ............6 p.m.
Maintenance Workers.....................Oct. 28 ............6 p.m.
Site Caretakers...............................Oct. 28 ............6 p.m.
NEWSLINE, October 2008
11
Resumen en Español
El Sindicato Logra Contrato…
Antes de Tormenta Financiera
Justamente cuando la bolsa de
valores se desintegraba y grandes
compañías financieras titubeaban al
borde del colapso, el pasado16 de
Septiembre Gregory Floyd, Presidente del Local 237 y el Alcalde
Bloomberg llegaron a un acuerdo
firme que provee dos aumentos
salariales de 4 por ciento en dos
años para más de 9,000 empleados
de la Ciudad.
“Es un acuerdo a tiempo, en un
clima difícil,” dijo el Presidente
Gregory Floyd, enfatizando que el
contrato que incluye un aumento de
sueldo compuesto de 8.16 por ciento no solamente supera el proyectado índice de inflación – que es 5.7
por ciento – pero también provee
una anualidad adicional de .25 por
ciento con una contribución en efectivo de $200 al Fondo de Bienestar
de miembros activos y jubilados.
Los negociadores del Local 237,
encabezados por Floyd, lograron
este acuerdo histórico un día antes
de que caducara el viejo contrato,
rechazaron devoluciones, y quizás
establecieron el patrón de negociaciones para otros sindicatos de empleados municipales en medio de la
mayor crisis financiara desde la
Gran Depresión de los años 1930’s.
El Presidente Gregory Floyd y concejal Miguel Martinez rodeados por oficiales y
miembros de la division de la ciudad en la alcaldia.
“Es el mejor contrato que hemos
tenido en 10 años,” notó Floyd.
“El Acuerdo de hoy le permite a
la Ciudad ofrecer compensación
justa a los miembros del Local 237,
quienes proveen servicios vitales a
la Ciudad...,” dijo Bloomberg en una
rueda de prensa. Él observó que
también la proyección ofrece estructura al presupuesto de la ciudad y
estabilidad en relaciones laborales
municipales. “Vamos a continuar
invirtiendo en la preservación de
servicios esenciales de la Ciudad.”
Respondiendo a una pregunta de un
reportero en cuanto a si los otros
sindicatos municipales podrían esperar acuerdos similares, el Alcalde
respondió: “Eso depende del caos
en el mercado financiero y cómo se
resuelve.” Él añadió que la Ciudad
había estado negociando con el
Local 237 “desde mucho tiempo y
ya está en nuestro presupuesto… la
Ciudad puede costear este acuerdo
hoy.” El Alcalde no ofreció garantías
futuras.
El contrato cubre 24 meses y 13
días desde Septiembre 13, 2008
hasta Septiembre 25, 2010. Se mantuvo la duración a dos años por la
incertidumbre de condiciones del
mercado financiero. Los aumentos
salariales son a partir de Octubre 10,
2008 y Octubre 10, 2009, (Octubre
12 para los miembros del antiguo
Local 832) y fueron retrasados 13
días para proveer una equidad adicional de .25 por ciento y una contribución efectiva de $200 al Fondo
de Bienestar de miembros activos y
jubilados.
Para un miembro promedio del
Local 237 cuyo sueldo es entre
$32,000 y $40.000 anualmente, el
aumento proveerá $2,611 y $3,264
adicional por año, respectivamente.
Los beneficios de salud y de jubilación, los días de vacaciones y
sueldo por enfermedad todos fueron
preservados.
Al tiempo de imprenta de este
noticiero, las balotas de ratificación
fueron enviadas a los miembros de
Citywide, incluyendo a los agentes
de seguridad escolar, oficiales especiales, trabajadores de servicio de
alimentos y a muchos otros títulos
para que sus votos de ratificación
sean contadas en la sede del sindicato el 10 de Octubre.
Comparación de los Candidatos: Porqué Los
Teamsters Apoyan a Obama
Comprometido a cortar por 10% gastos a contratistas Federales con
ahorros de $40 billones.
Se opone a recorte de impuestos para los ricos. Respalda recortes
para los trabajadores, personays mayors, dueños de casa y los
desempleados. Quiere eliminar corte de impuestos para los que
ganan más de $250,000.
Votó a favor de alzar el salario mínimo Federal a $7.25 por hora.
Quiere aumentar la inversion pública en entrenar la fuerza laboral y en
crear mejores empleos. Promete paro en incentivos para compañías
que exportan empleos.
Copatrocinó EFCA, que da derecho a trabajadores a organizarse y a
escoger un sindicato sin hosigamiento o intervención del emplelador.
Se opone a la privatización.
Proveería cobertura asequible, portátil para todos expandiendo programas públicos y creando un plan de salud nacional con garantía de
elegibilidad.
Planea retirar tropas a finales de 2009.
Plan de eliminar dependencia al petróleo en 10 años.
Crisis Económica
Impuestos
Sueldos
Laboral
Vira-y-cambia: Primero dijo que la economía estaba “fundamentalmente sana.” Luego, cuando Wall Street cayó, dijo, “Estamos en la
crisis más seria desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial.”
Quiere hacer permanente el recorte de impuestos de Bush y rebajar
impuestos para corporaciones, de 35% a 25%.
Votó 19 veces en contra de levanter el salario mínimo. Votó en apoyo de
permitir que los Estados puedan eliminar aumentos de sueldo minimo.
Cruzó línea de huelguistas para esar en el “Tonight Show.” Votó a
favor de reemplazos permanents para trabajadores que estén de
huelga. Votó a favor de ceder contratos federales fuera de los EEUU
y de privatizar empleos del gobierno.
Acta de Acción
Libre de
Empleados
Votó para bloquear aprobación de EFCA por el Senado, protegiendo
los intereses anti-obreros.
Cuidado de Salud
Propone cuentas individuales de ahorros de salud combinados con
seguro privado.
Seguro Social
Guerra en Irak
Precio de
Combustible
Al igual que Bush, planea privatizar el programa y reducer los beneficios.
Busca retiro condicional.
Apoya paro de impuestos sobre gasoline durante el verano y exploracion para petróleo fuera de la costa.
Teamster Women:
A Force of Nature
Left, members of Local 237’s contingent to the Women’s Conference surround Cheryl L. Johnson, Teamsters
Women’s Committee chair. Right, Local 237 members join Remilda Ferguson, Local 237’s
Women’s Committee Chair, center, holding a tote bag.
early 900 women attended the eighth
annual Teamster’s Women’s Conference last month in the Ft. Lauderdale
Convention Center, and lived up to
the theme “Teamster Women Making
Waves.” Local 237’s contingent, led by
Women’s Committee Chair Remilda Ferguson,
Housing Division director, included business
agents, shop stewards, and members from all
divisions.
The women attended panel discussions on
globalization and labor standards, and shared
inspirational success stories of overcoming chal-
N
lenges. “You get to hear stories of women who
really need a union to keep their jobs,” said Ferguson, adding, “It gives you energy to do more.
We take it for granted having unions.”
General President Jim Hoffa kicked off the
event by saying, “When the Teamster women
came, Hurricane Ike got out of town.”
Hoffa encouraged Teamster Women to truly
make waves through their involvement in political action and their local unions.
“One of the biggest issues women face today
is equal pay for equal work,” Hoffa said. “But
one of the best civil rights developments in the
world is a Teamster contract. We give equal pay
for equal work and you deserve it.”
He urged Teamster women to vote in November for the future of the union and for their
families.
Also speaking at the conference were General Secretary-Treasurer Tom Keegel and International Vice President Cheryl Johnson.
The conference, dedicated to empowering
Teamster women through education and networking, draws attendees who return each year,
paying their own way. “They live for this,” says
Remilda Ferguson. “You see them grow.”
Left, Cheryl Johnson is
flanked from left by Pat
Armstead, Citywide
grievance representative, and Business
Agents Yvette Martinez
and Michelle Walters.
Right, Teamsters
General President Jim
Hoffa is greeted by
Amanda Coates, vice
chair of the Housing
Assistants Chapter, left,
and Business Agent
Yvettte Martinez.
Local 237, IBT
216 West 14 Street
New York, NY 10011
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DATED MATERIAL
OCTOBER 2008