Blog

Sallie Robertson, School Crossing Guard Retiree, Local 372 For 35 years I worked as a School Crossing Guard. My second assignment was in Brooklyn, at St. Francis of Assisi Elementary School on the corner of Nostrand… Read more

By ALFREDO ALVARADO EMS workers will receive a 10.41 percent compounded wage increase over the term of a tentative new contract negotiated by the union and the city. The new contract, which covers members in Uniformed… Read more

By HENRY GARRIDO Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO Mayor Bill de Blasio has proposed a sensible rescue plan for our city’s public hospital system. His plan addresses the system’s financial crisis without hospital closings… Read more

June 16, 2016 The General Board of the 12.5 million member AFL-CIO voted today to endorse Hillary Clinton for President of the United States. The endorsement reflects a comprehensive, democratic process initiated a year ago to… Read more

City University of New York Chancellor James B. Milliken and Henry Garrido, the Executive Director of District Council 37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, and its affiliated locals, today announced that a tentative contract settlement has been reached on… Read more

The DC 37 Organizing Dept. will hold a Lunch Time Meeting and a Union Day in July to spread the word about union benefits and encourage members to become more involved in the union. “These events are part of an… Read more

By GREGORY N. HEIRES DC 37 is working with a coalition to secure an additional $65 million in operating funds for the city’s three public library systems in next year’s budget. The $65 million includes a… Read more

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS Four provisional Climbers and Pruners who were denied appointment to permanent status by the Dept. of Citywide Administrative Services are now civil servants in the Parks Dept. thanks to DC 37’s successful… Read more

BY MIKE LEE With colorful dance, music and fanfare, the union’s Asian Heritage Committee kicked off its annual celebration at union headquarters before a packed house on May 20. The theme of the event was “Culture… Read more

By ALFREDO ALVARADO As Puerto Rico struggles with a staggering $70 billion debt owed to private investors and banks, union and community activists in New York City gathered at a teach-in to learn more about the… Read more

By ALFREDO ALVARADO Immigration reform, affordable housing and the city hospitals budget crisis are among the issues the union’s new Office of Community Partnership plans to address. DC 37 launched the OCP at union headquarters during… Read more

By GREGORY N. HEIRES What does the growth of the gig economy mean for American workers? Years from now, how many of us will earn our livelihood as online contingent workers without stable jobs? Those questions were addressed on May… Read more

BY GREGORY N. HEIRES The union is pushing for a new plan to reduce the ranks of provisional employees by moving thousands of them into permanent positions. A high-level union negotiating team is working with the… Read more

By MAF MISBAH UDDIN May is Asian Heritage Month, an opportunity to reflect upon Asian Americans’ growing contributions to the nation’s economy, politics, culture and the labor movement. The continent of Asia comprises 48 countries, including… Read more

By GREGORY N. HEIRES Employed and homeless. This is not supposed to occur in the United States, the self-described richest country in the world. But put together a little bad luck, a low-wage job and years… Read more

When an erratic billionaire and reality TV star known for bizarre, contradictory utterances, self-pitying victimization and overblown arrogance becomes a presidential candidate, you get a clown dressed as a prince while remaining a clown — a destructive… Read more

By ALFREDO ALVARADO Dr. Ilana Breslau, a Senior Psychologist at North Central Bronx Hospital, works with patients dealing with mental health issues. She also leads groups that meet weekly to discuss women’s and substance abuse issues. During… Read more

Hillary Clinton has virtually ensured her nomination as the Democratic candidate for president. The numbers tell the story: The delegate count after her recent victories in New York, Pennsylvania and other states make her a lock for… Read more

By HENRY GARRIDO Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO As part of a coalition we played an important role in stopping nearly $1 billion in combined cuts in the state budget to the City University… Read more

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS In a victory for providers and consumers of public services, city officials say a multi-million dollar contract with a private French conglomerate to manage the city’s 14 waste­water treatment plants will not… Read more