Retiree News & View
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newsRETIREE & views A PUBLICATION OF LOCAL 237 RETIREE DIVISION VOL 23, NO. 2, MARCH/APRIL 2017 Now, more than ever, we celebrate our diverse union family ften, when we think of family, mothers, fathers, children and grandpar- Linda Tavolaro, retired NYCHA ents come to mind. Aunts Manager: Ms. Tavolaro traces her oand uncles are also part of the equa- roots in the Teamster family back to tion. Close friends often become when she started working at the family as “claimed” relatives. New York City Housing Authority. In The poet, Tato Laviera, once de- her words, we were “working with scribed family as “a whole other so many people from all over the kingdom.” Family brings together in- world, sharing foods, learning about dividuals who sometimes share different traditions and cultures. Yet, values yet frequently hold differing we all wanted the same thing: to points of view about what is “right” make a decent living and to support and what is “wrong” (and everything Ken Fox Linda Tavolaro our families.” This was in combina- in between). Sometimes they hold tion with a “strong desire to serve widely divergent political views. Yet, the residents of NYCHA.” “We sup- the “kingdom of family” creates a ported each other in sometimes structure for discussion, debate and challenging and dangerous situa- ultimately acceptance of different tions, knowing that we had an op- viewpoints. portunity to make people’s lives For Local 237 members, the better.” This sharing and shared union is family. It is a large family goals brought everyone closer. whose members hold over 250 job titles, work for many City agencies The sense of family and shared and endeavor to create a better qual- values that Local 237 retirees pos- ity of life for all New Yorkers. The sess helps to keep Local 237 strong. family elders – Local 237 retirees – The structure of the union family live all over the map, spread through- brings people of different back- out the 50 states and Puerto Rico and Nilsa Torres Frank Aiello grounds, races and life experiences other parts of the Caribbean, Latin together with the goal of creating a America and Europe. Working members and own family.” It is a place where the “happi- better life for members and a better retirees are immigrants, emigrants and born ness of everyone is joined together.” Using life for the New Yorkers they served as and bred New Yorkers. They speak many lan- the Retiree Division’s Salsa Class as an exam- public employees. guages, yet all are part of the same family. Al- ple, Ms. Torres says that it is an “expression It seems, of late, that we are living in a though their backgrounds may be different, of life, happiness, youthfulness and love.” time where communication between differ- they are Teamster brothers and sisters. The diversity of participants in this class ent generations, races, ethnicities and gen- We spoke with several retirees about reflects “happiness of everyone joined ders is suffering. While we celebrate our their union family and here is what they said: together.” union family and our connections to our union brothers and sisters, let’s see if we can Ken Fox, retired Cook, HHC: “The union Frank Aiello, retired NYCHA Superin- find ways to share our Teamster Local 237 represents you and takes care of you.” We are tendent: When Mr. Aiello describes his family experience with everyone in our com- the union and “if you have a problem you union brothers and sisters, he says “they are munities. We can spread the message by be- come to the union – you keep it in the fam- people I treasure. When I am involved with coming active with Community Boards and ily.” He continues by saying, “the union pro- union activities and programs it is old home communities at large, by sharing stories tects the members and the members protect week.” Whether in the field while he was with our children and grandchildren and lis- each other.” “We respect each other, we feel working, or during his time as an instructor tening to our friends and neighbors who a connection, and we learn from each other, with the union’s Education Department, or hold differing points of view. Our “kingdom we are united.” more recently the Retiree Division’s Italian of family” can provide a model for connec- Heritage Committee, he enjoys spending time tion, listening and opening the doors to Nilsa Torres, retired SSA, Level III, NYPD: with lifelong friends and has “a lot of fun” communication in the communities where The union is “like a family away from my while doing it. we live. 2 RETIREE news&views MARCH/APRIL 2017 a message from the president The impossible can happen, it just takes a little longer being commemorated by both religions. ered at the Mason Temple in Memphis where he by Gregory Floyd Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus went on April 3 in 1968 to support sanitation President, Teamsters Local 237 and His victory over death. Around the same workers protesting their meager wages of $1.65 and Vice President-at-Large on the time---and often overlapping--Jewish people cel- an hour and deplorable working conditions, had General Board of the International ebrate Passover, the holiday commemorating the the prophetic line in it: “I may not get there with Brotherhood of Teamsters Hebrews' exodus from slavery in Egypt. In both you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as festivals, nature and history converge with a re- a people, will get to the Promised Land.” He was oni Morrison, the renowned writer and sounding message of hope. Both holidays are assassinated the next day. recipient of the1993 Noble Prize in Lit- about delivery from a state of despair. Easter as- It was ironic that many of King’s supporters, T erature, once wrote: “When spring sures the individual that life is eternal. It offers a aides and confidants had urged him against ex- comes to the City people notice one another in way out of a world beyond repair. It celebrates a panding their focus and leaving their comfort the road; notice the strangers with whom they religion that provides comfort to those who had zone to take on new causes, such as the Poor share aisles and tables and the space…. It’s the lost faith in the gods of Rome. It spreads the mes- People’s Campaign which he was pushing. King time of year when the City urges contradiction sage that the death of one has the capacity to would have none of it. Instead he urged the san- most, encouraging you to buy street food when save many and the resurrection of Jesus is the itation workers to go on strike telling them: “You you have no appetite at all; giving you a taste for ultimate affirmation of life. Passover summons have to escalate the struggle a bit.” And he coun- a single room occupied by you alone as well as Jews collectively into the world to repair it. The tered the containment argument of his allies a craving to share it with someone you passed in message of Passover is that a tyrant-like Pharaoh with:” We have moved into an era where we are the street. Really there is no contradiction— could be overthrown. A nation as powerful as called upon to raise certain basic questions about rather it’s a condition.” The Ghanian founder of Egypt could be defeated. Slaves could become the whole society.” Smart Youth Volunteer Foundation, Lailah Gifty free men. The oppressed could break the shack- The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is Akita calls spring: “A season for the soul to re- les of their captivity. Anything is possible, if only similar to the lessons of Spring. Without hope all gain its strength.” And Reba McEntire, the coun- we dare to dream the impossible dream. It was will be lost. Even the history of America's official try western performer, summed up her feeling on the biblical record of the Exodus from Egypt that seal, suggested by Benjamin Franklin in August the season, saying: “It’s a second chance.” enabled the spirit of optimism to prevail for the 1776, echoed this belief with the dramatic scene It’s no coincidence that Easter and Passover followers of Martin Luther King in their quest for described in Exodus where Moses divided waters are spring holidays. The renewal of nature that equal rights, because they were stirred by the vi- of the Red Sea. The history of our nation has a comes with spring amplifies the promise of re- sion of Moses leading his people to the Promised message that is clear: The impossible can hap- demption embedded in the historical events Land. In fact, the historic speech that King deliv- pen, it just takes longer. ularly admirable that you voted your conscience Making our Voices heard and voted against the nomination of Betsy DeVos… Mainers are an independent lot and I respect you by Nancy B. True under attack for doing the job that defines a democ- for your leadership and independence of party pres- racy – reporting the news. And, at times, many of sures.” Letters have an impact. Director of the us feel we are living in an “alternate universe.” Several retired members have told me that Retiree Division These are amongst the many reasons that ral- they are becoming more involved with politics on lies and demonstrations have become a weekly oc- the local level – participating in Community Board e are living in complicated times.