NEWSLINE, April 2009 Local 237 Member Services
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Local 237 NEWSLINE HERHO OT O R D B O L F A T N E O A I M T A S T N E R R E S T N I April 2009 Vol. 43, No.4 R Our Union’s First Political Forum Puts City Candidates on Call About 500 “early birds” 237 with me!” He had 237 gathered at 8 a.m. on April 18 with him again in 2007 when in the Hilton New York Hotel “When Teamsters make their minds up to elect President Floyd joined him in to do their part in changing someone, we do!” – President Gregory Floyd the Save Our Homes Initia - the future of this city for the tive, providing help to home - better. Shop stewards, mem - owners facing foreclosure. bers, retirees, union staffers, “We realized then that the and friends were guests of first people to lose their 237’s first-ever Political homes were African Ameri - Forum. Also in attendance cans and Latinos,” said were the NYC Press Corps, the Thompson, who attended our Daily News and NBC and CBS May 1 rally at City Hall last News. The event provided a year to protest cuts in public private preview of city candi - housing funds. He noted that dates for mayor, comptroller he and Patricia Stryker, Local and public advocate, who ad - 237 trustee and chair of the dressed union members and Candidates Political Forum, answered their questions. both members of the board of “We came here because NYCERS, have pressed the we care about this city,” af - board for greater investment firmed President Gregory in affordable housing. He said Floyd in his welcoming re - that more has been invested marks. “As the largest Team - in the past seven years than in ster Local in the nation, it is the last 20 years. our obligation to lead. We The Brooklyn born son of worked tirelessly to get Obama two civil-service workers and elected, and we did.” a product of public school ed - ucation, Thompson says he Floyd assured the audience wants to be “a mayor for all that 237’s voting muscle is New Yorkers.” To that end he flexed for city elections in No - plans to focus on small busi - vember, when we will work ness, growing jobs, and pro - tirelessly again to elect worker- Forum photos by Gerald Schultz gressive tax increases for the friendly candidates. Candidates for public advocate address the audience as moderator Errol Louis looks on. Following are highlights of the candidates’ wealthy. “Working New Yorkers need someone to The forum was moderated by Errol Louis, host comments: stand up for us,” said Thompson. Referring to of “The Morning Show,” WWRL Radio, and Mayoral Candidates Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who passed up the columnist for the New York Daily News, who also William C. Thompson Jr. , New York City opportunity to address Local 237 members, broadcast segments of the forum on his radio pro - comptroller, recalled that he was the underdog in gram following the event. 2001, but was elected to the post because “I had Continued on page 5 Floyd Throws Out First Pitch Photos by New York Mets For Mets Game at Citi Field As an honorary New York Met, President Gregory Floyd threw out the first pitch at Citi Field on April 19, when the Mets played the Mil - waukee Brewers. The Mets lost, 4-2. The loss went to New York Mets pitcher Nelson Figueroa, who could have used more help from Floyd, whose form, pictured here, is flawless. The catcher was Omir Santos, a rookie — like Floyd. It was a most exciting weekend for Floyd, who just a day before hosted Local 237’s first Political Forum. [Article above] And an hour before throwing out the first pitch, Floyd was a guest on Gil Noble’s “Like It Is,” Sunday public affairs program on WABC-TV, which aired part 2 of an interview on the impact of the economic crisis on the labor movement. [See article, page 4] Special thanks to EmblemHealth for sponsoring the Citi Field pitch. The See videos, photos and more information about Local 237 events parent company of HIP and GHI was also a sponsor of the Political Forum. online at www.local237.org. 2 NEWSLINE, April 2009 Local 237 Member Services UNION HEADQUARTERS EXECUTIVE OFFICES, 5th Fl. 216 West 14th Street Gregory Floyd, President A Message From New York, NY 10011-7296 Richard Hendershot, the President 212-924-2000 Vice President LOCAL 237 DIVISIONS Ruben Torres, Secretary-Treasurer CITYWIDE DIVISION , 2nd Fl. Donald Arnold, Director PERSONNEL , 5th Fl. Peter Gutierrez, Deputy Director Edmund Kane, Director and Al Soto, Deputy Director Chief Negotiator Spring Brings Cautious Hopes for Recovery Randy Klein, Assistant Director COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND HOUSING DIVISION , 2nd Fl. SPECIAL PROJECTS, 5th Fl . Felipe Luciano, Director, fter a difficult winter, in which the represent our new members and protect their Remilda Ferguson, Director Assistant to the President Brooklyn, Queens & Staten country faced blizzards of both snow livelihoods, and I hope this is the first of Island POLITICAL ACTION & and bad economic news, the seasons many successful contracts we obtain for them James Giocastro, LEGISLATION , 6th Fl. A are beginning to change. As the weather warms in the future. Deputy Director Local 237 protects members’ and the leaves return to the trees, we are also To continue our efforts to defend our rights by helping to sponsor leg - LONG ISLAND DIVISION seeing signs that our harsh economic condi - members in this way, we must keep an open islation that is important to mem - 1727 Veterans Memorial tions may be starting to thaw: the nation’s dialogue with our elected officials. In April, bers, and by opposing initiatives Highway financial institutions are again reporting profits nearly 500 members attended our first Candi - that would hurt members. Suite 308 and home sales are rising. For the first time in dates’ Political Forum, where they heard di - Patricia Stryker, Director Islandia, NY 11749 months, there is reason to be hopeful. rectly from candidates vying for three major 631-851-9800 GRIEVANCES/DISCIPLINARY No doubt we still have a long way to go. public offices in New York City: mayor, John Burns, Director PROBLEMS , 6th Fl. Unemployment is still high and consumer comptroller and public advocate. The candi - Benedict Carenza , For grievances and job related Deputy Director spending is still low. It may take until next dates who participated provided answers to problems, first contact your shop year for our economy to fully recover, but questions generated by our members about is - John Sepulveda, steward and/or grievance repre - many experts are saying that we may have sues that impact the lives of city employees, Assistant Director sentative. If they cannot resolve reached the bottom of this financial freefall. including health benefits, pensions, personal Long Island Welfare Fund: the issue, they or you should While there are still many challenges ahead, income taxes, affordable housing, education For information on the various contact your business agent. we look to the future with less fear and dread, and transportation. We will remember what funds call 800-962-1145 Mal Patterson, Director of Grievances and Hearings knowing that things will be getting better. each candidate said, and use that information RETIREE DIVISION , 8th Fl. Todd Rubinstein, Esq. As we approach a turnaround, however, to guide our endorsements and votes as their Provides a variety of pre- and Grievance Coordinator our leaders must empower the workers who campaigns go public. post-retirement services, includ - Debbie Coleman, Esq. contribute so much to our city, not abandon As the largest Teamster local in the na - ing pension and health insur - them. The economy certainly hurt our city and tion, we played a major role in making sure ance counseling to members. Grievance Coordinator state budgets. Although those budgets need to President Obama was elected, and we are mo - (Pension counseling by appoint - CIVIL SERVICE BAR be cut, those cuts should not be at the expense bilized again to put our voting power behind ment, Thursdays only). General ASSOCIATION , 6th Fl. retirement counseling and of our members. Both our workforce and the candidates whose policies support our mem - 212-675-0519 retirement planning series dur - public would benefit far more if our workers bers’ interests. As public employees, we work ing spring and fall. Gloria Johnson, Esq., President had more money in their pockets and more for the government, but we can use our voices 212-807-0555 Aldona Vaiciunas, confidence in their minds. Now is no time to as a tool to make our democratic government Nancy B. True, Director Office Administrator and create more concern with threats of cuts and work for us. Grievance Coordinator layoffs. As your union’s president, I will make LOCAL 237 DEPARTMENTS John Picucci, Esq., it clear to our leaders that we cannot leave our Memorial Days (Citywide and Housing) Grievance Representative members behind when they need it most. At this writing, Workers’ Memorial Day is CSBA Welfare Fund SKILLED TRADES , 2nd Fl. For example, in our negotiations with the approaching. We are proud to participate in Alicare 212-539-5117 Donald Arnold, Director New York City Housing Authority, I have de - the solemn commemoration of our country’s COMMUNICATIONS, 8th Fl. HEALTH AND SAFETY , 2nd Fl. manded that we receive nothing less than a pat - workers who were severely injured or died as Donald Arnold, Director Tania M. Lambert, Editor tern contract with four percent raises over the a result of dangerous conditions on the job. Diane Stein, Coordinator Local 237 Newsline next two years. That raise would only be the Also, at the end of May, we will be joining Website: www.local237.org MEMBERSHIP, 2nd Fl.