Public Employee Press

Meeting March 5 on OTB closing threat

As PEP went to press, the union was working with state officials and lawmakers to safeguard members’ jobs and solve financial problems at the Off-Track Betting Corp.

DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, Political Director Wanda Williams and Local 2021 President Lenny Allen were meeting with Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno to achieve a long-term fiscal solution that would protect OTB employees.

OTB’s Board of Directors voted Feb. 19 to close by June.

“This is not a done deal. Nobody has been laid off, and the union is doing ­everything possible to keep things from getting to that point,” said Allen.

He urged members to attend a Local 2021 meeting at 8 p.m. on March 5 at DC 37, 125 Barclay St. in lower Manhattan. At the meeting, members will get an update on the latest developments and staff from all relevent union departments will be on hand to answer members’ questions.