Surrounded by supporters April 28 are union honorees Executive Director Lillian Roberts (center) and Local 2507 President Patrick Bahnken (second from left).

DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts and Patrick Bahnken, president of Uniformed EMTs and Paramedics Local 2507, recently received awards from the Commission on the Public’s Health System for their important contributions to the labor movement and public health.

Community Service Society President David Jones presented Ms. Roberts’ their Lifetime Achievement Award “for her longtime struggle for civil, economic and workers’ rights.” The commission cited her leadership in organizing hospital workers in Chicago and New York, developing the DC 37 Education Fund and the Municipal Employees Legal Service, and serving in the 1980s as the first African-American state Labor Commissioner.

“I thank the members for permitting me to serve them,” said Ms. Roberts at the April 28 ceremony. Mr. Bahnken received the Marshall England Memorial Public Health Award “for his leadership in the fight to keep an accountable and public emergency medical system.” He was cited for his fierce opposition to the Fire Dept.’s efforts to privatize the Emergency Medical Service. “This is a great honor, but I couldn’t do this work without the help and the support of my members,” he said.