Public Employee Press

Two local presidents complete Cornell labor studies program

Municipal Hospital Employees Local 420 President Carmen Charles and Brooklyn Library Guild President Eileen Muller graduated May 20 from the two-year Cornell-DC 37 Labor Studies Certificate Program. They are shown with DC 37 Field Operations Director Barbara Ingram-Edmonds. The ceremony was held in Rye, N.Y., and included students from other unions and other areas of the state.
“I learned a lot about other unions and our own,” said Muller, “and about how our union fits into the broader universe of the labor movement.

“I think the union movement is in danger, but there is great hope if we get more people involved, organized and educated. It is true that knowledge is power, and programs like this definitely strengthen our movement.”

“The DC 37-Cornell program is a vital link in re-energizing the labor movement,” said Charles. “What I learned will help me in that process, because it equipped us with the tools we need to do the job. It was a very intense program with classes and workshops on weekends and throughout the year.”