 |
 |
|
|
|||
 |
Newsroom | ||
|
News Releases | ||
|
News Photos | ||
|
Public Employee Press | ||
|
La Voz Latinoamericana | ||
|
Radio Show | ||
|
TV Show | ||
SEARCH
LINKS
SITEMAP 
2004 News Releases
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: |
DC 37 to Establish Committee for Strength and Unity
Committee will help build power and strength for members
District Council 37's (DC 37) executive board today voted unanimously to establish a new committee to review the Council's constitution, departments and divisions, budget, staffing and all other aspects of the union's operations and governance. The Committee for Strength and Unity will make its report to the executive board by January 2005. DC 37 is the city's largest public service employees union with 121,000 members.
The goal of the assessment is to help DC 37 achieve its legislative, political, organizing, bargaining and other goals.
"The purpose of this self-evaluation will be to help the union build power and strength for its members," DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts said. "The challenges facing working men and women of New York City, particularly those in the public service, have never been greater. We must build on our past and move into the future by restoring, renewing and rebuilding this great union."
The establishment of the committee was a recommendation of the six-member advisory body recently appointed by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) President Gerald W. McEntee. DC 37 is an affiliate of AFSCME, the nation's largest public service employees union with 1.4 million members.
"The passage of this resolution is a testament to the visionary thinking of the officers, board members and leaders of District Council 37," said Lee Saunders, AFSCME Executive Assistant to the President.
Saunders added that a similar resolution relating to the International Union—to establish a committee to evaluate operations and make recommendations for the future—would be offered at its convention in Anaheim in June.
The resolution to establish the committee will now go before DC 37's delegates for approval on April 27. Lillian Roberts, who will chair the Strength and Unity Committee, added, "This new committee will help DC 37 become the strongest, most active, best-run union in New York City."
Resolution on Establishing the Committee for Strength and Unity in District Council 37
WHEREAS:
District Council 37 is committed to helping its members fight and win a better life for themselves and their families;
WHEREAS:
District Council 37 is the largest public employee union in New York City with 121,000 members and representing over 1,000 job titles;
WHEREAS:
District Council 37 members have dedicated themselves to providing the finest services to the residents of New York City since AFSCME granted their charter in 1944;
WHEREAS:
District Council 37's proud history includes introducing voluntary union dues checkoff in 1958; negotiating the first city-wide contract in 1968; winning Agency Shop with universal dues checkoff in 1977; negotiating the creation of the education fund, and health and security fund; providing legal services to its members; and winning a permanent pension COLA for its retirees in 2000.
WHEREAS:
District Council 37, since its inception, has been one of the premier unions in the country, setting high standards of service and commitment to its members;
WHEREAS:
Every institution, including unions, needs to periodically evaluate its structure and operations;
WHEREAS:
The national union undertook a similar process in 1996 and plans in 2004 to ask national union delegates at its convention to pass a resolution to create a committee, appointed by the President of AFSCME, to once again review all aspects of its structure;
WHEREAS:
AFSCME affiliates from all across the country recognize the importance of conducting "self-evaluations" and have established committees to do so;
WHEREAS:
The challenges facing working men and women of New York City, especially those in the public service, have never been greater, due to the unchecked influence of an anti-worker, anti-union President and all the state and federal forces allied with him as well as the effects of 9/11 on New York City;
WHEREAS:
District Council 37's structure, constitution, operation, programs and priorities must be reviewed and, where necessary modified or strengthened, to overcome these threats and build more power for its members to achieve identified goals;
WHEREAS:
District Council 37 must build on its past and be prepared to move into the future, by restoring, renewing and rebuilding this great union;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That the Committee for Strength and Unity is established to help District Council 37 achieve its legislative, political, organizing, bargaining and other goals by assessing the totality of the Council's operations and structure and making recommendations for appropriate changes;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the Committee for Strength and Unity's review of the Council's operations and structure shall include its constitution, departments and divisions, budget, staff structure and assignments, servicing structure, including the assignment and allocation of council and grievance representatives, and all other aspects of the union's operations and governance;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the Committee shall be chaired by the Executive Director, who will be a non-voting member, and will consist of 11 voting members including the President, the Treasurer, and the two International Vice Presidents representing New York City, and seven members recommended by the Committee recently appointed by AFSCME International President Gerald W. McEntee. Of the seven members, at least three shall be presidents of local unions not on District Council 37's Executive Board. No local union can have more than one voting representative.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That recommended appointments to the Committee will be presented to the District Council 37 Executive Board and to the District Council 37 delegate body for approval.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the Committee should be appointed and begin its work as soon as possible and should be provided with all staff assistance and resources needed to complete its work. The Committee will report its findings and recommendations to the Executive Board by January 2005 and the Committee's report will thereafter, but no later than February 2005, be submitted to the delegates with the recommendations of the Executive Board.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That no aspect of District Council 37 shall be off-limits in this process, in order to further our goal of having the most powerful, most active, best-run union in New York City.
©
District Council 37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO. 125 Barclay Street, New York, NY
10007.
Privacy
Policy
This site is best viewed at 800 x 600 resolution or greater with Internet Explorer 5.5 or greater.
Privacy
PolicyThis site is best viewed at 800 x 600 resolution or greater with Internet Explorer 5.5 or greater.