District Council 37, New York City's largest public employee union announces endorsement of Mayor Michael Bloomberg

"Mayor Bloomberg understands that our members make this city work."

The District Council 37 Executive Board yesterday voted to endorse Mayor Michael Bloomberg's campaign for re-election. DC 37 is the city's largest public employee union with 121,000 members and 50,000 retirees.

According to DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, "DC 37 members make this city work, and Mayor Bloomberg understands that. He listened to DC 37's proposals and is making sure public jobs are done by public employees. On his watch, we have not seen the draconian cutbacks and downsizing that so often characterized the city budgets in the 1990s. Our members know that they will be electing their boss for the next four years. Having endorsed Mayor Bloomberg, DC 37 will be working hard to re-elect him."

Some of Mayor Bloomberg's first-term actions that contributed to DC 37's endorsement include:

• Ending hundreds of private contracts and returned the work to city employees.
• Supported funding and development of New York City's HHC public hospitals and health care facilities when the city faced a budget crisis.
• Began a major program of increasing civilian workers in non-enforcement duties in the Police Department so more police officers will be on the street.
• Introduced solid change in city schools, so the children and grandchildren of DC 37 members will be able to advance and contribute to society.
  

District Council 37 represents 121,000 city employees and 50,000 retirees.