District Council 37 activists gather at 31st annual legislative conference to plan DC 37's legislative agenda

State Senator Malcolm Smith is Keynote Speaker

On Saturday, October 23, 2006, hundreds of District Council 37 members, and activists from a broad cross-section of locals came together to formulate the union's legislative agenda for the coming year at the union's 31st annual legislative conference. DC 37 is the city's largest public employees union with 121,000 members and 50,000 retirees.

The conference featured keynote speaker, soon to be Senate Minority Leader Malcolm A. Smith, who spoke about the importance of labor maintaining the fight for better housing, education and healthcare for working families.

Referring to the conference, DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts said, "We use this occasion to formulate our legislative agenda and to encourage a large turnout of union members, retirees and activists to vote for DC 37's slate of endorsed candidates headed by Senator Hillary Clinton, Elliot Spitzer for Governor, David Patterson for Lt. Governor, Andrew Cuomo for State Attorney General. Our slate of candidates represents the kind of leadership talents and abilities that we in the labor movement need to support our agenda for empowering the working families of our city. This mighty union's presence will be felt on election day as we go out in large numbers urging everyone to vote for our slate of endorsed candidates."

On the city level, the legislative agenda includes a bill easing residency requirements for city workers, funding increases for childcare, ending privatization, increasing civilianization in city agencies, and supporting child health clinics.

On the state level, the agenda includes increasing education funding through the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, and increasing funding for childcare as well as for Family Health Plus and Child Health Plus.

The conference panelists on health included AFSCME Labor Economist Sally Tyler, HHC Sr. VP for Corporate Planning, Community Health & Intergovernmental Relations LaRay Brown, and Director of the Commission on the Public's Health System Judy Wessler. The panel on education featured City Council Policy Analyst for the Education Committee Jan Atwell and the President/CEO of Covenant Consulting Company Patricia Warren. Constance Dondore of the Task Force of Election Integrity addressed the subject of electoral administration.

The conference also featured workshops on 9/11 Worker's Compensation, health and safety, pension and retiree issues.

DC 37 is the city's largest public employee union with 121,000 members and 50,000 retirees.