Central Park Workers Leaflet Fundraiser to
Denounce Conservancy Management's Anti-Union Tactics

Workers leaflet "Evening in the Garden" benefit and denounce management's
coercion, lies and intimidation aimed at keeping them from forming a union.


New York, NY - Employees of New York City's Central Park Conservancy (CPC) went on a leafleting blitz yesterday evening, at an exclusive fundraising event hosted by their employer, after six months of fighting for respect on the job and the right to join a union.

CPC workers have been subjected to intimidation and harassment by a management that resists their efforts to join the city's largest public sector union, District Council 37, AFSCME.

"Every worker deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and fairness in the workplace. They also deserve the right to choose to join a union," said Lillian Roberts, Executive Director of DC 37. Yet even in a union town like New York, anti-union employers still attempt to deny them that right."

Workers, union members and their allies distributed leaflets highlighting their issues to guests as they arrived at the Conservatory Gardens for the "Evening in the Garden" fundraiser. In recent years, invited guests have included such distinguished board members as John Stossel, Co-anchor at ABC News; Candice Bergen; Time Warner's Michele Sacconaghi, VP for Corporate Citizenship; AARP President Madeline Moore; and Essence Magazine Chairman and Founder Edward Lewis.

"Central Park is a jewel of New York City, but it's flawed because of a two-tiered workforce," said District Council 37 Organizing Director Edgar De Jesus, noting that non-union CPC employees work alongside unionized employees of the City's Parks and Recreation department. "CPC employees have no voice at work, no way to address health and safety issues, no job security and few benefits-it's a matter of fairness," he continued.

Some years ago, 8,000 employees of the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation were the recipients of the decent pay and benefits that come with union membership. That number has shrunk significantly. Today, there are less than 25 unionized blue-collars workers and 80 unionized clerical and professional employees working in Central Park. Meanwhile, the park's non-unionized workforce, which is employed by the CPC, has mushroomed to 250 to 300 year round.

"It's like modern-day slavery for some CPC workers," said one employee, explaining that since management learned of their desire to unionize there is an air of "fear and intimidation" in their workplace. "We're spied on during lunchtime and you can't congregate in small groups with other workers without management looking at you suspiciously," the worker added.

CPC workers, who have been organizing for the past six months, come from throughout the city, and most live in the outer boroughs.

DC 37 is New York City's largest public employee union, representing 125,000 members and 50,000 retirees.