DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts announces union's $10,000 contribution to Haitian relief effort

This is in addition to a $25,000 contribution announced by DC 37's international union the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, announced today that the DC 37 Executive Board has approved a $10,000 contribution to the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center's Earthquake Relief for Haitian Workers fund in the wake of the destruction and devastation caused by the Tuesday, January 12 earthquake.

The earthquake comes on the heels of a food crisis and the country's attempt to reconstruct after four devastating hurricanes in 2008 heaping devastation and destruction on an already ravaged nation. As a result of Tuesday's catastrophe, a reported 3 million Haitians have been left homeless and, even as rescue and recovery efforts continue, thousands are reported dead and missing. In addition, Haiti's National Palace, many ministry buildings, UN peacekeeping headquarters, and other well-known sites have collapsed.

"This is but the first of many contributions to the earthquake relief and recovery effort by DC 37 members and retirees, a number of whom have family and friends in Haiti. It is our way of telling our brothers and sisters in Haiti that, in this their hour of need, they are not alone," Roberts said.

In addition to donating cash, a number of the union's emergency medical and health care workers and civil and technical workers are also planning to travel to Haiti to help with the international rescue and recovery effort.

DC 37's financial contribution is in addition to a $25,000 contribution from its international union — the American Federation of State, Country and Municipal Employees - which announced that it is donating $25,000 in relief funds to the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center's Earthquake Relief for Haitian Workers fund.

District Council 37 is New York City's largest public employee union, with 125,000 members and 50,000 retirees.