Local 1306 members and leaders, past and present, celebrate a half-century of labor progress at the American Museum of Natural History on April 26 with a gala 50th anniversary party. (L-R) Mohanlal Boodram, Cynthia Carby, former Local Presidents Robert Halloran and Reggie Qadar, current President Luis Moret, Henry Downer, Albert Pontecorvo, Nicanor Diaz and Granville Heddad.

About 150 members and guests enjoyed a gala to mark the 50th anniversary of the American Museum of Natural History Local 1306. The local hosted the gathering April 26 in the museum’s Hall of the Northwest Coast, one of the institution’s oldest exhibit areas.

Local 1306 was founded in April 1953. It represents Museum Attendant Guards, who do security and custodial work. “It was a time to reflect upon the gains our members have made over half a century, and everyone who attended had a good time,” Local 1306 President Luis Moret said, describing the celebration, which included dancing and dinner.

At the event, Local 1306 honored former presidents Robert Halloran and Reggie Qadar and presented awards to members with over 20 years of service. Treasurer Robert Saunders, who organized the event with Mr. Moret, served as the master of ceremonies and Local 1306 member Nelson Roman was the evening’s DJ. Mr. Moret, Sherwyn Britton, director of the DC 37 White Collar Division, and Moira Dolan, an assistant director in the DC 37 Research and Negotiations Dept. gave welcoming remarks.

Guests included Gloria E. Acevedo, president of Local 436, the United Federation of Nurses and Epidemiologists; Melvin Bentley, president of Brooklyn Museum Local 1502; Robert Schirmer, president of Metropolitan Museum of Art Local 1503 and Madonna Knight, the local’s rep. Management guests were Tom Slade, director of security; Don Boyle, associate director; and Barbara Gunn, vice president.

In 1971, Local 1306 and American Museum of Natural History Local 1559, which represents technical and professional workers, reached an agreement with the museum to recognize DC 37’s first union shop in New York City. Under union shop provisions, workers must join the union that represents their job titles. The agreement served as a pattern for DC 37 locals at other cultural institutions.