Public Employee Press

MELS speaker hits Bush bankruptcy law

DC 37 members have a union that not only fights for better wages and working conditions but also provides them with many other important services, including legal assistance.

The staff of MELS, the union’s Municipal Employees Legal Services, were honored May 2 for their hard work on behalf of the members. “I’m very grateful that you are here for the excellent services that you provide for our members,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts.

The afternoon Law Day program at the union featured guest speaker Karen Gross, a professor at New York Law School who specializes in bankruptcy and consumer finance. “You provide a hugely critical service,” said Ms. Gross, who spoke about the new federal bankruptcy legislation. The bill, which is expected to be signed into law by President George W. Bush, will make it much more difficult for Americans to wipe out their debts by filing for bankruptcy.

“The law will have a disproportionately large impact on people in New York City,” said Ms. Gross. “Landlords will also be able to evict tenants faster and many consumers here will have a hard time entering into Chapter 7 bankruptcy.”

Joan L. Beranbaum, director and chief counsel of MELS, also thanked her staff for their work and stressed the importance of the rule of law. “We have to uphold the rule of law and what it means in this country,” she said.