Interview and photo by JUSTINA RAMLAKHAN

Sharon Braxton, president of Local 436 United Federation of Nurses and Epidemiologists, was recently appointed new chair of the PEOPLE Program. PEOPLE, or Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality, is AFSCME’s political action committee. PEOPLE funds are used for lobbying, grassroots campaigns, and directly supporting pro-worker candidates committed to addressing the needs of DC 37 members and retirees. Recently, support from the PEOPLE program helped pave the way to victory for Congressmember Tom Suozzi in the Feb. 13 special election to replace expelled Congressmember George Santos, securing a pro-worker ally in the House of Representatives.

By law, DC 37 is restricted from using money from members’ dues for political campaigns. Contributions to PEOPLE are voluntary and empower members to help fulfill the union’s mission of strengthening and defending working families by electing pro-labor candidates who champion the rights of workers.

Braxton steps into the PEOPLE Chair role in her 29th year as a DC 37 member. She first joined the union when she became a Junior Public Health Nurse in 1995. She is currently a Supervising Public Health Nurse in addition to serving her second term as president of Local 436, which represents Public Health Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Pediatric Nurse Associates, and Public Health Epidemiologists in the Department of Health and Health+Hospitals Corporation.

PEPTalk sat down with Braxton to discuss the importance of a robust political action fund and how DC 37 members can get involved in the union’s efforts to elect pro-worker candidates.

Q: What do you most look forward to in your new role as PEOPLE Chair?

Braxton: I’ve been a PEOPLE Contributor since 1996, and I see this appointment as an opportunity to connect with different parts of the union under a shared vision of increasing our political power. I look forward to working with leadership across all of the locals to revitalize the PEOPLE Program and engage members and retirees in our political organizing efforts. We have the presidential election this year and there’s so much at stake for working families. We need all hands on deck and I can’t wait to see what we’re able to accomplish by working together.

Q: What would you like our members to know about the PEOPLE Program?

Braxton: The Federal Election Committee (FEC) prohibits us from using union dues money for political activities on the federal level. That’s why PEOPLE contributions are so important. Without a robust PEOPLE program, DC 37 won’t have the resources needed to make an impact in the upcoming congressional and presidential races.

For our members, PEOPLE has made the difference between employment and unemployment, between being housed and becoming homeless. The PEOPLE fund frees up resources that we are then able to devote to local and state elections. Last year, when Parks workers were facing layoffs, we saved their jobs through the advocacy of a City Council member we helped elect with the aid we received from the PEOPLE fund. With the help of PEOPLE, DC 37 secured races for state legislators who pushed for much-needed reforms to the Tier 6 pension system.

Even with these victories, there’s still more work to do. In this year’s elections, we need labor allies in positions of power who are committed to advancing our interests. The best way to make this happen is to strengthen our support for the PEOPLE program. Without PEOPLE, we would not have the resources we need to make our voices heard in politics.

Q: What are your goals and priorities as the new PEOPLE Chair?

Braxton: My first and most important task as chair is to revitalize the PEOPLE Program. In service to that mission, I’ve asked each local to identify a PEOPLE coordinator to serve as an ambassador in the field and at general membership meetings, working in tandem with local leadership and the DC 37 Political Action & Legislation Department. These coordinators are the touch point for all things PEOPLE.

I’m always thinking of new ways to engage our members and retirees in the legislative process. I think what most don’t understand about the PEOPLE Program is that it is truly people-powered. From contributions to phone banking and door knocking, our members and retirees put in the work to flex our political muscle at the city, state, and federal levels. Our impact is only as strong as the ability to mobilize our members on issues that matter to us. It’s about us, together.

Q: Why is it important for members to get involved in the political process?

Braxton: Our current political climate threatens working families everywhere, making it more important than ever that we continue to build our influence in City Hall, Albany, and Congress.

We’re in the midst of a big election year and it’s so critical that we support candidates who share our values and concerns as working people. We need allies representing our interests in the legislative process. Our strength at the bargaining table depends on it.

For questions about PEOPLE or how to get involved as a Volunteer Member Organizer, please contact Khalia Kweli at KSweli@dc37.net