Story & Photos by MIKE LEE

As part of the union’s efforts to engage its members in local and national politics, DC 37 hosted the inaugural Member Legislative Conference at its headquarters on Oct. 25.

The day-long event, which also kicked off the first day of early voting in the citywide general election, featured panel discussions and breakout groups to explore political, social justice, and economic issues affecting working-class New Yorkers under the theme of “Our Voice. Our Power. Our Future.”

After opening remarks by DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido, the conference got underway. The union’s Political Action and Legislation Department, led by Political Director Odetty Tineo, created the day’s curriculum to inform members on how sharing their personal stories and workplace experiences can influence policy at all levels of government. The morning’s presentation, “From the Workplace to the Capitol: Turning Issues to Action,” explained how a bill becomes a local or state law, as well as the timeline and process for next year’s New York City and State budgets.

Following the presentation, New York City Council Member Justin Brannan, Chair of the City Council Finance Committee, participated in a lively and informative interview with DC 37 Associate Director Jahmila Edwards, about his role in leading the Council’s Finance Committee and the importance of public participation, explaining that union members can testify and share their personal experiences to advocate for the institutions and programs the City funds. Brannan reiterated that City Council hearings are open to the public and serve as the best forum to speak up before elected officials.

Mike Neidl, Legislative Director for the New York State AFL-CIO, later joined New York State Assemblymember Catalina Cruz and Local 372 Vice President Donald Nesbit, who serves as DC 37’s Political Action Committee Chair, for an intensive discussion on the legislative process in Albany and the role that the union’s strategy and coalition-building plays in crafting and passing bills.

Attendees chose to attend breakout sessions featuring four topics of great concern to the DC 37 rank-and-file: Tier 6, COLA for Direct Support Workers, Worker Safety, and Affordable Housing. The sessions provided a stronger focus on a single issue, allowing members most interested in a specific topic to discuss it in-depth with policy experts.

During the conference, participants at each table were asked to think through community and workplace issues and brainstorm potential solutions. Attendees engaged in in-depth discussions about which issues should be resolved through legislation, such as Tier 6, or which were contractual in nature and should be resolved through collective bargaining, such as wage increases and filling vacancies.

During lunch, then-candidate for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke to attendees. Taking a hopeful yet realistic view of the future just 10 days before being elected mayor, Mamdani quoted from the Bible, outlining his commitment to carrying out the agenda for which DC 37 members endorsed him.

“Faith without works is dead. What you have shown me is faith. And now what I must show you is work,” Mamdani said. “That is the road ahead: it is that of work. It is a matter of deliberation on these commitments, because they cannot just be slogans. They must be commitments that we deliver to each and every New Yorker. I know it will be hard, I know it will be difficult, but nothing worthy of winning is ever easy.”

Dalia Thornton, AFSCME’s Director of Research and Collective Bargaining Services, closed the day’s presentations with an update about the “Big Ugly Bill” and its impact to city and state budgets. DC 37’s political staff gave members a list of tangible action items to help fight against the harmful legislation, including submitting testimony and participating in upcoming lobby visits.