Housing Division shop stewards came to Local 237 headquarters on August 13 for a Special Mobilization Meeting called by President Gregory Floyd. On the front lines of the fight to bail out the New York City Housing Authority, stewards are also instrumental in the union’s voter-registration campaign targeting 8,000 NYCHA employees and nearly half a million residents.

“This is a political meeting,” said Floyd. “We need your help.” Arming stewards with bags filled with registration forms and related materials, Floyd added a dose of confidence: “You saw the turnout at the May 1 rally ─ nearly 10,000. You didn’t think it could be done, but we did it.”

Floyd emphasized, “There are people running for offices that are friends and we must support them.” One such friend, New York State Sen. Kevin Parker, 21st District, Brooklyn, was on hand to address the members.

“The state has not been paying its fair share to public housing,” said Parker, adding, “We’re fighting with government and legislators to put it at the top of the agenda…we can’t balance the budget on the backs of the people.” Patricia Stryker, recording secretary and director of political action and legislation, reviewed eight years of decline under Bush, with John McCain promising more of the same. “We have to go to the polls and vote for Obama, but we can’t do it if we’re not registered to vote.”

Ready to Show Clout

Floyd noted that registered voters are also ready to show political clout next year when many city government positions will be up for election, including mayor, public advocate, and City Council seats. “I will not vote for anyone who thinks they’re going to sell off our jobs,” he said, referring to Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, who recently advocated selling NYCHA air rights to raise funds. “NYCHA is not for sale,” said Floyd, pointing to Local 237’s letter published in the New York Sun decrying the move. Copies of the letter were provided to the stewards.

Another letter, this one to the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, was signed by 28 senators, urging $500 million in supplemental funding for public housing. “We wrote 100 letters and sent one to every senator,” said Floyd, keeping another promise made at the May rally.

“Your president [Floyd] is doing the job government should be doing,” said Councilman Eric Gioia, Queens.

Floyd noted that the two visiting legislators “asked to come…Teamsters are a force to be reckoned with.”

Felipe Luciano, newly appointed community affairs and special projects coordinator, focused on the power of unity. As the largest local in America, Luciano said, “We’re asking not only for labor power, but political power.” He emphasized the enhanced power of a unified multicultural force to “change the election pattern.”