There was standing room only in Local 237’s Marguerite Feinstein Conference Room on the morning of April 20, as New York City labor leaders, elected officials, friends and family witnessed the swearing in of Gregory Floyd as the union’s 5th president by James P. Hoffa, International Brotherhood of Teamsters general president.

Among the distinguished guests were former mayor David Dinkins; Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell Jr.; Councilman Leroy Comrie; former Councilman Sal Albanese; Pat Lynch, president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association; Denis Hughes, president of the New York State AFL-CIO; Ed Ott, executive director of the New York Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO; and Gary LaBarbera, president of Teamsters Joint Council 16.

Also among the nearly 200 guests were Tino Hernandez, New York Housing Authority chairman; Neil Hernandez, commissioner of the Juvenile Justice Department; Norman Seabrook, president of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association; and Christopher Gardner, motivational speaker, philanthropist and author of “The Pursuit of Happyness,” a bestselling book that inspired the movie by the same name starring Will Smith.

In a rousing speech, Hoffa noted that “passing the torch” includes “following the example set by Carl Haynes to live by the Golden Rule.” As Haynes sat in the audience, Hoffa said he admired the former president’s unwavering mission to serve the members. He also noted the increasing challenges unions face as employers block efforts to organize and to protect workers’ hard won wages and benefits. Hoffa urged labor officials “to rebuild and make dreams come true with a strong union.”

After taking the oath of office and being cheered and applauded by the audience, Floyd acknowledged that he stands “shoulder to shoulder” with great leaders, including Haynes who inspired him. “But what can we do differently?” he asked. Floyd cited two organizations that are high on his agenda for change: the Bridge Foundation, which helps city workers facing eviction or foreclosure, and the Council for Unity, which helps troubled youths and gangs.

Floyd also proposed using the union’s pension funds “to invest in our members” by building affordable housing as government cutbacks continue eroding workers’ hard won wages and benefits. “We’re going to need a lot of help,” said Floyd, adding that each member can help rebuild union strength. Quoting his friend, author Chris Gardner, Floyd emphasized, “We have to save ourselves.”

Later that afternoon, about 600 Local 237 members attended a reception hosted by the Executive Board to celebrate “New Beginnings.” Shop stewards, grievance representatives, negotiating committee members, business agents, retirees and staffers came together to support President Floyd and toast to a bright new future.