pdf  Retiree News & Views - May/June 2015

Sarah MurphyFrom left, Sarah Murphy, director of development for the Coalition for the Homeless, accepts a Sunshine Club donation for $2,500 from Helen Mashburn, Ruth Coaxum, Grace Klein and Ruth Glover as President Gregory Floyd and True look on.

The Retiree Division’s Founders Day programfocused on the history of the union through the experiences of its retirees. “Everyone in this room is a historian,” said Nancy B. True, director, noting the importance of preserving memories for future members to understand the union’s role in New York.

The theme, “Celebrating Local 237 and our members’ extraordinary lives,” was explored through the recollections of a panel, including Rocco Brienza, a retired maintenance worker at the Department of Health; Olga Perez Vasallo, a retired public health educator at Health and Hospitals Corporation; and Leroy Nias, a retired school safety agent Level 3 at the New York Police Department.

Trustee Edmund Kane described his experiences 40 years ago as a new hire at the New York City Housing Authority. “I went to big developments and was intimidated…I had to collect rents, and was told that my prede cessor never came back!” Kane also said that Local 237 helped organize and train NYCHA members and pushed for civil service tests. The diverse presentations shared a common bond, the Local 237 family, a source of support for members, who in turn support the union by participating in its activities.

Joshua Freeman, distinguished professor of history at Queens College and the Joseph S. Murphy Institute, City University of New York, recalled participating in the beginning of the Retiree Division’s initial oral history project in 1998. He emphasized that the expanded project is even “more important, because public employees have come under extreme attack,” and added, “Today you need to be mentors.” Preserving history, said Freeman, “helps us think and act for the future.”

Floyd presents RangelFloyd presents Congressman Charles Rangel with the Golden Teamster Award.

President Gregory Floyd reminded guests of the historic pay-equity settlement that Local 237 reached in 2014 on behalf of school safety agents. Introducing Congressman Charles Rangel, Floyd noted that he made history as the first African American member of Congress to lead the powerfulWays and Means Committee.

Rangel praised retirees “for fighting ‘the good fight,’” and called on them to “Get back in the fight,” to preserve hard-won benefits. Floyd presented Rangel with a Golden Teamster Award for his enduring support.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand sent a letter thanking Local 237 retirees for their “dedicated service to the members of the New York City and Long Island Communities.”

nancybtruepresentersNancy B. True, director, Retiree Division, stands with presenters for the “Union Voices Create History” panel. They are, from left: Leroy Nias, Olga Perez Vasallo, Rocco Brienza, Edmund Kane and Joshua Freeman, also seen in the inset.

retirees audienceThe auditorium was filled with retirees.

voices capsA blue cap printed with “Union Voices Create History” was a fitting Founders Day memento. Congressman Rangel chose to wear his cap backwards for this photo.

 

Photos by Jerry Lacay.