Mayor's Labor Light

To the Editor:

Last week, as a District Council 37 Delegate, I received a letter of appreciation from DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts for my "vote of confidence" in her leadership.

I did not vote for Sister Roberts. It is customary for the winning candidate to congratulate his or her supporters and then reach out to opponents with an olive branch. Sister Roberts, in ignoring her opposition, has not given us this elementary courtesy.

Mayor Bloomberg recently declared Feb. 1, "Lillian Roberts Day," something which should give every member of DC 37 pause. When management declares its support for a union leader, make sure your hand is firmly upon your wallet and you have read the fine print of your latest contract.

Mayor Bloomberg needs labor peace, but we have the right to expect something in return. We have the right to expect job security, cost-of-living and productivity adjustments, fair play in promotions, and effective labor-management committees across the board. We have seen none of this under Sister Roberts's leadership.

The 20-odd vice presidents who were elected on her slate and who are expected to reap the reward of fat stipends and release time, as well as the more-than 40 DC 37 employees who receive between $100,000 and $200,000 per year from member dues, are the true winners here - not the rank and file of DC 37, who got a 15-percent cut in their pay, reduced sick and vacation leave in the 2002 contract, and who got a new contract last year that will not keep pace with the cost of living.

The DC 37 members whose grievances are gathering dust are also losing. So are the other city workers, like our Police Officers, whose starting salaries were slashed because of DC 37's 2002 contract agreement.

How much have Lillian Roberts's givebacks cost city workers over her two terms of office? How many billions has the city saved due to her lack of energy when it comes to the members' cause? No wonder the Mayor declared Feb. 1 "Lillian Roberts Day."

FITZ REID, DC 37 Delegate