DC 37 Pay Outrage

To the Editor:

Reading the story in the May 4 issue of THE CHIEF regarding the pay raises of Lillian Roberts, executive director of DC 37 and Maf Misbah Uddin, treasurer of DC 37, left me absolutely outraged.

Firstly, not only are their pay raises retroactive to 2004, but, in August of this year, they will be receiving an additional 4-percent pay increase. Ms. Roberts's salary will increase from $250,000 to $285,300 a year and Mr. Uddin's salary will increase from $197,000 to $205,000 a year. Most of the workers I represent in the NYC Shelter System are either working two jobs, or looking for overtime, and in some cases, their spouses are also working, just to keep their heads above water. It is obvious to me that both Ms. Roberts and Mr. Uddin do not share the same concerns with the workers they represent whose average salary is $31,000 a year.

Secondly, Mr. Robert's "cohorts" on the DC 37 Executive Board, like thieves in the night, secretly approved these pay raises without the approval of the entire executive board. If it weren't for Charles Ensley, president of SSEU-Local 371, none of this would have come to light. Ms. Roberts claimed ignorance of the vote for the pay raises since she was not present during the vote. Does she really think that we're all so naive? Not only did she and Mr. Uddin accept the pay raises, but they greedily also accepted the $1,000 lump-sum payment.

In closing, Ms. Roberts, at long last, have you no shame?

P.S. To The DC 37 retiree whose letter to the editor appeared in the May 11 issue of THE CHIEF claiming that, compared to a CEO of a corporation, Ms. Roberts's salary is not that exorbitant, how can you compare a CEO of a corporation that reaps large profits to a union leader whose workers' average salary is $31,000?

DIANE SILVER,
Delegate, Shelter Chapter Chairperson, SSEU-Local 371