Remembering Zurlo

To the Editor:

With a heavy heart I must inform you that on Aug. 12 Joseph Rocco Zurlo died. Joe Zurlo was President of the A & B Laborers, Local 924 of District Council 37 from 1964 to his retirement in 1991. He also served as DC 37 President from 1969 to 1983 and was an International Vice President in the parent union AFSCME.

Joe was a Laborer for the Parks Department. In the '60s, even though prevailing-wage workers had representation by numerous different unions, when it came to salaries each worker had to file a complaint with the Comptroller's Office. Some workers received increases, and some did not understand the process for applying for increases. As head of one of the largest public-employee prevailing-wage unions, Joe Zurlo joined others to fight for one single labor law complaint filed by the union that would cover all workers in a job title.

During this same time period in labor history, blue-collar workers had no pension plans, along with many other benefits we today enjoy as New York City public employees. So in 1971, he helped organize a strike for pension benefits for all blue-collar workers.

Joe Zurlo had many other accomplishments in life, not only as a labor leader but as a member of his community. Joe leaves behind a wonderful family who sacrificed a great deal so Joe could serve the public employees of New York. To his beautiful wife, Mary, his son, Joe Jr., his daughters, Diane and Joanne, and his grandchildren, thank you for sharing this great, honorable man with us.

As we grow closer to Labor Day, we can all honor the great labor leaders who are dying off by remembering. The Sanitation workers just received the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday, 25 years late. The sick time you have, vacation time your are spending with your family, don't forget the holiday you can now spend with your family and get paid for. Oh, and don't forget the medical and hospitalization plan that keeps you and your family together. Then after 20 to 30 years, you can sit at home and enjoy life more and get paid for it. Whether you are a union member or not, you enjoy these benefits because of great leaders' blood, sweat and tears. So please think long and hard about what that one September holiday is for.

KYLE SIMMONS, President, Local 924, District Council 37