DC 37 Ceases to Shock

To the Editor:

I wish I could say I was shocked to learn of the 100-percent and 65-percent respective increases in the salaries of District Council Executive Director Lillian Roberts, and the Council's treasurer, Maf Misbah Uddin.

According to writer Fitz Reid, referencing '05/'06 Federal findings in a letter published in the Dec. 7 edition of The Chief, Ms. Roberts's compensation package moved from $209,368 to $418,029, and Mr. Uddin's from $169,544 to $280,283. Not being shocked by this perhaps is indicative of the collective disengagement that has permeated the rank and file of District Council 37's membership, as we surrender to our pockets being picked, and the contents being used to line those of our executive fat cats.

What is most egregious in all this is that it has happened at a time when our membership dues are being increased, and there are a number of long-standing unresolved issues that impact the lives and welfare of the workers.

It boggles the mind to think that an almost half-million-dollar compensation package for our chief executive officer seems to be okay, even as she asks us to be satisfied with single-digit salary increases in a double-digit cost-of-living environment.

It seems okay for us to be paying the bulk of a $200 dental bill because our union insurance coverage satisfies only $20 of this amount; it seems okay for hundreds of our members to be paying their bi-monthly dues, but we are disenfranchised from participating in the union's election process because of a weird and unfair clause called "Agency Fee Payers,'' - weird and unfair because most of the people do not even know that they are so classified, and that they do not have voting rights.

While we fight for crumbs, including an annual $20 turkey voucher (actually $16 for some people if transportation to and from union headquarters is factored in) the folks in charge are living high on the hog, giving themselves raises at will.

I am really not surprised that our leaders would help themselves to generous salary increases; what's shocking to me is how well we seem to take it!

CHESTER McGIBBON, Local 768 member