District Council 37, city's largest public employee union, sends
six delegates/alternates to 2008 Democratic National Convention


District Council 37, the city's largest public employees union with 125,000 members and 50,000 retirees, will have six union leaders and activists attending the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado as delegates and alternates.

Lillian Roberts, Executive Director of DC 37, will serve as a Vice Chair of the New York Delegation in addition to leading her DC37 contingent as an At-Large delegate pledged. The DC 37 delegation includes DC 37 President and Local 372 President Veronica Montgomery Costa; DC 37 Treasurer and President of Local 1407 Maf Uddin; DC 37 Vice President and President of Local 299 Jackie Rowe-Adams; Belinda Dixon, activist and member of Local 1549; and Wanda Williams, Director of the DC 37 Political Action and Legislation Department.

"This Convention will not only be historic, but it will be one of the most important in the history of the Democratic Party. We go to Denver fully committed to the fact that this Convention is about party unity and taking back the White House," said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts.

Roberts pointed to key features of the Democratic Party Platform for Change, which outlines a commitment to improved access to affordable health care, an improved economy with good jobs and benefits for workers, middle-class tax cuts, protecting the rights of workers to join unions, an improved education system, affordable housing, protecting voting rights, a GI Bill for the 21st Century, and more.

"This is one of the most important elections of our lifetime," Roberts said, "And, DC 37 has pledged to get out the vote and put the full weight of our union behind the Democratic Party's candidates, including the party's nominee Barack Obama and his running mate. Our union is known for its ability to mobilize a corps of committed union volunteers to participate in a range of get-out-the-vote activities including everything from handing out leaflets, staffing phone banks, going door-to-door to deliver the message of our candidates throughout New York City's five boroughs.

"As New York City public employees our job is to provide the vital services that make our city run. This puts us in a position to see firsthand, from day to day, just how critically important it is to change our nation's leadership. Whether at the gas pump, or in the grocery story, or at home, working people are hurting. This election can change that."

DC 37 is New York City's largest public employee union, representing 125,000 members and 50,000 retirees.