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Public Employee Press

DC 37: A big tent

By GREGORY N. HEIRES

Politically conservative city workers do not always agree with DC 37’s choice of candidates for public office, but many remain strongly pro-union, despite the country’s divisive and poisonous political climate.

Local 154 member Mark Goret, a Claims Specialist Level 2 at the Dept. of Housing Preservation and Development, supports DC 37 because he views the union as a bulwark against the tyranny of managers. “You need protection because management can screw you,” he said.

Goret is a member of the Conservative Party and has run — unsuccessfully — for state office. He describes himself as long-term supporter of the labor movement. He credits the labor movement for creating the middle class after World War II.

He is critical of a campaign by a right-wing network that aims to defund public employee unions. The network supports the Janus v. AFSCME case before the U.S. Supreme Court that could lead to a drop in membership by allowing workers to stop paying dues while continuing to receive union services. That would deliver a big financial blow to public employee unions and ultimately harm the middle class. Goret said he is sticking with the union regardless of the outcome of the case.

Many pro-union members on the right of the political spectrum — including officers and shop stewards — say their activism is driven by concern about bread-and-butter issues, such as a fair contracts, workplace safety and management abuse.

Eligibility Specialist Craig Johnson, a Local 1549 member who works for the Medical Insurance and Community Services Administration at the Human Resource Administration, is a conservative Republican who looks to the union to be more visible in the workplace and fight aggressively to protect the civil service system and win decent wage increases.

Despite his criticism Johnson is clear about his support of DC 37. He attended a February rally in Foley Square where thousands of union members denounced the Janus case and the wealthy billionaires behind it.

Republican union leader Manuel Roman, president of Prevailing Rate Employees Local 1087, says his long-time activism is motivated by the results he sees from collective action.

“By being active in the union, I am able to help my coworkers,” Roman said.

One of his proudest achievements was helping Radio Repair Mechanics win a 46 percent wage increase.

“The negotiations showed how unions are strong when they have a unified membership,” he said.

Roman informs Local 1087 about union-backed candidates, but he is uncomfortable “selling” those candidates to members.

“I believe people should have their own voice,” he said.

On the other hand, Roman said he would never consider exercising his right to get a rebate for the portion of union dues that goes to politics.

“I may break with the union on national policy, but I also believe the union should be able to use dues for politics and legislation it considers in the best interest of members,” he said.

SSEU Local 371 Retiree Rosemary Ciulla-Frisone served as a delegate (shop steward) for years and was active in the union’s grassroots work.

“What people don’t recognize is that unions are not important because they are ‘radicals,’” she said. “They are important because they represent members. We want to protect our benefits.”

Ciulla-Frisone said her Republican Party affiliation was never an issue at Local 371. “They don’t ask whether you are a Republican, Democrat or independent,” she said.

A welcoming union

Speaking on DC 37’s behalf, Local 1359 President Dennis Ifill, who chairs the union’s Political Action Committee, said, “We welcome people of all perspectives. But of course we look for people who support the council’s pro-worker agenda.”

Political Action Director Jeremy John said the union encourages the participation of union members no matter their personal politics.

He says that the political perspective of activists reflects the city’s large progressive voter base.

“A large number of our activists are retirees,” John said. “I don’t recall any being Republican.”

Listening to everyone

DC 37 President Eddie Rodriguez, who is also the president of Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549, has long pushed for the union to be a “big tent” with activists across the political spectrum.

Rodriguez recently encouraged conservative Republican members to attend a meeting to talk about their concerns, with the hope of encouraging them to participate in union activities.

“The job of the union is to speak to everyone,” Rodriguez said.

Republican members can play an important role as they voice concerns about legislation and government spending in meetings with GOP legislators, Rodriguez noted.

“It’s only logical that Republican members would give the union more credibility in meetings with politicians from their party,” he said.

DC 37’s national union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees leans heavily toward supporting progressive candidates.

Several years ago, AFSCME made the commitment to reach out to members with different views by establishing a conservative caucus.

“If it weren’t for the Conservative Caucus, I would not have gotten involved in the union,” said Jeff Martin, a Revenue Agent in Local 1221 of Council 28 in Washington.

Martin describes himself as a fiscally conservative Republican who “reluctantly” voted for Donald Trump for president. He said Council 28 is genuinely open to members of different perspectives, not just Democrats and Republicans.

At DC 37, delegates overwhelmingly endorse Democratic candidates. But the union also consistently backs Republicans regarded as pro-labor.

“We want pro-union people of all political perspectives to get involved,” DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido said. “All members should feel at home in the union.”