AFSCME. District Council 37 (New York, N.Y.)

AFSCME Career Development Program Records

jruss — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:51:45 -0400

Seeing success in a program run by AFSCME District Council 37 in New York City that upgraded Nursing Aides to Licensed Practical Nurses, the International union wished to bring career development training to its members who were hospital employees. As such, in 1967, AFSCME began investigating how to develop hospital career development training programs. In 1969, AFSCME was awarded a grant from the Department of Labor and the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) to work with hospitals in Boston, Cleveland, and Maryland. In 1971, AFSCME received a second grant to take the Hospital Career Development Program (HCDP) to three new cities, Memphis, Detroit, and St. Paul. At this point, language guaranteeing funding for continuing career development began to enter negotiated contracts. In 1973, AFSCME received its third grant, which brought HCDP to three more cities, Houston, Milwaukee, and the District of Columbia.

This collection documents the planning, execution, and evaluation of the AFSCME Career Development Program, 1966-1975, which primarily involved the Hospital Career Development Program (HCDP). HCDP developed and implemented career ladders and training curricula for hospital employees. The records are comprised of correspondence, reports, meeting minutes, curricula, job descriptions, organizational charts, contracts, press releases, news clippings, lesson plans, course schedules, graduation invitations and announcements, recruitment material, newsletters, and a small number of photographs.

AFSCME Publications

mcourtney — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 11:10:47 -0400

AFSCME Publications is a collection comprised of serials created and collected by AFSCME International, District Councils, and Locals. The collection also contains material produced as part of AFSCME’s biannual international conventions and articles published about AFSCME from an academic standpoint. The publications in this collection arrived at the Reuther Library over time and came from multiple sources.

The collection features AFSCME’s official publication, which was first known as The Journal of State and Local Government Employees (1937-1947), then Public Employee (1947-2007), and later, AFSCME WORKS (2007-2017). Much of the collection is made up of newsletters produced at the Council or Local level between 1968 and 1974, illustrating the issues relevant to different types of AFSCME workers during a formative time for the Union.

Note that this collection was updated in September 2019 with the final issues of AFSCME Works and issues of Council 5's Stepping Up.

Lillian Roberts's willing sacrifice for public employees

scaloia — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 12:03:00 -0500

Lillian Roberts almost spent Christmas in jail.

The series of events leading up to December 1968 began more than a year before. New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller decided to make the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) the sole collective bargaining representative for state employees, rather than allowing those employees to make their own choice. Rockefeller promised to hold a representation election after a year, but he failed to keep his word. read more »

(12092) Local 1549 Members

jruss — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:21:31 -0400

District Council 37, Local 1549 members Bernice Ferguson (left) and Letha Richardson pose in New York City in July 1978.

(12093) Jacobi Hospital

jruss — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:28:23 -0400

Senior Clerk Almetta Garnett poses in the filing area at New York City’s Jacobi Hospital. District Council 37, Local 1549 filed a grievance over this work space, and a few days later, a tightly packed shelf tore loose from its wall and fell over. No one was hurt, but the union instructed its members to stay out of the room until the hazard was corrected.

(12114) District Council 37's 25th Anniversary

jruss — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:05:09 -0400

AFSCME District Council 37 in New York City celebrated its 25th anniversary in December 1969. The council honored 25 of its members and leaders. From left seated: William Coles, Louis Addesso, John Crumedy, William Jones, Sydney Weiss, Mary Pinkett, Helen Smith, Fannie Fine, Ella Woodley, and Rose Gamble. From left standing: Michael Gentile, Joseph DeVito, Vincent Parisi, Joseph Collins, Charles Hughes, Robert Morison, James Corbett, John Boer, Thomas Hagan, Arthur Raditz, Anthony Spennicchia, Alonzo Steele, Joseph Zurlo, and Frank Reilly. This image appeared in the January 1970 issue of AFSCME's Public Employee magazine.

(24715) Victor Gotbaum

jruss — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:50:47 -0400

Victor Gotbaum, executive director of AFSCME District Council 37 in New York City.

(25664) Calogero "Charlie" Taibi

jruss — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:00:31 -0400

The Citizens’ Forum of the city and State of New York, Inc. gave Citizenship Day awards to (from left) New York Congressman John J. Rooney, AFSCME District Council 37 president Calogero “Charlie” Taibi, and the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation. Taibi resigned from president of Council 37 in 1965.

(25906) Roosevelt visits AFSCME

jruss — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:25:59 -0400

Eleanor Roosevelt visits AFSCME District Council 37 in New York City.

(28406) New York City Welfare Centers picket

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:16:11 -0400

AFSCME International Vice President Lillian Roberts pickets along with more than 7000 striking members of District Council 37 in front of the New York City Welfare Centers.

(28407) Harry Gray retirement dinner

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:23:13 -0400

AFSCME dignitaries at a dinner for the retirement of Harry Gray, a leader of New York District Council 37. From left: Lillian Roberts, Harry Gray, Joseph Ames, and unidentified.

(28408) A. Philip Randolph Award

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:29:51 -0400

AFSCME President Jerry Wurf speaks at a dinner honoring Lillian Roberts with the A. Philip Randolph Award. Roberts is seated left of Wurf, civil rights activist Bayard Rustin is seated right of Wurf, and AFSCME New York District Council 37 leader Victor Gotbaum is seated second from right.

(28409) A. Philip Randolph Award

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:40:30 -0400

AFSCME leader Lillian Roberts is honored with the 1969 A. Philip Randolph Award. From left: AFSCME President Jerry Wurf, AFSCME New York District Council 37 leader Victor Gotbaum, Roberts, and Frederick O'Neal, president of Actors' Equity.

(28411) District Council 37's 100,000th member

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:51:55 -0400

AFSCME New York District Council 37 honors its 100,000th member. "Miss 100,000" is Donna Martirano, a college office assistant at Queens College, part of Local 384. From left: DC 37 Director Victor Gotbaum, DC 37's 50,000th member Beverly Dabney Vance, Martirano, AFSCME President Jerry Wurf, and DC 37 Associate Director Lillian Roberts.

(28412) District Council 37 press conference

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:57:12 -0400

AFSCME New York District Council 37 leaders speak at a press conference. Standing from left: Associate Director Edward Maher, Treasurer Arthur Tibaldi, and Secretary James Corbett. Seated from left: Associate Director Lillian Roberts, Executive Director Victor Gotbaum, and President Joseph Zurlo.

(28415) District Council 37's 25th Anniversary

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:31:13 -0400

Dignitaries celebrate AFSCME New York District Council 37's 25th anniversary in 1969. The first four seated from left are DC 37 Associate Director Lillian Roberts, DC 37 Executive Director Victor Gotbaum, New York City Mayor John Lindsay, and AFSCME President Jerry Wurf. AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Ames is standing at the far left.

(28416) District Council 37's 25th Anniversary

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:35:58 -0400

AFSCME President Jerry Wurf speaks at the celebration of New York District Council 37's 25th anniversary. Seated far left is AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Ames; DC 37 Associate Director Lillian Roberts is next to him; and DC 37 Executive Director Victor Gotbaum is seated at far right.

(28417) District Council 37's 25th Anniversary

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:39:48 -0400

(28418) District Council 37

jruss — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:45:22 -0400

AFSCME New York District Council 37 Executive Director Victor Gotbaum speaks. Associate Director Lillian Roberts is seated left.

(30463) AFSCME District Council 37, Feinstein and O'Dwyer, 1946

jruss — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:47:34 -0400

Henry Feinstein (left), president of AFSCME District Council 37 in New York City, speaks to New York Mayor William O'Dwyer.

(30464) New York AFSCME District Council 37 Leaders, 1947

jruss — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:03:14 -0400

Leaders of locals affiliated with New York City AFSCME District Council 37 meet with New York Budget Director Thomas J. Patterson and Commissioner of Housing and Buildings Robert F. Wagner, Jr., to discuss problems affecting city employees. Seated from left: Wagner; Patterson; Betty Hawley Donnelly, vice president of New York Federation of Labor; and Marie Denise, Local 399. Standing from left: John Fiedeman, Local 61; Emma Lee, Local 633; Bernard W. Kelly, Local 61; Mr. Bernstein, Local 61; Joseph Burke, Local 824; Mr. Sinopoli, Local 762; Thomas Brennan, Local 824; Henry Feinstein, president of Council 37; Anthony Catalano, Local 962; George Winkler, Local 896; Julian Mandle, Local 1010; J. Giblin, Local 633; A. Vollmer, Local 762; Grace Donegan, Local 399; and Mary Pappalardo, Local 399.

(30465) New York Budget Hearings, 1957

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:05:15 -0400

More than 900 shop stewards of New York City District Council 37 wait to be heard at New York budget hearings. International Vice President Joseph Collins is in second row center; Regoinal Director Jerry Wurf in second row, right. Jerry Wurf became AFSCME President 1964-1981. Seated behind is Mildred Kiefer, DC 37 staff.

(30466) New York budget hearings, 1957

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:10:15 -0400

AFSCME New York City District Council 37 shop stewards enter chambers to speak at budget hearings.

(30467) Testimonial Dinner for Henry Feinstein, 1950s

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:22:58 -0400

Testimonial dinner for AFSCME New York City District Council 37 president Henry Feinstein. From left: New York Deputy Mayor William Reid; past Manhattan Borough president Hugo Rogers; Feinstein; Mike Miranda of the Fire Department Civilians; and Manhattan Borough president Robert F. Wagner, Jr.

(30468) Zander and Wurf, 1955

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:31:36 -0400

AFSCME International President Arnold Zander (second from left) and New York District Council 37 leader Jerry Wurf (third from left) at an event in New York.

(30469) Zander and Wurf, 1955

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:38:39 -0400

AFSCME New York City District Council 37 leader Jerry Wurf speaks to a group that includes International President Arnold Zander (seated center).

(30470) Wurf, Gray, Leaders

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:45:56 -0400

AFSCME New York City District Council 37 and other leaders at a Newspaper Guild of New York event. Far right: Harry Gray, DC 37 leader; third from right: Jerry Wurf, DC 37 leader and AFSCME president 1964-1981.

(30471) AFSCME employee reinstatement, 1954

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:55:35 -0400

AFSCME leaders celebrate after two members of Paterson Housing Authority Employees Local 1168 were reinstated to their jobs at the Alexander Hamilton Housing Project. Foreground left to right: Reese Hammond, AFSCME representative; Anthony Manno, Local 1168 president; Jerry Wurf, AFSCME general representative; and Alderman Carmine Di Lorenzo, grievance committee member. Looking over Manno's shoulder are Joseph Gorley, local vice president, and Sal Mania, local secretary.

(30472) AFSCME New York leaders play badminton, 1952

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:00:21 -0400

Leaders of AFSCME New York City District Council 37 play badminton. Second from left is Al Wurf, and third from left is his brother, Jerry Wurf. Jerry went on to become AFSCME president 1964-1981.

(30473) Bill Evans speaks, 1952

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:04:56 -0400

Bill Evans speaks at a laborers meeting as AFSCME New York District Council 37 leader Jerry Wurf listens.

(30474) Jerry Wurf, 1954

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:09:53 -0400

AFSCME New York District Council 37 leader Jerry Wurf speaks at a meeting.

(30475) New York City labor rally, 1967

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:43:26 -0400

AFSCME New York City Council 37 participates in a rally with AFT (American Federation of Teachers) and TWU (Transit Workers Union) members protesting Mayor Lindsay's relations with labor.

(30476) Protest for Lillian Roberts, 1968

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:50:15 -0400

New York AFSCME leader Lillian Roberts was jailed after leading an illegal strike among city hospital workers. Workers demanded Roberts's release, and succeeded. Roberts was let out of jail just before Christmas in 1968.

(30477) Gotbaum pickets, 1965

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:55:07 -0400

Executive Director of AFSCME New York City District Council 37, Victor Gotbaum, walks the picket line with striking welfare employees in 1965.

(30478) Creation of New York City Office of Collective Bargaining, 1967

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:12:10 -0400

New York City Mayor John Lindsay signs the law that created the Office of Collective Bargaining, the result of a year of work by AFSCME. Seated from left: Councilman Arthur J. Katzman; Lindsay; and New York City Comptroller Mario A. Procaccino. Standing from left: Paul Hall, president of the Seafarers International Union; Labor Relations Director Herbert Haber; AFSCME President Jerry Wurf; president of the New York City Central Labor Council, Harry Van Arsdale; AFSCME District Council 37 director, Victor Gotbaum; and Deputy Mayor Timothy Costello.

(30479) New York hospital workers agreement, 1966

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:24:21 -0400

New York City Mayor John Lindsay prepares to announce that a collective bargaining agreement has been reached with city hospital workers that improved conditions for 17,000 aides. Joining him at the microphone are AFSCME District 37 Director Victor Gotbaum (left) and City Labor Relations Director Herbert Haber. The union bargaining committee sits in the audience.

(30480) AFSCME Locals 420 and 1784 certified, 1966

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:40:37 -0400

AFSCME New York City Local 420 and Local 1784 were certified as bargaining agents for 35,000 city hospital employees. Lillian Roberts, then head of AFSCME District Council 37's hospital division, stands in the front row, second from left.

(30481) District Council 37's 50,000th member, 1967

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:20:59 -0400

New York Mayor John Lindsay congratulates Beverly Dabney, a member of Library Guild 1842, on becoming AFSCME New York District Council 37's 50,000th member. From left: Lawrence Brandwien, Library Guild 1842 president; Victor Gotbaum, Council 37 Director; Dabney; and Lindsay.

(30482) AFSCME Locals 1396 and 1308 sign contract, 1965

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:29:02 -0400

Union negotiators meet to sign a new contract between the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority and AFSCME New York Locals 1396 and 1308. The contract provided wage increases, time-and-a-half for overtime, and fringe benefits. Seated from left: Local 1396 President Anthony Mauro, District Council 37 Director Victor Gotbaum, and Local 1308 President John Connally. Standing from left: Local 1396 Secretary Treasurer Tom O'Neill, Council Representative Tim Boyle, and union attorney Bertram Perkel.

(30483) AFSCME Local 1503 contract, 1965

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:36:22 -0400

Negotiators look over a new contract between AFSCME New York Local 1503 and the Metropolitan Museum of Art Board of Trustees that provided a pension plan, life insurance, and other benefits. Seated from left: District Council 37 Victor Gotbaum, Trustee President Arthur Houghton, Jr., and Local 1503 President Charles Kuther. Standing from left: Mike Landy, Karl Penzias, Neil Brosnan, John Kennedy, and Ed Lohse of Local 1503's negotiating team, and Council 37 Representative Charles Lange.

(30484) AFSCME New York hospital contract, 1965

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:44:25 -0400

AFSCME leaders give a press conference after successfully winning the right to represent New York City hospital employees. From left: Mae Edey, president of N.Y.C. Department of Hospital Employees Local 420; Victor Gotbaum, director of District Council 37; and Aura Tompkins, president of N.Y.C. Department of Hospitals Professional, Clerical and Administrative Employees Local 1784. Not pictured is Lillian Roberts, head of DC 37's hospital division, who was also an important figure in the effort.

(30485) Rena Garst, 1964

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:50:11 -0400

Rena Garst, member of the AFSCME New York District Council 37 education department, spoke at the Council 30 education conference in Syracuse.

(30486) AFSCME District Council 37 meeting, 1972

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:04:15 -0400

AFSCME International Executive Assistant Bill Welsh speaks at a New York District Council 37 meeting in Tamiment, Pennsylvania. To Welsh's left are AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Bill Lucy and DC 37's Political Action and Legislative Department Director John Corcoran.

(30487) New York City management - AFSCME workshop, 1973

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:12:36 -0400

New York City and AFSCME leaders discuss current issues in a workshop. From left: Herbet Haber, labor relations director for the city's Human Resources Administration; Arvid Anderson, head of New York's Office of Collective Bargaining; Victor Gotbaum, director of District Council 37; and Bart Cohen, president of Local 371.

(30488) AFSCME at March on Washington, 1963

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:36:46 -0400

AFSCME President Jerry Wurf with members of New York District Council 37 at the 1963 March on Washington.

(30489) AFSCME at March on Washington, 1963

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:41:07 -0400

Members of New York AFSCME District Council 37 participate in the 1963 March on Washington.

(30490) AFSCME at March on Washington, 1963

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:07:45 -0400

Members of New York AFSCME District Council 37 participate in the 1963 March on Washington.

(30491) AFSCME at March on Washington, 1963

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:11:59 -0400

Members of New York AFSCME District Council 37 participate in the 1963 March on Washington.

(30492) AFSCME District Council 37 Leadership Conference, 1972

jruss — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:18:30 -0400

AFSCME New York District Council 37 held its 1972 Leadership Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Here, Local 1549 member Narina Terminey embraces Puerto Rico Personnel Director Frank Romero. Seated are Joseph Monseratt (left), member of the New York City Board of Education, and Bill Lucy, then AFSCME Executive Assistant.

(30493) Mildred Kiefer Wurf, 1950s

jruss — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:21:28 -0400

Mildred Kiefer (far right) joined the AFSCME New York District Council 37 staff in 1951. She was a researcher and writer and worked on the union's education programs. In 1960, she married Jerry Wurf, the DC 37 leader who went on to become AFSCME president, 1964-1981.