In this issue:
A city where we can afford to live and afford to dream
Family Day
What is a union?
Our History: DC 37 Saves New York
Join us! Upcoming meetings
Contribute! Share your story!
A city where we can afford to live and afford to dream
We did it. Our Green Machine is a force to be reckoned with. We knocked on doors, phone banked, spoke to friends and colleagues, and showed up to the polls. We chose hope, action, and organizing over cynicism, division and despair. Zohran Mamdani’s win is a victory for all working class New Yorkers, and we’re proud to have been among the first unions to endorse him. In our Local, we asked if you’d support our endorsed candidates, and 93% said YES! We know a Mayor Mamdani will open up big opportunities for our union in the next round of contract negotiations, and we’ll need to double down our efforts to help him win a mandate in the general election this fall. Together we can win and make our city one where we can afford to live and afford to dream. We’re in it together, and we’ve got a world to win.
Are you ready to get involved? Join our next Political Action Committee meeting Thurs, July 31st at 7pm (online - click to RSVP) Photo: DC37
Family Day!
Do you like roller skating, swimming or picnics? Our Social Committee invites you to our Annual Member Family Day to do all this with your union siblings on Sat Aug 9th at Riverbank State Park (in Harlem), from 12-6pm. Local 768 will pay for the roller skating and pool entrance fees and skate rentals on a first-come first-serve basis. We’ll have a picnic nearby in the park, and look forward to hanging out on a beautiful summer afternoon. RSVP here so we accommodate as many families as possible!
What is a union?
What is a union?
A union is a group of workers who come together to make change at work.
As a union - together - we have a voice in their workplace. We can keep the boss from doing whatever they want.
We can demand what we want, like better wages, benefits, working conditions, and dignity and respect. We can make sure the bosses act fairly.
Why do I need a union?
Billionaires and the politicians they pay for like to blame public service workers and union’s for the problems in our country. We work in public service because we care about our community. We can do more for our neighbors, our families, our communities and each other if we speak with one voice. When we organize as a union, we gain the strength to make real change. Together, we speak with one voice that no one can ignore — not our bosses, not the people we serve, not the billionaires or the politicians they pay for.
In unity there is strength
Our union is how we collaborate to strengthen our collective power at work, and protect and care for all members, and all New Yorkers.
Our union is not alone: our union is part of a larger labor movement, and connects us to all social movements for fairness and justice.
Have questions about our contract? Ideas? Concerns? Contact us. We look forward to hearing from you. Let us all continue the work as members of OUR Union.
Have a wonderful Summer!
Carmen De León, President and Local 768 Leadership Team, DC37, AFSCME
Our History: DC 37 Saves New York
Fifty years ago, on July 31, 1975, our union helped save New York City from the fiscal crisis. To stave off the city's default, DC 37 agreed to invest 2.5 billion dollars from its pension funds in city bonds. We agreed to defer a six-percent wage increase and the city agreed not to lay off our members. This month, as we mark the 50th anniversary of the fiscal crisis, what do we learn both from our ability to pull together and save our city, and from the legacy of austerity? Want to read and learn more? Check out Fear City, by Kim Phillips-Fein, available at NYPL and at Brooklyn and Queens libraries.
General membership meeting
On Wednesday June 25, 2025 our local held our second General Membership meeting of the year. Thanks for great turnout! As it was our local’s first hybrid meeting there were some issues, and we are working with the iT department of DC37 to make the next General Membership meeting and other hybrid meetings run as smoothly as possible. The new platform for our meetings will be Webex. The local will look at possibly doing a beginning tutorial at our next general membership meeting to familiarize all members with the platform.
Join us! Upcoming meetings and events
Join us for these upcoming events:
- July 16, 7 pm: MAT/Stewards meeting
- July 31, 7 pm Local 768 Political Action Committee (PAC) meeting
- August 9, 12-6 pm, Social Committee Annual Member Family Day: RSVP here
- August 25th- 27th and September 26th- 28th DC37 + Yankees games, tickets here.
Check out classes and education opportunities and more from DC 37, including first time homebuyers workshop, education, climate justice and more.
We’ve been using our members-only moderated group chat to communicate announcements and updates to the Local using Slack. It's also a place for member discussion and to share union resources. Join us!
LIKE us on Facebook (@local768) | VISIT us at Local768.net
Build your Union - Volunteer!
Contribute! Share your story!
Want to contribute to our next Local 768 Newsletter? Share your photos, videos, songs, writing, poetry, art, comics, cartoons, and more: https://www.local768.net/content_submission. Thank you!
