Custodian
Half Hollow Hills School District
Long Island Division
Watch Benjamin accept his award.
A member for 14 years, Serrano attends union meetings and keeps informed on issues. He values the job protections membership provides and describes his benefits as “Excellent.” A family man Serrano enjoys spending time with his wife and five children, including his son, Osvaldo, also a Local 237 member.
Campus Peace Officer
Staten Island College
Citywide Division
A 12-year member, Garcia has been a shop steward since 2007 and is also a civic leader and community organizer. He is president of the Roots of Peace Community Garden in Staten Island, where he writes grants to fund the garden and partners with P.S. 65 to provide educational materials. Garcia is married, has two daughters and a granddaughter.
School Safety Agent Level 3
New York Police Department
Citywide Division
A member with more than 19 years of service, Gonzalez attends union meetings and was part of the pay-equity lawsuit settled by Local 237 and New York City. “A lot of unions don’t have what we have,” says Gonzalez, who appreciates the security, support and benefits her membership provides. She enjoys interacting with students and mediating situations before they escalate. Gonzales has three children, including John Eric Rodriguez, who is also a school safety agent.
Caretaker X
Bronx River Houses
New York City Housing Authority
Housing Division
Watch Miguel accept his award.
Gonzalez, has been a shop steward for 30 of his 34 years of service and has earned four certificates for Storm Management from NYCHA, which he put to good use during Hurricanes Irene and Sandy. He arrived from Puerto Rico in 1972 planning to be a truck driver and NYCHA gave him the opportunity. He also played on the Local 237 softball team for 30 years. Gonzalez, who is married for 32 years and has a son and a daughter, says that “union membership has been good for me.”
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