By Dalia Diaz
A few days ago during an interview with Edmund “Ike” Gabriel, Business Agent of Local 3 Firemen and Oilers of SEIU he explained how city employees who are members of his union have not had an increase in pay for the past six years.
He was angry and saddened that our city officials do not recognize the work performed by these employees, work that is vital to the health and well-being of all residents.
“Yes, I believe that Mayor Rivera is a hypocrite because just a year ago he was supporting the $15 minimum wage per hour at one of our rallies yet his own employees are not above that,” Ike said.
According to Mr. Gabriel, there is a lot of resentment from the workers because besides not getting a raise, they also do not get any respect. The mayor yells and insults them in public with no regard for who might be present.
“It happened to me right in the lobby,” said Mr. Gabriel. “We had a fight out in the open and besides being disrespectful, he used foul language, unbecoming of a person in that position,” Ike added.
“There is money for everything else: raises for certain people, stipends for others, lawyers, and he even bought two new cars for the police chief and for himself,” he added.
The mayor and the police chief had brand new cars purchased just two years ago. This purchase, along with several DPW workers’ salaries are being paid from the Water Department which, by being an Enterprise Fund, cannot be touched to cover anything outside that department.
“We have members of Local 3 not only at City Hall but at the airport, the cemetery, fire and police department,” he explained. “Everyone around them receives raises but them. It’s not fair!”
