From the President...

Daily warnings were issued from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Office
of the Mayor but, in the city that never sleeps, New Yorkers carried on. Each morning tens of thousands of
students made their way to school and millions of workers made their way to work. Many were fortunate enough
to work in facilities and offices with air conditioning but not so for New York City Department of Education
Lunch Workers.

These diligent workers arrive each school day to a cafeteria and kitchen with few or no windows, no ventilation
or air conditioning. These men and women were charged with the responsibility of preparing meals for not only
summer school students, but every eligible child under the age of 19 within the communities.

It is an all too common occurrence for teachers, administrators and other school officials to encounter a child
who's first and possibly only meal is the school lunch program. Many of the children who participate in the
school feeding programs come from the neediest communities in the city. The Children's Defense Fund conducted
a study in 2006 which analyzed the NYC Department of Education Summer Meals Program and found that
"many schools were unbearably hot, deterring students from taking advantage of the program". These kitchens
often reached temperatures over 120 degrees. Due to unfavorable climatic conditions, food is often at risk of
contamination and spoilage, thereby losing their nutritional value which threatens the health of the students.
Additionally, kitchen staff have complained of headaches, nausea, dizziness, trouble breathing and having having
smelled gas in the work place. To go one step further, NYS Department of Labor Commissioner Patricia Smith
took a tour with us to one of the kitchens in District 2, one of the largest summer feeding sites in New York City.
This tour was able to give her just a taste of how bad the heat can get for workers in the kitchen.
  

A TESTAMENT TO PERSEVERANCE

For the past five years Local 372 fought tirelessly to secure bill A.2514-A/John - S.1606/Maziars, and for five years,
BOTH the Assembly and the Senate have passed the bill that would set air temperature standards for thousands of
school cafeterias. Yet, for five conservative years former Governor George Pataki has vetoed the legislation time
and time again.

In a November 15, 2006 press release issued by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene stating,
" From 2000 through 2006, New York City has experienced 21 large heat waves. The 2006 July-August heat wave
was the longest in years.

It was unfortunate that the City of New York Department of Education whose responsibility it is to educate and provide
quality support services over 1.1 million school children and to safeguard over 8,000 school lunch employees would
allow such deplorable conditions to continue. In such conditions everyone's health and safety is jeopardized. By refusing
to address this issue, Local 372 turned to the New York State governing body.

THE VICTORY

Within months of the inauguration of newly elected Governor Elliot Spitzer, the local was once again urging the legislature
for quality health and safety conditions. In a letter this summer, Local 372 urged the new Governor to assist in eliminating
the pressure cooker conditions within the public schools, "Make our school cafeteria kitchens worthy of supporting the
task of our workers, who must perform for the children, we hold so dear".

Local 372 members were encouraged to write to Governor Spitzer asking him to please sign the bill into law. This very
extensive lobbying campaign took place in July 2007. Finally, on August 28, 2007, after years of delays and rejections,
the Governor signed the bill into law that would regulate the air temperature standards for school cafeterias, not only
in the City of New York but throughout the state.

Effective and long-lasting change can only be accomplished with support of political leaders, our concerns should be
their concerns. This situation is a shining example of our fortitude and unrelenting drive for our member's safety and
dignity. We are a strong and resilient body. Let this serve as our testament;

"As a unified force, there is nothing we cannot overcome !"