2020
ERICA
VARGAS
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
POLITICAL ACTION DEPARTMENT
DC37, AFSCME, AFL–CIO
District Council 37��Erica Vargas was born and raised in the Lower East Side to Dominican
parents, a lifelong New Yorker, and a mother to two children. She was a former union member
working as a College Assistant in the Nursing Department at CUNY Lehman College.
In 2001, Vargas joined District Council (DC37) as a Clerical Assistant, preparing correspondence,
and legislative memos to the Assemblymembers, State Senators, the Governor, the
Mayor, as well as the New York City Councilmembers. Furthermore, she worked with staff to
organize legislative conferences and prepared for lobby day trips for over 2,500��union members
SALUTE TO LABOR
and volunteers.
After joining the Political Action Department as a Clerical Assistant, Vargas rose through the
department as a Political and Legislative Aide and moved on to become a Political and Legislative
Analyst andiIn 2010, she became an Assistant Director.
Vargas has organized union members to become involved in legislative matters related to labor
issues and campaign related activities. In addition, she worked closely with State elected
offi cials on DC37’s participation in workshops at the annual Black and Puerto Rican Caucus
and Somos El Futuro Conferences held in Albany.
This year, Vargas was appointed to the Labor Count Committee of the NYC Central Labor
Council responsible for working on the 2020��Census engagement campaign to educate union
members throughout the city.
She currently serves as one of the Assistant Directors in the Political Action Department of
DC37, AFSCME, AFL–CIO. DC37��is the largest municipal labor union in New York City, representing
150,000��municipal employees and 50,000��retirees.