Henry A Garrido

District Council 37

Executive Director

Henry A. Garrido is Executive Director of District Council 37, NYC’s largest municipal employees union with 150,000 members and nearly 50,000 retirees.

DC 37 members work in more than 140 New York City agencies, including public schools, libraries, city museums, and cultural institutions, NYC Health+Hospitals, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Administration of Children’s Services, the Department of Homeless Services, the Department of Parks and Recreation, CUNY, FDNY Emergency Medical Services, NYPD, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Unified Court System, nonprofit and private-sector home care and child care centers, and more. 

Under his leadership, the union settled a citywide economic agreement, won laws protecting public-sector unions, and supported universal free school lunches. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the union pressed for funding for essential workers, public hospitals, and schools. District Council 37 supports green employment initiatives, fighting environmental justice, and fossil fuel divestment. 

Since becoming executive director in December 2014, Garrido initiated an organizing campaign for greater member participation through DC 37’s “Union Strong” campaign to improve services and enhance communication with members. He is an international vice president of AFSCME, a trustee on the city’s Workforce Investment Board, and serves on the New York City Employees Retirement System (NYCERS) board. He is a Co-Chair of the Municipal Labor Committee. A native of the Dominican Republic, he is the first Latino to head DC 37.