Teamsters President Recognized Longtime NYCHA Employee
February was a momentous month for Nathaniel Williams Jr. The Supervisor of Housing Caretakers (SOHC) at Lincoln Houses celebrated his 36th anniversary as a NYCHA employee. And the president of the Local 237 Teamsters Union, Gregory Floyd, presented him with the Teamsters’ President’s Award at the union’s annual Black History Celebration. The event celebrated the heritage of African Americans while recognizing the contributions of outstanding union members like Mr. Williams.
It’s clear that Mr. Williams is a committed champion of social causes – he’s a union representative for SOHCs and a lifetime member of the NAACP (as well as a former treasurer of NYCHA’s chapter). Just as clear is his dedication to the residents he serves. “When I fi rst started working at Abraham Lincoln Houses, residents used to call it ‘Stinkin’ Lincoln.’ But now it’s a lot better than it was. I gave staff directions and hands-on training and showed them what they needed to improve, and it was improved. I took caretakers on building inspections with me so they’d know what to look for and what to do when their time comes to be a supervisor and to train someone else.”
Mr. Williams, who grew up in St. Nicholas Houses, started his NYCHA career as a caretaker at Dyckman Houses. He believes that helping his coworkers is one of the best parts of his job. “I tell my colleagues that they can call me for any information they need to know, and I’ll direct them to where they can get it. We’re working to make everything better in Housing. My experience – over 20 years as a supervisor – helps with that.”
