NEW YORK, NY June 11, 2008 —With just days to go before a deadline is reached, the union representing Off-Track Betting workers rallied this morning the steps of City Hall.

Leaders of the DC-37 union called on the governor, the mayor, and state legislators to unite around a plan to save OTB in New York City. The mayor has threatened to close OTB unless its finances are fixed.

The union says a shutdown would put 1,500 workers out of a job as of Monday morning.

Leonard Allen, President of Local 2021 also criticized the mayor sharply for calling OTB "a bookie operation", and suggesting that teachers and police were more highly valued public servants than OTB workers.