Zahid Syed

Zahid Syed is a well-respected community leader and local Union official, who for the past 15 years, has been actively involved in civic, community, political, labor and human rights issues on Long Island and New York City.  

Zahid serves as a Business Representative for Local 338 of RWDSU/UFCW.  This Union was founded in 1925, and maintains a membership of over 20,000 supermarket, pharmacy and health care workers in the tri-state area. 
 

Zahid was a candidate for the Democratic Party and Working Families Party in the New York State Assembly Special Election from Nassau County for Long Island’s Assembly District 17 in February, 2006.  Running in his first campaign, Zahid received more than 33% of the vote in a district with 2 to 1 ratio of Republicans to Democrats.  Zahid also raised more than $80,000 for his campaign in just 3 weeks, and was successful in generating support from a wide spectrum of the district’s residents, civic associations, labor unions and religious organizations.   

Zahid is a Delegate to the NYC Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO.  He is an Alternate Delegate to the Council of the Long Island Federation of Labor. Zahid is also a Board member of the Community Advisory Board of Nassau University Medical Center, the Nassau County Jail Advisory Committee and the Mid Nassau Democratic Club. He is an active member of the East Meadow Civic Association. And is a former Commissioner the Nassau County Human Rights Commission, and former Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President of Locals 340 and 09 of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers. 

Zahid is also a well-respected leader in the community.  He is the founder and past president of the South Asian-American Political Action Committee (SAPAC).  Zahid successfully organized the first-ever recognitions of the Muslim Holiday of Eid and Pakistan, Bangladesh Day and South Asian Day by the governments of New York state and city.  In an effort to create a greater awareness of the many religions encompassed by South Asian, Zahid won a great victory for minorities in ending the scheduling of public school exams on their religious holidays.
 

Zahid’s community service has been especially noteworthy and beneficial for immigrant communities.  Zahid has organized several educational activities for the benefit of immigrant communities including:  English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) classes, computer classes, Health education seminars and seminars on immigration and citizenship.  Zahid has assisted immigrants during the stressful and confusing United States Citizenship and Immigration services (formerly known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service) Special Registration process.  He also played an active role in organizing the Workers Freedom Ride, one of the largest rallies in the United States with approximately 100,000 participants, to protest the injustices faced by the immigrant population in the U.S.

As community leader and labor official, Zahid has tirelessly lobbied and fought to increase minimum wages and benefits for the working class. In 2002, Zahid played a key role in obtaining health coverage, workers compensation benefits, and thousands of dollars in back wages, for limousine drivers throughout NYS Attorney General’s office.

Zahid has received many awards and recognitions from a host of dignitaries and associations, including U.S. Senate, U.S Congress, Governor, Mayor’ Office, N.Y. State Senate, N.Y State Assembly, Nassau County, Executive, Town Officials County local officials, Union leaders, University, News Media, Political Club, Rotary Clubs, Mets and Civic organizations.

Zahid lives in East Meadow, New York, with his wife, Uzma, and their three children, son Ahsan, 17, and daughters Nihan, 14, and Anusha, 11.