AFSCME Public Safety Congress Convenes in Las Vegas Nov. 13-15

November 13, 2009

Hundreds of law enforcement and corrections officers are meeting this weekend in Las Vegas for the biennial Public Safety Congress.

The three-day event – which features plenary sessions, workshops and roundtable discussions – will formally open on Saturday with Pres. Gerald McEntee as the keynote speaker. Sec.-Treas. Bill Lucy will deliver his remarks on Sunday.

The plenary sessions will focus on “Fighting for Collective Bargaining for all Public Safety Officers,” “Health Care Reform: What’s on the Table and What Does it Mean for You” and “PEOPLE Power.”

Participants will have plenty of opportunities to attend several workshops. Topics include: 

     · The Importance of Garrity and Weingarten 
     · Cultural Intelligence: Building the Union with a Changing Workforce 
     · The Member Action Team: Pathway to a Stronger Local Union 
     · The Role of Leadership in Eliminating Sexual Violence in our Nation’s Prisons 
     · Coping with Stress · Infectious Disease Update for Corrections 
     · Coping with Use of Force Incidents in Law Enforcement 
     · How to Start a Next Wave Chapter 
     · AFSCME’s Legislative Agenda for Public Safety Members

“Getting Congress to pass the collective bargaining bill for public safety officers is our main goal next year,” says Glennard Middleton, Chair of AFSCME Corrections United and also an International vice president. “Our meeting this weekend will prepare our members to fight for this measure, strengthen our leadership roles and build stronger local unions.”