Organizing for Power with AFSCME

March 22, 2011

Right-wing attacks against the hardworking men and women who provide public services have not stopped these employees from getting stronger through collective bargaining. That’s why AFSCME continues to grow. With this column, we note the many organizing victories achieved during the past several months, both large and small (listed alphabetically by state). In the months ahead, look for more victories in AFSCME WORKS magazine and on afscme.org.

CALIFORNIA

Approximately 400 employees of the City of Commerce – members of the City of Commerce Employee Association (CCEA) – voted overwhelmingly to affiliate with District Council 36. Their affiliation followed a two-year period during which the two unions built a relationship that included technical assistance with their contract negotiations. Also, more than 270 registered nurses at Beverly Hospital in Montebello voted by a nearly three-to-one margin to join United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/ UHCP). Also joining UNAC/UHCP are 125 nurses at Chino Valley Medical Center. Although the nurses voted by a strong majority last April to join the 19,000-strong AFSCME affiliate, ratification was delayed when hospital administrators challenged the results. An administrative law judge for the National Labor Relations Board later dismissed the challenge, but that decision also was held up this winter by an employer appeal. The hospital is one of 13 in the Prime Healthcare Services system.

COLORADO

One-hundred Commerce City employees overwhelmingly voted to be represented by Council 76. The victory was made possible through AFSCME’s efforts to get a collective bargaining ordinance passed.

ILLINOIS

Approximately 285 clerical employees at Western Illinois University have won a voice at work with Council 31 through majority card check. Also joining the council: 170 Red Cross blood services workers employed by Peoria-based Heart of America Blood Services. The victory took three years to achieve because the company – which runs blood drives in a three-state area – appealed the makeup of the bargaining unit. The National Labor Relations Board impounded their ballots, but the workers’ vote to build a union with AFSCME – by better than a 2-to-1 margin – was finally recognized once a newly appointed board decided the ballots could be counted after all. Also joining the council: 113 Urban League Head Start employees in Springfield.

LOUISIANA

Approximately 1,000 employees of the city of Shreveport are now represented by Council 17. The workers – including those in the departments of operational services, public assembly and recreation, and property standards – achieved their card-check victory despite employer opposition, including a hired consulting firm that raised numerous roadblocks throughout the workers’ campaign. The employees’ success followed passage – just three months earlier – of a city resolution authorizing card-check, with the vote count conducted by a panel of religious leaders.

MARYLAND

Four hundred Howard County employees voted overwhelmingly to join Council 67. The group had attempted to organize for years, but found that geography and unfamiliarity with their counterparts posed the biggest challenge. The employees – including administrative assistants, building inspectors, paralegals, crime lab clericals and 911 call center administrators – redoubled their efforts after recent cuts impacted their families and their ability to serve the county’s neediest citizens. The accomplishments of four other Howard County units already represented by Council 67 was a key factor in moving the campaign forward. “It was apparent to all of us that those employees who are already represented by AFSCME had a strong voice when it came to tough decisions about prioritizing employees and services. We are excited to join them in this effort,” says Marta Bare, an administrative technician who was active on the organizing committee. “These workers wanted a voice and overwhelmingly chose AFSCME Council 67,” adds Glen Middleton, the council’s executive director who is also an International vice president.

MASSACHUSETTS

Ninety part-time cafeteria workers in the city of Revere are among the newest members of Council 93.

MINNESOTA

One-hundred and twenty-eight home health aides employed by Transition Health Care have joined Council 5 by an overwhelming vote, overcoming a vigorous anti-union campaign that included captive audience meetings. The aides provide senior care at six assisted-living communities in five Twin Cities suburbs. Also joining the council: 65 pharmacy and medical lab technicians employed at the Hennepin County Medical Center; 45 Ramsey County librarians, social workers and management analysts; 39 Sodexo dining service employees who work at the Minnesota State University campus in Moorhead; and 34 administrative coordinators at clinics run by the non-profit University of Minnesota Physicians. Joining Council 65 are 25 weatherization department workers from Lakes and Pines Community Action Council, a private, non-profit corporation that assists low-income families and individuals in seven counties; 30 part-time employees of Cedarview Care Center, 51 part-time employees of New River Hospital, 18 hospital tech employees at the Rainy Lake Medical Center in International Falls, and five Clara City employees.

NEW MEXICO

Fifty sheriff's deputies and corrections officers employed by San Miguel County voted overwhelmingly to join Council 18. Also, 10 police officers in the Town of Edgewood, near Albuquerque, joined the council through voluntary recognition.

NEW YORK

One-hundred and thirty officers of the Binghamton Police Department voted to affiliate with Council 82. Joining District Council 1707 are 64 workers employed by Volunteers of America in Westchester County. The union also was the choice for 15 teachers’ assistants at Preschool of America West End day care center on the Upper West Side. Fifty-three New York City customer information representatives have voted to join District Council 37.

OHIO

Approximately 400 city and county workers across the state joined Council 8 in 2010. Among the victories: 140 seasonal municipal employees in Cincinnati who work in the city’s solid waste, parks, recreation and parking agencies; 115 workers at the Franklin County Clerk of Courts; 25 Willowick city employees; plus units at the city of Campbell, city of Indian Hill, Hamilton County and Medina County Housing Authority. Also, 150 state health care professionals voted to join the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4).

OREGON

One-hundred and sixty-five Lake Oswego city employees – members of the Lake Oswego Municipal Employees Association (LOMEA) – recently voted to affiliate with Council 75. They become the sixth group of city workers within Clackamas County to affiliate with AFSCME. Also joining the council: 46 Portland Housing Bureau employees.

PENNSYLVANIA

Eighty counselors employed at Hoffman Hall and Coleman Hall of the Community Education Centers in Philadelphia voted overwhelmingly to join Local 159 (Council 33). Fifty-five employees of The Cedars of Monroeville Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Facility in Allegheny County recently joined Council 13, as well as 28 employees of the York Housing Authority, including maintenance mechanics, maintenance aides and janitor/laborers. Forty non-professional employees of Wayne County – including those who work in the departments of probation, domestic relations and district magistrate – joined Council 87.

WASHINGTON

One-hundred and forty supervisors, managers and strategic advisers at Seattle’s publicly owned electric power utility, Seattle City Light, joined Council 2 through voluntary card-check recognition. In addition, 37 Vancouver recreation department employees also formed a union with the council.