For Immediate Release
Monday, June 26, 2000
AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee Promises Aggressive Effort to Elect Worker-Friendly Officials
NOTE: This press release has been edited to comply with Federal Elections Commission regulations.
PHILADELPHIA, PA. —The president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Gerald W. McEntee, challenged a charged union convention to make "economic justice a reality for everyone in this country. Let all workers share in the wealth," he said of the current economic prosperity. "Because they're the ones who made it!"
McEntee outlined an aggressive get-out-the-vote effort that includes registering more union members and mounting an unprecedented phonebanking and door-knocking effort. The president of the largest AFL-CIO union also pointed out that AFSCME has the largest union political action committee in the nation and that it will fuel the union's political efforts.
If "we turn out our members in record numbers," McEntee proposed, "we can elect pro-worker governors, state legislators and local officials. We can take back Congress. And we can make this better America a reality."
McEntee told delegates that AFSCME has reversed a trend of declining numbers with a greater commitment to organizing new work sites and extending collective bargaining efforts. In a surprise announcement, he told cheering delegates that after months of talks with union representatives, "[Missouri] Gov. Mel Canahan just announced to his cabinet that, effective today and henceforth, state employees will have the right to negotiate salaries and benefits." AFSCME currently represents 10,000 Missouri state employees, who have been limited heretofore to negotiations regarding working conditions. Another 15,000 employees will have the right to bargain collectively under Gov. Canahan's order.
McEntee finally noted that AFSCME has launched an aggressive anti-privatization campaign with a "take no prisoners" policy. "As long as we have a level playing field," he said, "our members can provide better services than anyone. And I mean anyone." McEntee stated that George W. Bush has promised to privatize more government services, turning taxpayer dollars over to private companies rather than fix problems in government.
The biennial convention of AFSCME, which opened today, will continue through Friday, June 30. Speakers at the convention will include Vice President Al Gore and House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO) on Tuesday and President Clinton on Friday.
- Prepared remarks of President Gerald W. McEntee
