For Immediate Release
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
AFSCME Presents "Star of Excellence" Awards: Spotlight Shines on 21st Century Activists
Anaheim, CA —The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, paid tribute to the special members who've helped to make its organization the nation's largest public service workers' union.
"The AFSCME Star of Excellence Awards pay tribute to the people behind our union's power — they are the stars that help our union shine," AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee said. "These men and women help drive our organizing victories, fuel our political engine and keep our privatization battles moving forward. "
AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy added, "Organizing is the single most important victory for AFSCME. It makes us stronger, and paves the way for all of our other victories."
AFSCME Star of Excellence award winners hail from California, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. They include:
- David Moog, President of the New York City Assessors, Appraisers and Housing Development Specialists, Local 1757, DC 37. Legislative action at the local, state and federal level is the bedrock upon which our union's strength rests. It takes courage and hard work to defeat bad legislative proposals and to enact positive ones. David Moog worked with his council to draw up study reports and a white paper to shine a spotlight on the perils of privatization. To protect the jobs of AFSCME members, David used legislative testimony, the power of the press and even a lawsuit to block the city from replacing unionized staff members with part-time college aides.
- University of California Food Service Workers, AFSCME Local 3299. In a quest for respect and dignity in the workplace workers at the University of California Santa Cruz and the University of California Davis took on the food service giant Sodexho. They were up against a company that had corporate clout and a 25-year-stronghold at the Universities. The University often looked the other way when abuses occurred. Workers were paid just $7.50 an hour with no benefits, and had to pay $250 a month for health insurance. These workers, many of whom are Mexican immigrants and Spanish speakers, built a strong internal committee structure, made hundreds of house calls, and forged a formal alliance with students, community leaders and politicians. Their strategy resulted in total victory when the contract with Sodexho was ultimately cancelled.
- Joao Sebastiao, Pennsylvania Public Employees Local 2929,Council 13. While working with Council 13 as a release – time organizer, Joao helped organize nearly 1,800 employees at Northwestern Human Services — the largest provider of mental health and mental retardation services in Pennsylvania. NHS workers are well on their way to better pay, decent benefits, a good schedule, improved workplace safety and more respect.
- Ida Williams Ward, President AFSCME Maryland Retiree Chapter 1. Ida has shown that passion for your union doesn't have to end after retirement. When union leaders want a sea of AFSCME green, they call her. When political officials need congressional testimony, they call Ida. And when retiree groups need support they call her. She worked at the Highland Health Facility in Maryland for 28 years, and also served as union president. Even though she's retired, she still shows up for volunteer work nearly every day at AFSCME Council 92.
- New Jersey Member Educators Councils 1, 52, 71, 73. Education is a critical building block and AFSCME places a premium on education. When people have the necessary skills and knowledge they will be ready to fight for what's right. When the International launched its Member Education program to train affiliate staff and members to teach AFSCME activists to be effective stewards, officers and leaders, New Jersey MEs hit the ground running. Member Educators from New Jersey put in more teaching hours than any ME's anywhere in the country. Their success is due in large part to their willingness to do all that they can to inspire and educate others. These men and women lead training programs in the evenings and on weekends — on their own time — because they believe in a strong, active participatory union.
- New York CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000. A group of unorganized workers were doing important but difficult work caring for the autistic, but were treated like second-class citizens by their employer. The men and women of CSEA Region 2 set out to do everything in their power to support this group of workers who desperately needed a union. Local leaders and member activists from nearby workplaces worked tirelessly, holding public demonstrations, speak-outs, and rallies to make sure these workers got the rights and dignity that they deserved. They reached out and worked hard to convince elected and community leaders to support card check/neutrality for these workers. As a result elected and community leaders not only took part in public events in support of organizing the workers, they also applied personal pressure on the employer. The organizing committee ultimately succeeded in winning card check neutrality and making a big difference in a workplace that desperately needed change.
- Ron Alexander, president of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, Charlie Adkins, president of Local 1699, Council 8, and Barbara Thomas, president of Local 3360, Council 8. Three trustees of the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System took a stand to protect workers' pensions and ended up electing a pro-worker, pro-labor majority to their retirement system board. After election night, the labor majority got to work — immediately passing sweeping pro-worker policies. They implemented policies requiring that real estate contractors play by our rules. Specifically, they required these contractors to be neutral in organizing campaigns; to offer fair and competitive wages and benefits; and to be an ethical employer. They essentially put a ban on putting money into companies that privatize. And they implemented an aggressive corporate governance program to combat corporate corruption.
- Missouri Direct Care and Crafts & Maintenance Bargaining Teams. One lone voice cannot easily be heard, but a voice that is raised collectively comes across loud and clear. The members of the Missouri Direct Care and Craft & Maintenance Bargaining Teams are the perfect example of skilled negotiators. They launched a new era of street heat in their state — and the results of their first contract are truly impressive. They made historic gains on wages, seniority and rights on the job. The members of these bargaining teams were trusted to tell the State what the workers needed to deliver quality services and to make a decent living to provide for their families. And they did! For months, they faithfully participated in negotiation sessions. They achieved not only their first contract win, but a mobilized, involved membership.
- New Mexico Council 18. This council illustrates the old adage — "Nothing succeeds like success." New Mexico Council 18 helped elect a governor who supports working people and believes in collective bargaining. The members phone-banked, stuffed envelopes and did whatever was needed. Their commitment paid off big when their candidate won big. When the new governor signed a bill restoring Collective Bargaining to state employees, the Council stepped up its organizing efforts, fast and furious. Now, two years later, the Council has more doubled its ranks, and shows no signs of stopping its growth. With their expanded membership, the council went right back to work — electing three more pro-labor candidates to the state's largest city council. With five councilors working on our side, the council was able to convince a reluctant mayor and other councilors to give AFSCME members a pay raise on par with the firefighters.
- AFSCME Nurse Advisory Committee. Dozens of AFSCME nurses put their personal and professional lives on hold to organize workers in a completely different city. From all across the country, they converged on a major hospital chain in Chicago to speak personally and passionately with their non-union counterparts. They shared experiences and hope for the future. Both parties walked away with something gained: The non-union workers were given hope, while the volunteer organizers — who heard abuses ranging from forced work schedules to major understaffing — were filled with renewed pride and appreciation for all that their union has accomplished in hospitals across the country. Through their long hours and personal contact, they have inspired and encouraged the 9,000 workers at the Resurrection Hospitals in Chicago to stand up and organize.
