For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez Addresses AFSCME Convention June 23
Union Pays Tribute to Special Members with Star of Excellence Awards and Rally
Anaheim, CA —The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, is holding its largest convention ever June 21-25 in California. More than 5,000 members and delegates, guests and alternates will attend AFSCME’s 36th International Convention at the Anaheim Convention Center. Thousands more members will join the convention live via satellite and webcast when Senator John Kerry (D-MA) addresses the union on Thursday, June 24.
California Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez will address delegates at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23. He will discuss the burdens being placed on working families nationwide and the importance of electing pro-worker candidates this November.
Following Speaker Núñez’s remarks, AFSCME will pay tribute to members who have helped make the organization the nation’s fastest growing public service workers union with 1.4 million members. Activists of the 21st Century awards will go to members who help organize new members he union’s organizing victories, fuel its political engine and protect workers rights and pensions will receive awards. AFSCME affiliates that have gone the extra mile to make life more assessable for those with disabilities will also be honored.
Nearly 2,000 AFSCME members will also rally Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. the University of California Irvine Medical Center. The rally is in support of AFSCME Local 3299 service employees, many of whom work full-time and earn poverty wages, as they move toward securing a fair contract.
Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry will address the convention at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 24. Under the auspices of the AFL-CIO, more than 30,000 members will join AFSCME’s largest convention ever to watch Senator Kerry’s address via live satellite and webcast. Union members in 18 cities in battleground states will hold events with special guests to hear directly from the Senator about his plans to take back America for working families.
AFSCME organizes for social and economic justice in the workplace and through political action and legislative advocacy. The union represents a diverse group of service and health care workers in the public and private sectors including nurses, EMTs, bus drivers, child care workers, custodians and librarians.
