Dear AFSCME Member

Dear AFSCME Member:

Lobbying is an essential component of a successful local union program.

The tax, spending and administrative decisions made by state and local government officials have a tremendous impact on AFSCME members. Public employees who have achieved collective bargaining rights have a voice in the decisions that set their working conditions. Where public employees have not yet won the right to bargain collectively, elected officials set the wages, hours and conditions under which AFSCME members work. By affecting these decisions through lobbying, AFSCME Councils and Locals protect and promote the interests of AFSCME members.

To help Locals and Councils with their statehouse, county commission and city hall lobbying, the International Union's Department of Legislation has prepared this pamphlet, Local Union Lobbying: How To Support It With Coalition Building and Media Relations.

We hope that this pamphlet will help Councils and Locals improve and strengthen their lobbying efforts. It can be used in training programs and distributed to members of your Legislative Committee. Additional copies are available from the AFSCME Department of Legislation, 1625 L Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.

Sincerely,