AFSCME Professional Workers

Nurse, consumer educator, state’s attorney, chemist, geologist. . . what unites them? First, they are AFSCME members. Second, they are called “professional” employees. They get this name because their duties have traditionally been termed “professional,” and they usually require advanced schooling to qualify for their positions. Of course, at AFSCME, we think all public services are truly professional.

Traditionally, professionals have diverse jobs, and they’re hard to define as a group. But several concerns unite them. Because professionals tend to make higher salaries, they are prime targets for privatization. Some of their jobs require licensure and continuing education. In fact, AFSCME has a Professional Employees Advisory Committee (names listed below) to inform the union about the needs of these members.

Difficult to organize, professionals sometimes believe that their very professionalism protects them against unfair or harsh measures, only to discover that when they don’t have a union to fight for them, management may do what it wants, and may use professionals’ trust to manipulate and divide them.

In this issue and the next, you will meet some members from around the nation and learn about the rewards and problems faced by AFSCME professionals.

AFSCME Professional Employees Advisory Committee

Chairperson: Ron Alexander, International Vice Pres.,
OCSEA/Local 11, Columbus, OH
Louis Albano, AFSCME Local 375, New York City, NY
Thomas Cronin, AFSCME Council 47, Philadelphia, PA
Donna Edwards, AFSCME Local 112, Baltimore, MD
Carrie Williams, AFSCME Local 2394, Detroit, MI
Patricia Lopez, AFSCME Local 123, Pueblo, CO
Clifford Ogata, AFSCME Local 52, Hilo, HI
Sandra Bell, OCSEA/Local 11, Columbus, OH
Richard Farvour, AFSCME Local 2494, Waukesha, WI
Michael Sansone, AFSCME Local 2748, Hales Corner, WI
Ms. Leslie Kreutter, AFSCME Local 151, St. Paul, MN
Arthur Pond, Local 2626, Los Angeles, CA