AFSCME Across America: Organizing for Power
From state to state, workers are organizing with AFSCME for a stronger voice on the job. Here are some recent victories:
Connecticut
About 130 part-time para-professionals employed by the Glastonbury Board of Education have voted to join Council 4, which already represents 220 full-time paraprofessionals, custodians, secretaries, nurses and maintenance workers in the Glastonberry school system. Chartered as Local 3817, the new unit is made up of paraprofessionals who work at least 15 but less than 20 hours per week. They help special needs students by modifying lesson plans, helping with speech therapy, providing occupational guidance and teaching life skills.
Massachusetts
Twenty-two employees of the town of Ayer—near Harvard—recently joined Council 93 through voluntary recognition. The unit, which joins Local 1703, includes the director of the Council on Aging, an assistant town clerk, a dog control officer, a grants administrator, accountants and clerical workers. Also joining Council 93 (Local 806) through voluntary recognition are 19 public works employees of the town of Rutland.
New York
One-hundred and twenty part-time security and code enforcement officers employed by the Town of Brookhaven have joined Civil Service Employees Association/AFSCME Local 1000. Also joining CSEA: 56 custodians and maintenance workers of the Valley Stream Union Free School District; 36 clerical, technical, professional and supervisory employees of the town of Niskayuna; 25 full-and part-time Bronxville Library employees; 22 Niagara Falls Housing Authority employees; 19 East Hills Village workers; 18 Old Westbury employees and 16 Chatham Central School District employees. Joining Council 82 were 57 transport and relief dispatchers in the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department.
Ohio
Sixty-three bus drivers, assistants and monitors employed by First Student—the largest school bus operator in North America—have voted to join Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE)/AFSCME Local 4. The company, working under a contract with the Hudson City School District in Summit County, put up no opposition. Also, a unit of 65 bus drivers and aides employed by the Wayne County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities voted to join OAPSE. In Warren County, 19 highway department engineer and maintenance employees have voted to affiliate their association with Council 8.
Pennsylvania
One-hundred and thirty educational aides, cafeteria workers and maintenance staff employed by the Wyomissing Area School District have voted to join Council 13.
Vermont
Ten clerical employees of the Montpelier Public Schools voted to join Local 1369 (Council 93).
Wisconsin
Twenty-six Lafayette County employees, including social workers, recently voted to leave their association to join Council 40.
