Washington Council 28 Airs “Our View”

Seatac, Washington

Union people are now "talking union" on 17 cable access stations across Washington state—with a potential audience of 2.6 million viewers.

The program "Our View" is sponsored by Council 28 and is produced by AFSCME member Chuck Bolland. Once a month, he puts working people on the air addressing union problems in their own words.

Since it began airing last fall, the program has given "Our View" on Black History Month and on changes in the U.S. labor movement—including interviews with new AFL-CIO Pres. John Sweeney and AFL-CIO Exec. Vice Pres. Linda Chavez-Thompson.

The show has explained the Earned Income Tax Credit and tackled complex legislative issues. It even brought a recent labor rally—of 10,000 workers protesting anti-labor programs being debated at the state capitol in Olympia—into thousands of homes.

"Our View" producer/director Bolland is a member of AFSCME Local 443 who does media outreach in the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. He also brings years of experience as a local sports broadcaster to "Our View."

A recent edition of "Our View" covered the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28's Steward Conference in SeaTac. Bolland shot the presentation of awards to the council's Super Shop Stewards.

Washington AFSCME members should check their local cable television program schedules for "Our View" times and stations.