L.A. Spectacular
The union hit town to jump-start its organizing program. The message was loud — sometimes very loud — and clear.
By Jimmie Turner
LOS ANGELES
Wow! That describes AFSCME's Organizing Convention in the City of Angels last September. Early on the first day of the event, members of the Puerto Rican delegation thumped percussion instruments and blew whistles to produce some smooth and rhythmic Latin beats that sent even the most "dance-challenged" convention-goers into motion. When the doors opened 15 minutes later, the crowd was met by a procession of popular music hits of the 70s, 80s and 90s that electrified the ballroom.
The stunning and unrehearsed display quickly converted into serious purpose and remained there for the rest of the three-day convention. In the end, on Sunday, member volunteer organizers, council and local executive directors, presidents, staff organizers and International vice presidents all vowed to dedicate more time and resources to organizing — the recipe needed to strengthen the union. If they can exert one-eighth the energy released that Friday morning, AFSCME should double its membership in record time.
NO. 1 PRIORITY. "We're not here to wonder why we should take our organizing to a new level. We're not here to wonder if we should take our organizing to a new level. And we're certainly not here to wonder when we should take our organizing to a new level," Pres. Gerald W. McEntee told 1,400 charged-up activists. "We are here in Los Angeles to dramatically expand our organizing, grow our union, and to do it now."
Sec.-Treas. William Lucy reminded his audience that unions have histor-ically forced politicians to pass laws that benefit workers: Unions organized; lawmakers woke up and met their demands. "No one has ever given us anything," Lucy declared. "We have organized this union inch by inch, one member at a time. No law has ever granted us, or given us, a single member.
"As difficult as the forces are that are allied against us, this is not the time to agonize. This is the time to organize."
ACTIVIST STREAM. Before breaking into groups to attend various skills workshops, everyone headed downtown to draw attention to important unfinished business: the struggle by L.A. recreation and parks assistants to obtain a first contract and by other union members in their own contract negotiations with the city and county.
James Flynn, president of Massachusetts' Local 1709 (Council 93), said his delegation came West to support the city's workers. "We're here to help them get a fair contract — one that they can live with and enjoy life the way it should be enjoyed." Flynn then looked up and saw a stream of AFSCME activists, all wearing green and blaring out union chants through megaphones as they marched down Main Street. His chest swelled up, and he said emphatically: "This is the empowerment of the people."
After meeting with the city council, McEntee joined the rally and reported to the throng of advocates that the politicians seemed sincere in their support of the workers and that he came here with the feeling that Los Angeles was a union town. "We want all of their help to make sure that our people get decent and honest and fair contracts," the president said, but added with a roar, "They now have to prove to us that Los Angeles is a good union town."
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS. On Day 2, the convention welcomed Kentucky Gov. Paul E. Patton and Ed Asner (Lou Grant on the famed Mary Tyler Moore Show). Their presence at the convention signifies AFSCME's relationships with key elected officials and prominent supporters who are willing to stand behind workers in their attempt to organize. Last May, Patton, with encouragement from the AFSCME-led Public Employees Alliance of Kentucky, signed a resolution that opens the door to organizing for 30,000 state employees. For that, he received AFSCME's "Outstanding Advocate for Fairness and Justice at Work" award and he came to L.A. to accept it, as well as to address the union's activists.
"If we're going to make America greater, if we're going to keep it a country of middle-class people," Patton said, "we have to have partnerships [between management and workers]." Otherwise, when management makes all the decisions without input, workers come out the losers.
"I'm management, but I'm not on the other side. I understand the overall objective of our nation, and that's the reason why I have supported the right of people to organize."
A REAL UNION MAN. For 10 minutes, Ed Asner had the entire audience bent over with laughter at his comedic routine. On a serious note, he said: "It's one hell of an experience to come here and hear union folk. To see so many union faces in one room is certainly just the fortifying tonic my bones need."
As a two-term president of the Screen Actors' Guild in the 1980s, Asner was well able to connect with his listeners. "Like any other worker, I must constantly look to my union to guard my rights," he explained. "Union strength is constantly being eaten at, and the strength of a union depends on the solidarity of its members."
He also echoed Bill Lucy's sentiments: the "prized possessions" of workers — minimum wage, pensions and safe working conditions — have union "bugs" on them. As Asner put it, "Every corrective law over the last 100 years was either sponsored by, or created by, unions."
LOOKING AT TOMORROW. At the end of the convention, AFSCME got a clear look at the future through Brenda Munoz, a young organizer in Maryland, and Dan DiMaggio, a Harvard University sophomore and active participant in the school's living wage campaign.
As a child, Munoz never understood why her parents' employers didn't allow them time off work to participate in her school functions or take her to a doctor's appointment. "I made a promise to my parents and myself that I would fight for power and justice for me, but also for others who have been disrespected on the job."
DiMaggio has been attending Harvard on an AFSCME scholarship. The son of a member of the Civil Service Employees Association/ AFSCME Local 1000, he has joined with other students to protest the anemic wages of university workers. "My dad's been fired twice from different jobs for union activity, but he never stopped fighting for his own rights and especially those of his fellow workers. So I hope I made him proud when I helped to take over the president's office at Harvard."
Young DiMaggio's message to the convention: "The students are with you in all of your struggles to get more control over your lives, to get the wages and benefits you deserve, and to make this a more just and democratic society."
A big and successful push to organize throughout AFSCME will help move those goals from Harvard's ivory tower into the world of work.
