Victimized by Water, Wind & Politicians

All three had a hand in making back-to-back hurricanes a true disaster. AFSCME members suffered, some mightily. But along with their union's brothers and sisters, they have risen to the challenge.

Except where noted, Jon Melegrito did the reporting and writing for this article.

Generating a flood of near-biblical proportions, Hurricane Katrina swept up some 800 New Orleans-area members and their families, leaving many desperate for food, clothing, shelter and only a glimmer of hope for the future. Roughly 2,200 others across Louisiana also felt the impact. Then Hurricane Rita charged up through southeast Texas, displacing approximately 400 more of our members and their loved ones. Rita also disrupted operations in several prisons affecting AFSCME-represented corrections officers, who responded calmly and heroically under very trying conditions (see Pages 16-17).

'MY UNION CAME FOR ME!' During those harrowing days, the International union and Councils 17 and 7 (Louisiana and Texas, respectively) joined forces to minimize the losses and misery. Says Council 17 Pres. Garland Webb, "Katrina not only altered the landscape of Louisiana but also the landscape of our members' lives. I was both humbled and proud to see how our staff and volunteer members persevered in reaching out to our displaced sisters and brothers."

While Katrina's waters were still sloshing through New Orleans' streets, the International announced a $100,000 contribution; solicited member contributions to a special Katrina fund; and dispatched a Disaster Relief Response Team to the state capital in Baton Rouge to coordinate our overall relief efforts. The group delivered cash assistance and truckloads of supplies. By mid-October, more than 300 members had been identified. Exclaimed Michele Baker of Local 872 when the response team arrived at her shelter: "My union came for me! I knew it would!" (See Page 11.)

Meanwhile, councils and other affiliates across the nation began planning their own contributions. And the International set up an "Assist a Family" program that urged members outside the flood areas to help resettle survivors in temporary housing.

Those efforts are ongoing. At press time, more than 500 locals, councils and retiree chapters — plus 600 individual members — had contributed to the relief fund. We urge other members to do so now. Please visit AFSCME's Katrina website, or send a check (specifying "Katrina relief" in the memo line) to the "AFSCME Fallen Heroes Fund" at 1625 L St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-5687.

BUSH'S RESPONSE: CUTS ALL AROUND. AFSCME has also assessed the damage from the standpoint of Bush administration policies and responses — in both cases finding stunning failures. As with news of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the President was very slow to respond with empathy or leadership. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, headed by an unqualified political crony, was even slower — making the disaster worse. And incredibly, in the wake of a $200-billion disaster, Bush and the Republican leadership have pushed for cuts in safety-net programs — Medicaid, Food Stamps and more — and advocate plans for yet another huge, budget-busting tax cut benefiting the wealthy.

We're fighting back against those appalling priorities. Tell your congressional representatives to say NO to them. Go to Act Now and join the Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities.

AFSCME and our members can justly take pride in the way we've responded to this extraordinary emergency. If only the President and his congressional allies could say the same. — Roger M. Williams