Raising the Roof
The convention center rafters rang with wild applause and cheers as delegates greeted AFSCME's political action heroes. Since 1998's Convention, AFSCME members across the country have run up an impressive record of victories, and President McEntee and the entire Convention roared with pride as the heroes marched in.
Leading the march were members from California, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado — all states where AFSCME's political activism beat back "Paycheck Deception" proposals that would have crippled labor's ability to fight for working families. Then came affiliates that had helped keep union-friendly leaders in the U.S. Senate: Barbara Boxer, California; Harry Reid, Nevada; Russ Feingold, Wisconsin; Patty Murray, Washington; Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania; and Charles Schumer, New York.
For the past two years, AFSCME members have been busy electing our "bosses." Convention contingents marched to represent California, where Gray Davis is the first Democratic governor in 16 years, and Iowa, which surprised everyone by reversing 30 years of Republican leadership and electing Gov. Tom Vilsack. Oregon, Vermont, Alaska and Kentucky all elected new pro-worker governors.
AFSCME PEOPLE power was evident in mayoral elections: Willie Brown in San Francisco; Woodrow Stanley in Flint, Mich.; Michael Coleman, first African-American mayor ever in Columbus, Ohio, and the first Democrat in 28 years. Delegates also celebrated mayoral victories in Gary, Ind., Lincoln, Neb., and Hamilton Township, N.J. — as well as the nomination of Puerto Rican state legislators pledged to protect the new collective bargaining law.
Others among the hero contingent had fought back tax limit initiatives, protected public pensions, won battles against privatization. The landmark needlestick protections passed in New Jersey mean that thousands of the state's health care workers can tend to their vital duties, without fearing for their own health.
As the vocal acclaim grew in volume, tears of joy flowed and delegates hugged their sisters and brothers, taking pride in jobs very well done.
Top of the PEOPLE
President McEntee saluted AFSCME's top PEOPLE fundraisers. The following affiliates have far exceeded the goal of enlisting 10 percent of their members in PEOPLE: Illinois Council 31, New York DC 37, Pennsylvania Council 13, Maryland Local 2250, New Jersey Council 71, Pennsylvania Council 47 and Texas Local 1624.
