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July 24, 2006Reporting organizing wins in …Minnesota, where 29 LPNs at Mercy Hospital in Moose Lake overcame employer intimidation tactics and voted overwhelmingly to organize with Council 65. In New York, 24 child care providers employed by Hunts Point Day Care voted to join DC 1707. Since last September, the council has added 230 members in nine elections. In Iowa, 23 road workers employed by Crawford County organized with Council 61. In Ohio, 19 workers at Boardman Township in Mahoning County, south of Youngstown, voted unanimously to join Council 8. Workers' rights in dangerFacing the possible loss of collective bargaining rights by millions of RNs, LPNs and other workers, the AFL-CIO last week held a series of rallies throughout the country to focus public attention on a looming decision by the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB is expected to decide this summer whether to broaden the title “supervisor” to include workers who give instructions to other workers, jeopardizing their ability to stay in – or join – unions. Under the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act, supervisors are barred from joining a union. In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court made it easier for an employer to call RNs supervisors. But some issues remained unresolved, leading the NLRB to return to the dispute. Secretary-Treasurer Lucy spoke at a Washington, D.C., rally and staged a traffic-blocking protest with other labor leaders. AIM welcomes news items, particularly on Organizing, Privatization and Politics/Legislation. Please e-mail items to the AFSCME's Public Affairs department, or fax them to 202/429-1120. Please include address & numbers where you can be reached. Drawing needed attentionThousands of corrections officers and employees – members of Illinois Council 31 – recently conducted informational pickets at prisons throughout the state to draw public attention to staff shortages that threaten employee and public safety. Staffing has gone down by nearly 2,000 positions over the past five years, while the number of assaults against employees has continued to rise. Recently, a CO at the Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mount Sterling – a member of Local 3567 – was punched by an inmate, requiring medical attention. Deal struckA threatened strike by 1,600 employees of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), Local 1902, was recently averted when members ratified a new three-year contract. The union’s members, whose story appears in the May/June Public Employee magazine (“Health Care Meltdown,” Page 11), were concerned about rising insurance premiums, wages and other issues. The new contract, ratified overwhelmingly, raises pay 3.1 percent and provides financial assistance to workers who agree to participate in a less costly type of insurance plan. The MWD held its premium contribution to 90 percent. However, if not enough people sign up for the less-costly plan, the MWD will drop its contribution to 85 percent in the contract’s third year, starting January 2008. Quick workA New Jersey paper recently asked readers if they supported legislation to reduce state employees’ compensation. At first, only 45 percent said it was a bad idea. Council 73 kicked into gear, encouraged members to vote, and reversed the count. In the end, 67 percent opposed it; 33 percent backed it. The AFSCME 21st Century Initiative:Power to Fight, Power to WinFor six and half years, public service workers and the services we provide have faced constant attacks. From tax cuts for the wealthy and bad budgets, to privatization and outsourcing, anti-worker politicians want to take us down. Fighting back the same old way won’t work. We need more members to get involved. 21st Century Initiative Goals:Involve More Members |
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