Publications

December 16, 2005

Reporting organizing wins in ...

New York, where some 60 dining service employees of the Cobleskill Auxiliary Services, a corporation contracted by the State University of New York, voted overwhelmingly to form a new local with CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000. In another CSEA organizing campaign, roughly 1,200 care providers for the developmentally disabled have reached a card check/neutrality agreement with Lifespire Inc. They have until Feb. 1 to demonstrate a majority. In Ohio, a wall-to-wall unit of 53 workers employed by the Cardington Local Schools voted to join OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4. In Tennessee, 278 Shelby County Head Start workers chose to organize with Local 1733.

Just vote 'no'

A week-long campaign to kill unfair GOP budget and tax cut proposals was launched by the AFSCME-led Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities (ECAP). Unveiled by President McEntee at a news conference, the "National Week of Prayer and Action for Compassionate Priorities" features TV ads running nationally and in the districts of seven GOP House moderates who previously voted for the spending and tax cuts. Dozens of local news events, call-in days, e-mail and letter-writing campaigns, and grass-roots lobbying, are also part of an effort to get Congress to — as McEntee says — "do the right thing" and vote down the cuts. You can see the ads online.

Shout it out

The right of workers to freely join unions was the message declared by more than 60,000 workers, community activists, religious leaders and civil rights advocates who rallied in more than 20 cities nationwide in the week leading up to International Human Rights Day (Dec. 10). AFSCME members raised their voices in more than 100 events throughout the week. They included Jackson Memorial Hospital workers who are members of Florida Local 1363 (Council 79), who marched to protest skyrocketing health care costs. In Washington, D.C., President McEntee held a Human Rights Day press conference at the National Press Club.

Triumph in Illinois

A two-week strike by 40 Fulton County courthouse, animal control and sheriff's department employees ended recently with a four-year contract that raises their standard of living. The agreement, ratified by the members of Local 3433 (Council 31), is retroactive to last December and continues through November 2008. Employees will receive a retroactive wage hike of 50 cents an hour for the first year; 4 percent or 50 cents an hour (whichever is greater) in the second; and 4 percent (or 55 cents) in each of the last two years. It also preserves caps on the employees' health insurance payments.

New York contracts

Two CSEA units recently approved new contracts: Some 1,500 members employed at the Westchester Medical Center — one of the largest employers in the Hudson Valley region — ratified a two-year contract with Westchester County Health Care Corp., which operates the hospital. The agreement, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2005, includes a 3 percent raise next year plus an increase in longevity pay for all of 2005. Also, roughly 700 employees of Steuben County have approved a new four-year contract. Highlights are a $1,000 payment to each worker this year, a 3 percent raise next year and annual raises of 3.5 percent in the final two. There's also a mileage payment to workers who use their own vehicle and bereavement benefits for legal relatives.

'Everyday heroes'

That's the message of a new multi-media campaign by Minnesota Council 5 to promote the value of work performed by public employees — and to stop lawmakers with privatization on their minds (particularly snowplowing, prisons and health care). The campaign, launched Nov. 28, will air TV commercials more than 100 times in the Twin Cities, through March 12. Other communications outlets being used include radio, billboards, phone banks, grass-roots activism and the web.

Taking the pledge

More than 200 state workers from throughout Indiana rallied in Indianapolis recently to oppose Republican Governor Daniels' efforts to outsource government jobs. After the statehouse demonstration, organized by Council 62, employees sought — and received — pledges of support from dozens of elected officials to: hold contractors to the same accountability standards as public agencies; require annual performance reviews of privateers; and mandate that contractors pay a living wage and provide their employees with medical insurance.

Lucy gets post

Secretary-Treasurer Lucy has been elected vice-chair of the Executive Committee of the Solidarity Center, an AFL-CIO allied, non-profit organization that helps workers around the world build strong, democratic and independent unions. The vice chairmanship is a newly created post. Lucy has been a member of the center's board of trustees since September 2001. The organization supports and promotes programs aimed at empowering workers. To learn more about the Solidarity Center, visit its website.

The iPod winner is ...

Debbie Bindas of Ohio, former president of Local 2288 (Council 8). She won her prize by encouraging friends to participate in AFSCME's virtual on-line "march." Its goal: oppose Bush-backed budget and tax cuts. Bindas forwarded a message about the march to 30 others. Eight of them joined, the most brought to the march by any activist.


 

Print Version