Publications

April 29, 2004

Green on top

In Connecticut, city employees — 86 in Hamden and 74 in Milford — formed unions with Council 4. In each election, the new members chose AFSCME over two rival unions. Hamden workers tallied 40 ballots for Council 4 and 34 for its nearest competitor, with Milford registering a 37 to 24 win over the closest rival. In addition, seven library employees from Derby voted to join the council.

Unanimous X 2

Thirty-five employees of the Mercer County (N.J.) Improvement Authority voted AFSCME "yes" unanimously. Their affiliation with Local 2287 (Council 73) came on the heels of another unanimous Mercer County decision — by 65 library employees — to form a union with the council.

'Best possible contract'

That's how Exec. Dir. Lillian Roberts describes a tentative, three-year agreement for 121,000 DC 37 New York City members. The deal covers the period between July 2002 and June 2005. It includes a 3-percent wage increase retroactive to July 1, 2003 and a 2 percent hike that will take effect on July 1 of this year; an additional 1 percent may be available, subject to productivity savings. It also includes a one-time, $1,000-per-member cash payment upon ratification. Council delegates endorsed the agreement on April 27th and members of the 56 locals will vote on it — by mail — over the following month.

Strike looms

The executive board of the Alaska State Employees Association (ASEA)/AFSCME Local 52 has authorized strike preparation in response to stalled contract negotiations with the administration of Governor Murkowski (R). The union, which represents some 8,000 state employees — approximately half the state workforce — is seeking raises totaling 6 percent over the last two years of a three-year contract, plus a $1,200 cash payment per member in the first year. The state has been offering 2 percent raises in years two and three but insisting on a freeze for the first year. ASEA is currently polling its members for its views; the executive board will weigh the results in early May, when it decides whether to authorize a strike vote.

Contract OK'd

More than 5,000 members of Connecticut Council 4 who work for the state Department of Correction, including corrections officers, medics and counselors, have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new four-year contract. The deal, which is pending in the state legislature, includes wage increases of 3 percent in each of the last three contract years. Wages are frozen for the first fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Round one for AFSCME

An arbitrator has ruled that the city of Buffalo last year improperly laid off some 20 blue-collar employees — members of Local 264 (Council 35). If upheld, the ruling would force Buffalo to rehire the workers and give them retroactive pay. The arbitrator's 15-page decision concluded that the union's no-layoff clause, negotiated in 1995, remains in effect. Council leaders expect the city to take the matter to court.

Supporting the nation's women

AFSCME was what President McEntee termed a "proud" co-sponsor of Washington, D.C.'s April 25 "March for Women's Lives." Proud, indeed: AFSCME was an original sponsor and, continuing an historic commitment to women's rights, hundreds of our members and HQ staff constituted one of the largest union delegations present. Overall, almost 1 million people participated. Although public perception of the event focused on freedom of "choice" and reproductive rights in general, economic freedom and justice for all women was an equally important rallying cry.

Talking with their feet

In New Jersey, members of two AFSCME locals walked out to protest contract violations and working conditions. In Edison, about 20 members of Local 979 (Council 73), among some180 employed at the state-run Veterans' Memorial Home, left work for several hours to protest such unfair labor practices as employees being given duties not included in their job descriptions. In Parsippany, 31 workers — members of Local 2216 (Council 52) — walked out for several hours at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital. They complained of poor working and staffing conditions that threaten their health and safety and those of the patients. "Today was the day we couldn't take it any more," said local Pres. Anna Sutton. The union represents about 600 workers at the hospital.

Symbolic death

Students, faculty and staff at Western Michigan University delivered to the president's office a coffin draped with an AFSCME's T-shirt signed by members of Local 1668 (Council 25). The accompanying demonstration — which united workers, students, faculty and staff — focused in part on the possible elimination of 51 custodial jobs, all held by 1668 members. The university has refused to talk with students who oppose the possible privatization of more than 150 custodial and other jobs represented by Local 1668.

'Visionary' winner

DC 37's Rolanda Pyle has won a Sloan Foundation Public Service Award for work she has done as a member of Local 371. Pyle directs the Grandparent Resource Center of New York City's Department for the Aging — the nation's first municipally run resource facility for city residents who become primary caregivers for their grandchildren. She received a $7,500 cash prize and an original drawing depicting her work.


 

 

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