Publications

September 7, 2004

A 'home' for workers

In Ypsilanti, Mich., a unit of 30 workers at Fairfax Manor — a retirement home — voted overwhelmingly to form a union with Council 25.

Going day to day

Philadelphia District Council 47, whose white-collar city workers have been without a contract since July 1, will extend its labor pact on a day-to-day basis only, the union informed the city. It had previously extended it for a month to continue negotiations, but after that ended Aug. 15, the council decided against another long-term extension. Council Pres. Thomas Paine Cronin says that "sends a message to the city to get serious about contract talks."

Victory's contagious

An insurance consortium has agreed to pay for prescription contraceptives for female employees in 16 municipalities in New York's Westchester County. The decision ends a long policy of denying such claims and follows a recent decision by the Town of Cortlandt to alter its own health care plan to include prescription contraceptive coverage. Cortlandt's action followed a campaign by Local 2343 (Council 66), which raised the issue with the state attorney general. The AG's office determined that the Municipal Employees Benefits Consortium had withheld contraceptive coverage in violation of state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

No bargain here ...

The Maryland Court of Appeals invalidated an agreement between AFSCME and the administration of then-Governor Glendening (D) requiring the state to establish regulations to deal with unfair labor practices. Basis for the ruling: Glendening did not personally sign or publicly proclaim the agreement. The decision covers only matters covered by that agreement, however, not those in regulatory or legal form. In addition, it will not affect grievance and appeal procedures concerning disciplinary actions, personnel policies and the like. So the decision will not have a major impact. And in negotiating the next contract with the administration of current Governor Ehrlich (R), Council 92 will argue that items in the previous contract should be honored.

... But maybe here

Leaders of Missouri Council 72 have filed suit over collective bargaining rights. They are trying to force the secretary of state to initiate the administrative steps that will allow the union to collect fair-share fees from state workers in units covered by bargaining agreements. The effort is supported by Governor Holden (D), who in 2001 signed an executive order granting collective bargaining to thousands of state workers.

Edwards & us

  • Shirley Brown, a housekeeper at Westlake Hospital in Chicago, had the honor of introducing Vice-Presidential candidate John Edwards to the AFL-CIO's Executive Committee in that city last month. Brown is a Council 31 activist in the ongoing Resurrection Health Care campaign, which faces stiff employer resistance.

  • One recent Sunday. on a Des Moines front porch, Holly Sager, a member of Iowa Local 3673 (Council 61), participated in a private meeting with Edwards to discuss health care. Sager described how her insurance company had refused to cover the cost of a $200 mammogram — despite a doctor's recommendation and a family history of breast cancer. Edwards criticized the Bush administration's record on health care, saying, "They're not looking out for the interests of most Americans."

Seeking justice

Kentucky/Indiana Council 62, along with the Auto Workers, the Teamsters and SEIU, is suing Governor Fletcher (R) over his refusal to honor valid union contracts. At issue: an executive order signed by former Governor Patton (D) that created the Governor's Employee Advisory Council. It allowed certain categories of employees to be represented by a union for bargaining on workplace conditions (but not pay or benefits). The General Assembly did not codify that change, and Fletcher rescinded it when he succeeded Patton in December.

Let 'em eat soy

Tuna and white-meat chicken are off the menu for the inmates of the Illinois Department of Corrections. That and other novel ideas — proposed by a committee of the dietary and supply staff, represented by Council 31 — were designed to replace relatively expensive food items with such cost-saving alternatives as more pasta and soy extenders for ground beef. The savings would help forestall hiring a private company to supply food for the state's prisons. The department adopted some of the union's ideas and dropped its privatization scheme, which would have cost state taxpayers $51 million a year for the contract.

The giving spirit

Connecticut Council 4 has donated five 52-inch TVs and a treadmill to the Veterans Home and Hospital in Rocky Hill. The union's largesse — paid for with donations from various affiliated unions and allied organizations during a picnic on Memorial Day weekend — was a tribute to service personnel who were injured during their tours of duty.

The price was right

Michelle Wise, a clerical worker for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and a trustee of Local 2534 (Council 90), took a lucky side trip during AFSCME's International Convention in Anaheim. Her destination: the CBS-TV program, The Price is Right. Resplendent in her AFSCME-green T- shirt, Wise settled down to watch the show — and was chosen to participate from the audience. She won a Tiffany lamp and some cutlery. Accompanying her to the studio were roughly 30 other AFSCME members, also wearing their green T-shirts. The show is slated for airing on Sept. 30.

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