Publications

February 8, 2005

 

Winning cards in Illinois

Two groups of workers, 668 in all, formed unions with Council 31 via card-check campaigns. At the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, 560 staff members — registered nurses and clerical, technical and paraprofessional employees — organized to demand better pay, win a voice at work and gain respect. In addition, 108 state employees — public information officers III and IV, dentists II, inhalation-therapist supervisors and auditors who deal with out-of-state firms — joined AFSCME.

Adding muscle

Seeking stronger union representation, 64 members of Wisconsin's Municipal Employment Association voted 43 to 15 to affiliate with Council 40. The workers — employed by city hall and the Department of Public Works in De Pere — wanted to be part of a bigger, stronger union.

Joining forces

In a show of solidarity, the Professional Firefighters of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State Fraternal Order of Police have declared their support for fellow municipal workers fighting to gain collective bargaining rights. The rights, which are granted under a new law that applies to cities with populations of 35,000 or more, are being challenged in court. The firefighters and police called on the Oklahoma Municipal League to stop a "campaign of misinformation" that has included the false claim that costs associated with the law "could divert money away from public safety functions." Said the men and women who provide those services, in a joint public statement: "The Oklahoma Municipal Employee Collective Bargaining Act will help improve our public safety, not jeopardize it."

Mark those calendars

AFSCME's Leadership (formerly Legislative) Conference will be held April 25-27 at the Hyatt Regency on Washington's Capitol Hill. A letter of invitation, along with hotel and conference registration forms, will be sent to council leaders when final plans have been set. AFSCME's 10th National Nurses Congress runs from May 5-8, also at the Hyatt. Registration and other event information will be mailed later and will also be available on the AFSCME-UNA web page.

Strike looms

Health care coverage and job security are at the heart of a bargaining dispute that threatens to turn into a strike by some 80 non-certified school employees at the Greenway School District in Coleraine, Minn. The maintenance workers, food-service employees, paraprofessionals and bus drivers, who are represented by Local 456 (Council 65), filed an intent-to-strike notice on Jan. 28. They're understandably irked because the district wants them to reimburse it for health coverage they received in previous years. That would amount to as much as $4,150 for employees with family coverage. In addition, the workers are concerned about possible privatization of school services, and have gone without a wage increase since their contract expired in 2001. A walkout could begin as soon as Feb. 8.

Looking elsewhere

Some 7,300 service workers employed by the University of California have turned to mediation after seven months of unsuccessful negotiations to renew their contract. The employees, represented by Local 3299, declared an impasse following 24 meetings with UC officials. They rejected demands concerning wages and benefits, parking, training and seniority. The cleaning, maintenance and cafeteria workers are employed in the university system's medical hospitals, residence halls and dining areas.

Insult to injury

At a recent press conference, Indiana child-welfare caseworkers represented by Council 62 refuted a slander by Governor Daniels (R). In rescinding collective bargaining rights for state employees and voiding existing union contracts, Daniels defended his action by saying they would slow or block reforms, including the creation of the new Department of Child Services. The caseworkers noted that nothing in their agreements would have blocked the department's creation. And they pointed out that collective bargaining had actually improved the delivery of services, citing as examples flexible hours and cell phones provided to the caseworkers over management's resistance.

Free speech for whom?

Members of Torrance, Calif., Local 1117 (Council 36) are protesting a city civil-service commissioner's reprimand of a corrections officer for expressing (via e-mail) a political opinion — urging support for a measure that would link city elections to the statewide primaries. The union says state law protects workers from that sort of discrimination, and wants the commissioner — who opposed the measure — removed from his job. Mediation will take place later this month.

Benner takes on new challenge

Peter Benner, who was for 20 years executive director of the former Minnesota Council 6, has retired. Benner, 55, joined the International in 1974, was elected council director in 1982 and became an IVP in 1992 (a post that he will continue to hold). He is now executive director of AFSCME's 21st Century Committee, established at our 2004 Convention to examine how to strengthen the union and make it more effective.


 

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