Publications

December 9, 2005

Reporting organizing wins in ...

In New York, 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. In Ohio, a wall-to-wall unit of 53 workers employed by the Cardington Local Schools voted to join OAPSE Local 4. In Tennessee, 278 Shelby County Head Start workers chose to organize with Local 1733. In Washington state, 26 vocational rehab supervisors in the Department of Social and Health Services voted to join Council 28.

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 deals

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 three 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 reimbursement for workers who use their own vehicle, plus bereavement benefits extended to 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, grassroots activism and the Web.

Taking the pledge

More than 200 state workers from throughout Indiana rallied in Indianapolis recently to oppose Republican Gov. Daniels' efforts to outsource government services. 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 health 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 global organizing, get-out-the-vote, women's leadership, corporate accountability, and other programs aimed at empowering workers. To learn more, visit the Solidarity Center web site.

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 on-line "march" at actnow.org. It's goal: oppose Bush-backed budget cuts of vital public services and proposed tax cuts for the very wealthy. Bindas, a long-time nurse, forward a message about the march to 30 others. Eight of them joined, the most brought to the march by any activist. Nearly 30,000 people have participated in the AFSCME-led protest to date. To join, go to visit the Act Now web site.

Honor deserved

Marcia Nichols, legislative/political director for Council 61, recently received the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association's Public Service Award "in recognition of her determined and effective advocacy for the rights of workers, and her ceaseless efforts to mobilize public employees."

Gone to court

CSEA is challenging the Pataki administration's plan to raid a special reserve used to stabilize premium rate increases for the Empire Plan health insurance program. In a suit filed with the State Supreme Court in Albany, CSEA claims the state's action is not only illegal but will result in higher premiums for all participants — and will wipe out the reserve fund.

Scholarship Deadline!

Dec. 31 is the application deadline for AFSCME Family Scholarships, which are available to children and financially dependent grandchildren of AFSCME members. Thirteen scholarships of $2,000 each are awarded in March to graduating high school seniors, annually renewable for up to four years. Call AFSCME's Education Department: (202) 429-1250 
 

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