Publications

July 9, 2004

This issue of AFSCME in Motion has been edited to comply with FEC regulations.

It's up to us!

Addressing about 4,000 delegates and alternates at our 36th International Convention, President McEntee, in his keynote speech, and Secretary-Treasurer Lucy, in his address, underscored the critical need to elect a President who supports working families. Both were re-elected to their posts; six new IVPs also were chosen. Other union business included delegate approval of a per-capita tax increase of 50 cents per member per month, ending after 18 months, for a total of $9 per member.

"Star of Excellence" awards honored councils and locals with outstanding records in such areas as politics, organizing and fighting privatization. A first-ever pre-Convention Organizing Conference focused on personal stories of workers' struggles and successes in seeking a voice on the job. The Convention set a record in terms of "member votes" represented — 1,107,702.

At a rally at the nearby University of California Medical Center/Irvine, some 2,500 delegates, alternates and guests roared their support for 7,000 service workers — members of Local 3299 — who are engaged in a difficult contract fight.

PEOPLE & dollars

Three Convention high points — a star-studded fundraiser, a Fun Run that set a fundraising record for that biennial event ($32,745), and a booth sold clothing and other fashionable items — earned at least $190,000 for AFSCME's PEOPLE program at last count. (The financial returns are still coming in.) The Convention honored councils and locals that achieved high rates of participation in the PEOPLE program. Topping that list: Illinois Local 1866 (Council 31), with a 75 percent rate, followed by the council itself, with 44 percent rate.

Valley victory

In Ashville, workers from the Teays Valley Local School District voted 12 to 9 to form a union with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees/Local 4.

The right road

In Massachusetts, the 20-member Foxboro Highway Association — which represents the town's highway and water employees — voted to affiliate with Council 93. The final tally: 14 to 4.

Success in Illinois

By a 4-to-1 margin of those voting, concluding six months of tough negotiations, members of Council 31 have ratified a statewide master contract with the administration of Governor Blagojevich (D). IVP Henry Bayer, the council's executive director, said the overwhelming vote "clearly demonstrates that the new contract meets the goals union members identified at the outset of negotiations. It provides for fair pay increases, keeps health care cost increases in check and greatly strengthens job security." Over the life of the agreement, the 37,000 Council 31 members employed by the state are assured a minimum net-pay increase of 13 percent. The minimum total gross pay increase is 17 percent — 4 percent of which offsets a resumption of the employee pension contribution.

Taking Charge

In Washington state, the 282 workers in the non-supervisory bargaining unit at the Department of Information Services voted by a 2-1 margin to join the Washington Federation of State Employees/Council 28. Workers in two state-parks units, plus University of Washington skilled trades people, approved union shops; total size of the units — 402.

Other contract news

Defrosted in Alaska

The 8,000 members of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 will vote this month on a tentative, three-year contract that includes a 1.5 percent raise in July 2005 and 2 percent more a year later. The state also has agreed to contribute an extra $58 a month for health benefits for the first year and other increases (yet to be determined) in subsequent years. Funding for the agreement won't come until the legislature's next session, in 2005.

One down, more to

Nine thousand patient care workers represented by Local 3299 and employed at University of California medical centers and campuses have ratified a new contract. The agreement, which follows a statewide mobilization of AFSCME members in rallies and marches (see the Convention item above), includes a 10-percent wage increase over three years and implementation of a career ladder.

Sharp deal

Some 2,800 members of the Sharp Professional Nurses Network/United Nurses Associations of California, an AFSCME affiliate, have ratified a three-year contract. The nurses work for the Sharp HealthCare hospital chain. Their contract changes the performance-based pay system to an experienced-based system. So the nurses will receive an immediate raise of 5 to 7 percent, and as they advance, increases of 3 to 5 percent annually. An important related provision: The agreement includes language that will ensure compliance with California's recent regulations on nurse/patient ratios.

In memoriam

John J. "Jack" Merkel, a former IVP who launched AFSCME's first New Jersey chapter, died at age 73. Merkel also served for 17 years as vice president of the state AFL-CIO.


 

 

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