Publications

October 18, 2004

Contracts: Washington State ...

Council 28 members made history by ratifying their first contract since enacting the first-ever collective bargaining law for state employees. Highlights of the contract: a 4.8-percent wage hike for the council's 30,000 members over the next two years — the first raises since 2001; no increase in the workers' share of health care costs; preservation of seniority and other key provisions the state sought to weaken or eliminate altogether. For other details, see the Sept. 20 issue of AIM. In addition, Council 28 represents 10,000 employees from 21 state colleges and universities. All but two of those institutions have ratified separately negotiated contracts with varying pay and benefits.

& in Philadelphia

Council 47 members overwhelmingly ratified their contract last week — ending many months of difficult negotiations. Among the workers the council represents are 3,400 white-collar city employees. The contract features a pay raise of 2 percent, which takes effect on July 1, 2005; and 3 and 4 percent, which kick in on July 1 of the succeeding two years, respectively; a one-time ratification bonus of $750; and a 10 percent increase in the city's contribution to the union health plan in both of the next two years (with renegotiation after the second one). Philadelphia's other AFSCME council, number 33, remains in negotiations.

Three scores

In a major victory in New Mexico, three AFSCME members were elected to the state Public Employees Retirement Association. The winning AFSCME candidates (all members of Council 18) are: Nancy Hewitt, an attorney in the Public Defender's office, won the state employee seat; Loretta Naranjo Lopez, formerly an associate planner with the City of Albuquerque, won the retiree seat; and Patty French, a records supervisor for the Albuquerque police department, captured the municipal seat. Two defeated incumbents. The victories were a result of an aggressive campaign by Council 18 and the International.

Thinking about tomorrow

Thousands of family child care providers across California continue to organize with the United Child Care Union/ AFSCME to gain reforms, benefits and the right to form a union. In August, after months of grassroots advocacy, including letter-writing campaigns and caravans to Sacramento, both houses of the state legislature passed a child care reform bill granting collective bargaining rights to child care providers. Even though Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill, providers will continue to organize and fight for reforms.

Lopsided wins

In Pennsylvania, 30 part-time workers for the Farrell Area School District voted 26 to 0 to form a union with Council 85. The group — custodians and cafeteria personnel — will join full-time workers as members of Local 1379, but will negotiate a separate contract. In Connecticut, workers at the Danbury Housing Authority voted 18 to 0 to join Council 4 (which represents 35,000 Connecticut workers). The new bargaining unit consists of administrative and support staff.

Saving jobs

Faced with the closing of seven state Department of Revenue offices and the consequent layoffs of 74 Pennsylvania Council 13 members, council leaders went to work to minimize the damage. The result? Not a single member lost his or her job; in a council official's words, "No employee will be furloughed, bumped or involuntarily downgraded." The state Secretary of Revenue commended "AFSCME's leadership and the employees in the affected offices for their professionalism" during the downsizing and for "maintaining the high level of service that taxpayers have come to expect from the department."

#1 in the nation

Gail Awakuni, a member of Unit 6 of the Hawaii Government Employees Association/ AFSCME Local 152, was recently named the 2005 MetLife/National Association of Secondary School Principals National High School Principal of the Year. Awakuni, principal of James Campbell High School in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, was one of three finalists selected among candidates from all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

AFSCME to the rescue

The recent series of hurricanes that struck Florida killed 22 people and forced tens of thousands from their homes. A large number of AFSCME's 18,000 members live along the state's hard-hit east coast, notably West Palm Beach, Pensacola and Vero Beach. As of Sept. 27, Council 79 had received over 50 calls from distressed members, and the true number is certainly higher. "We have no estimates of the total number of members affected," notes Council 79 Pres. & IVP Jeanette Wynn, "because the devastated areas have had no power for week, and the people have no way of calling us. We have sent out our staff to find them."

To help our members whose lives have been seriously disrupted, AFSCME has set up a special fund. To contribute, please write a check payable to "Council 79 Relief Fund" and send it to: AFSCME Florida Council 79, 3064 Highland Oaks Terrace, Tallahassee, Fla. 32301.

We're off ...

to get out the vote and campaign. With the AIM staff leaving for political duties, publication of the bulletin is suspended until shortly after Election Day.

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