Why you should be an AFSCME Member...

Today I had a conversation with a Member who wants to leave the local. His wife sent me an email upset about the disability insurance that the Local has for all it's members. She was particularly upset about the free child safety kits American Income Life offered because they don't have children.

After apologizing to the wife via email, and explaining that there was no cost to her or the local for the insurance, I walked down the hall to talk to the member. A rarity in the case of our local.

The members concern was that he doesn't like who AFSCME endorses. Really that was why he wants to leave the local. I explained that no Union dues were used to support candidates endorsed by AFSCME. I explained that he could vote for whoever he wanted, AFSCME doesn't go into the voting booth with him.

I did explain to him why leaving membership was a bad idea. I ask him to look what AFSCME PA has done for him, guaranteed that there will be no more payless paydays, that if furloughs occur his seniority bargaining rights are assured. I explained that when we go to the Bargaining Table on the next Contract, the Governor, who ever it might be, will know EXACTLY how many Union members AFSCME has, and will bargain with AFSCME accordingly.
If you aren't a member of the local, if for no other reason, this is why you should be a member. To make AFSCME voice bigger at the bargaining table. To help AFSCME keep your benefits and pay raises that you have come to love. There need to be more members behind us and fewer fair share fee payers.