AFSCME 13 Convention, Negotiation, and why you should be a member and join PAL

The AFSCME 13 convention is over for another year.  You can view pix at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dzether/sets/72157626309723843/show/.  We learned a lot, and we thought about our Brothers and Sisters in Wisconsin, Ohio and all the other Battleground States. We talked about negotiations.

I have spent most of the past couple days reading many of you the Governor's Contract proposal.  I can't stress enough that this is just a proposal and this is just the beginning.  Our next negotiating session is on April 22, 2011.  I look forward to talking to all of you on Monday.

I know many people feel  "Why be a full dues paying member? I pay fair share.  I don't use the Union".  But you do, every time you get a pay raise you use the union, every time you use your health insurance benefits you use the Union, every time you take a day off you use the Union, every time you get overtime pay, you use the Union.  With out AFSCME negotiating a contract for you, you would be at the mercy of the Governor and the Legislature's whims.  Look at Ohio and Wisconsin.  That is what happens when Unions aren't strong, the stronger we are, the harder we can fight for your rights.  I know it's a little bit more money out of your paycheck. I know that is hard for all of us in these difficult times, but think of it as an investment in your work future.  One other reason to join is to strengthen our voice at the negotiating table, the more full dues paying members we have, the stronger our voice at the negotiating table.  The Governor knows EXACTLY how many full dues paying members we have, and how many fair share, each fair share member make our voice softer at the negotiating table.

Speaking of the Governor and the Legislature, I am sure you don't like how Union Members are being portrayed as money grubbing fat cats who are free loading on the backs of tax payers.  I don't either. I am a taxpayer. I count on hard working public employees like you to clean my roads of snow, inspect the hospital I take my children to, to protect the forests I love.  As you know, your Union dues are NOT used for political activity.  One way as a Union Member you can help assure that Legislators who respect the hard work we do for the citizens of the Commonwealth are elected is to contribute to PAL.  PAL puts all our money into a pool to support lobbing and political activities to assure that Public Employee friendly Legislators are elected to office. If you would like more information about what PAL is and how to join, give me or one of the Stewards a call, and ask about negotiations while you have us on the phone.

In Solidarity, Della