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Welcome to Council 5
St. Peter Layoffs Threaten
Public Safety and Worker Safety
Local 404 members who were laid off this week at the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter held a news conference to share their concern that the cuts put public safety and worker safety at risk.
The facility houses sex offenders and people who are mentally ill and dangerous. Community members are worried because it’s near this playground and dorms at Gustavus Adolphus College.
After convicted rapist Michael Dale Benson escaped in 2006, Governor Pawlenty pledged that no other sex offender would escape under his watch. “With these layoffs, he’s given the inmates the keys to get out,” a security counselor told reporters.
Click here to watch the news report: www.keyc.tv.
For more information, visit www.union404.com.
Hennepin County AFSCME Picnic
Families enjoy delicious food, good company and beautiful weather at the 3rd Annual Solidarity Picnic hosted by Hennepin County AFSCME at French Lake Regional Park in Plymouth on July 20.
Kids have fun with face paints, a magician and prize raffle.
State Rep. Frank Hornstein arrives on bike, but gets a lift home from Cliff Poehler. Molly Malecki greets Minnetonka Mayor Jan Callison, who is running for Hennepin County Commissioner. Picnic goers also met St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman.
Local 2728 Awards Scholarships
Corrections Local 2728 awarded four $500 college scholarships to their members’ dependents. Winners wrote about how to organize and build a union. Congratulations to recipients Ashley Henderson, Sarah and Scott Damiani, and Meghan Oehrlein. We hope you will continue to think and act union in your future.
Bush Legacy Bus Stops in St. Paul
This Bush Legacy Bus visited St. Paul on July 16 as part of a nationwide tour, which will return to Minnesota for the Republican National Convention in September.
It’s a museum on wheels describing eight years of failed and flawed conservative polices. The exterior is covered with phrases like "Tax Breaks for the Rich," "Katrina," and "Less Respected in the World.” The interior includes interactive displays that illustrate how Bush has dragged down our nation.
To read about the Bush-Coleman-Pawlenty disaster team, click here.
Watch the video with AFSCME Council 5 members: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnG81m05OpQ.
Health Care for America Now!
On July 8, in 52 cities across the nation, an unprecedented coalition of labor unions, community groups and women’s organizations launched a campaign to push for quality, affordable health care for every American. Between now and election day, Health Care for America Now will spend $25 million in paid media and have 100 organizers mobilizing people in 45 states, including Minnesota. To watch the first TV commercial, click on the link above.
The coalition includes AFSCME, ACORN, Americans United for Change, Campaign for America's Future, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Center for Community Change, MoveOn, the National Education Association, National Women's Law Center, Planned Parenthood, SEIU, UFCW, and USAction.
“Whether you’re insured or uninsured, our health care system is broken and cost is the problem,” explained Council 5 Director Eliot Seide at a news conference. “That’s why we’re working for a national solution that will control costs and guarantee quality, affordable health care for every American.
We Are Senior Dining
AFSCME member Carolyne Koller serves noontime meals to seniors in St. Paul. Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties provides this program where seniors enjoy nutritious meals and socialize with each other. Carolyne makes the dining experience pleasant and comfortable for people so they can enjoy themselves. The program is designed for seniors age 60 and over and is free with a suggested donation of $3.
Now the program may be on the chopping block after the end of the year. Carolyne and other workers who provide important nutrition to seniors may be in danger of losing their jobs. Without noontime meals, the seniors in our communities become even more vulnerable by not having their needs met nutritionally and socially, both important aspects to overall health.
Carolyne and her co-workers are champions of seniors in our community. We value the elderly and are committed to providing the best service possible. Healthy seniors are an indicator that we are a healthy society. Let’s keep it that way.
AFSCME celebrates GLBT Pride
Nearly 125,000 people lined Hennepin Ave. for the 35th annual Pride Parade, which celebrates the metro area’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. AFSCME and the AFL-CIO marched proudly in the parade for the third time.
The group was greeted by cheers as members of the crowd flashed their union cards in the air.
GROWING OUR UNION
Enthusiastic Local 4001 members met at Century College for a membership drive on June 24. Members from nine different Minnesota State Colleges and University campuses received one-on-one training, a quick practice, then hit the halls to convert fee payers to dues paying members.
MnSCU member Jennifer Heidelberger explains why it’s important to grow our union: “People need to realize the union is everybody. Only then can we make change."
McBush: Less Jobs, More War
Workers rolled out an unwelcome mat for John McCain, who visited the Minneapolis Hilton for a fat cat fundraiser on June 19.
“Workers can’t afford $1,000 dinners with John McCain, but his big oil buddies sure can,” said Eliot Seide, director of AFSCME Council 5. “While we struggle to pay $4 a gallon for gas, McCain is giving tax breaks to big oil.”
"Working families need more jobs and less war," said Seide. "We need to elect Barack Obama and take back the White House for America's working families."
Click here to watch a video clip of the Hilton rally in Minneapolis.
Click here to watch a video of the Landmark Center rally in St. Paul
AFSCME BACKS OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT
On June 19, AFSCME’s International Executive Board endorsed Barack Obama for President. As a U.S. Senator from Illinois, Obama has a 100 percent AFSCME voting record.
“Barack Obama has the strength and experience to take back the White House for America’s working families,” said International Vice President Eliot Seide. “He’s right on the issues that AFSCME members care about – ending privatization, fully funding public services and supporting the workers who provide them, and guaranteeing that everyone in our country has quality, affordable health care.”
“During the primary, we backed Hillary Clinton and we showed that when our union makes an endorsement, we back it up with everything we’ve got,” said Seide. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do for Obama. When our members mobilize, their activism is second to none. We have the troops, the resources and the political will to elect Senator Obama, defeat John McCain and end the era of George Bush.”
Watch Senator Obama's address to the AFSCME 37th International Convention at http://www.afscme.org/members/11035.cfm.
To learn more about the candidates, click on these links:
Meet Barack Obama
www.mccainrevealed.com
We Stock Walleye
Anglers who catch walleye in Minnesota lakes have AFSCME members to thank. In our land of 10,000 lakes, there are about 16 million harvestable walleye. Anglers will catch 3-to-4 million of them this year.
After the big one bites on your hook, think of the AFSCME members who work for the Department of Natural Resources in fisheries throughout the state. This year, they will stock 160,000 pounds of walleye fingerlings that are 3-to-8 inches long. They will also stock 212 million fry, newly hatched walleye that are about one-third of an inch.
For more information and fun fishing facts, click here.
2008 Legislative Outcomes: Mixed at Best
Some AFSCME jobs saved, some lost
Aid to local governments increased, but property tax levy limits are a threat
Some progress on health care
Late Sunday, May 18 Governor Pawlenty and the State Legislature reached a deal to end on time to meet their constitutional deadline for adjournment. The session produced mixed outcomes for our union.
In the end, AFSCME mitigated some negative impacts of the budget deficit, made some increases in aid to local governments, and a step forward on affordable health care. But, the state budget will still be cut by 4 percent, and property tax levy limits are a threat to our local government members.
We were able to raise some revenue by overriding Pawlenty’s veto of the gas tax and by closing corporate tax loopholes. Funding for bricks and mortar was also increased with an additional bonding bill that includes Central Corridor Light Rail Transit, expansion of the Minneapolis Veteran’s Home, and the new Lake Vermilion State Park. For more session results, click here.
Thank you to thousands of AFSCME members who contacted their legislators, came to Day on the Hill, and worked with us at the State Capitol. Your activism made budget cuts smaller and helped us win significant victories.
Study Looks at the Effect of Unions
Minnesota "Well Above Average"
A new report affirms what we already know—workers who belong to unions earn more than those who don’t. In Minnesota, nearly 18 percent of the workforce is unionized, compared to about 12 percent nationally.
The study by the Center for Economic Policy Research finds that unionization raises the wage of the average Minnesota worker by 12 percent. The lowest-paid workers make 20 percent more; and the highest, four percent. To read the report, click here.
The report concludes that workers at the bottom of the pay scale benefit most because, without representation, they have the least influence in the workplace. We know that union membership is the best way to fight poverty.
The benefits of belonging are clear. Unionized workers earn more than non-union workers. They’re more likely to have health insurance, a paid vacation and a secure pension. They’re working conditions are usually better. And, they enjoy less-tangible benefits, like having dignity and a voice at work.
Duane Gatzke Laces Up For 2008 PEOPLE Fun Run
Local 2829 member Duane Gatzke is lacing up his shoes for the PEOPLE Fun Run this year. The Fun Run is a 5K that takes place July 31 in San Francisco, California during the 38th Annual AFSCME International Convention. The money raised will go to elect worker-friendly candidates.
Duane (left) has already raised $1,160 with some help from his friend Bryce Wickstrom (right) of DOT Local 2792. Bryce “primed the pump” by offering to match up to $250 in contributions. His $250 became $635 after 57 donors took him up on the challenge, each contributing $5 or more.
“My goal is to top $3,000 and this puts me well on my way,” says Duane. “With support from my brothers and sisters, I’m feeling strong. This will be my last run, so I’m training hard by biking, running and walking.” Help Duane beat all other states in fundraising for PEOPLE. To link to Duane’s story, click here.
Your donations are greatly appreciated. Please make checks payable to AFSCME PEOPLE and mail them to:
AFSCME Council 5
c/o Duane Gatzke
300 Hardman Avenue South
South St. Paul, MN 55075
BUST LORI SWANSON FOR UNION BUSTING!
In the face of fear, attorneys in the Attorney General’s Office want to join AFSCME. In March they courageously wrote a letter asking their boss for recognition of their union. Soon after, Attorney General Lori Swanson held captive audience meetings to coerce her employees into opposing the union. She summoned small groups of the attorneys to a conference room. With two supervisors and two judges watching, the workers were asked to mark an anti-union ballot saying that the letter requesting union rights didn’t speak for them.
Let’s end the fear and intimidation, so the office can get back to protecting consumers.
Call Attorney General Lori Swanson immediately at 651-296-6196. Tell her to stop union busting and recognize the union chosen by her attorneys.
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AFSCME Council 5, AFL-CIO
300 Hardman Avenue So, South St Paul MN 55075 • (651) 450-4990, fax (651) 455-1311
211 W 2nd Street, Duluth MN 55802 • (218) 722-0577, fax (218) 722-6802