Public Employee Press

Political Action 2003
700 join PEOPLE fund

DC 37’s drive to increase its PEOPLE program participation got a power surge this summer as three locals signed up more than 700 new contributors. Peter Stein, president of Lifeguard Supervisors Local 508, signed up 643 members of his local and Lifeguards Local 461. Kyle Simmons of NYC Laborers Local 924 recruited 20 contributors and Clarice Wilson, secretary of Motor Vehicle Operators Local 983, enrolled 50 members.

DC 37 is invigorating its PEOPLE program as part of parent union AFSCME’s “Take Back America” campaign to push President Bush out the White House door in 2004. The DC 37 Political Action Dept. is spearheading the drive with letters to local presidents urging them to increase PEOPLE membership, and with support to help them get started. The union also asks activists and rank-and-file members to participate in the effort to sign up contributors.

“Our goal is to increase PEOPLE contributions by 20 percent,” said Wanda Williams, director of DC 37’s Political Action and Legislation Dept., “and show we are serious about the struggle to take back America and make our voices heard in Washington.” PAL will monitor union-wide progress with a chart outside Rooms 3 and 4 at DC 37 headquarters.

Union members can make a difference by giving to Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality. PEOPLE lobbies Congress on behalf of working families on issues like Social Security, pay equity, and privatization. PEOPLE contributions help support politicians, regardless of their party, who respect and understand public employees’ needs.

“We cannot assume other members’ contributions are enough to get the job done,” said Esther “Sandy” Tucker, PEOPLE chair and Local 384 president. While members’ dues cannot be used to support political candidates, public employees can voluntarily contribute to the PEOPLE program. A member who contributes $2 or more per pay period is automatically enrolled in the VIP Club and receives a jacket and pin in the first year, and other membership incentives through the years. The minimum voluntary contribution is 50 cents per pay period. To sign up, please call DC 37 PEOPLE Coordinator Pascale Bernard at 212-815-1550.