PEP, November 2005: PEOPLE Person of the Month. Arlene Tuff.

Arlene Tuff has a history of activism with DC 37’s PEOPLE program that spans almost a quarter century. The retired Senior Public Health Advisor and Local 768 member has been an activist and PEOPLE member since 1982 and PEOPLE secretary since 1985.

“The first thing is to get members to understand what PEOPLE is and how much their contributions mean to all working families,” she said.

PEOPLE, Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality, is AFSCME’s political and legislative fundraising arm and one of the largest labor political action committees in the nation. It is financed entirely by voluntary membership contributions.

“I remember Lobby Day in 1989, when we convinced legislators to support the bill that lets city workers borrow on their pension money — some of us had that money just sitting there for years,” Tuff said. DC 37 lobbied with help from PEOPLE, and the law was enacted in 1991.

“PEOPLE funds also helped pass the bill that brought part-time workers into the pension system. That was a big achievement,” said Tuff.

Members’ voluntary PEOPLE contributions help elect candidates in state and federal elections, and help AFSCME, DC 37’s national union, lobby for support on issues important to labor and working families, such as pensions, Social Security and privatization. PEOPLE supports politicians who support working people, regardless of party affiliation.

DC 37 members can give to PEOPLE through voluntary payroll deductions. Members already enrolled in PEOPLE can increase their contributions. A member who contributes $2 or more per pay period is automatically enrolled in the VIP Club and receives a jacket and pin. The minimum voluntary contribution is 50 cents per pay period.

“During PEOPLE drives my presentations at chapter meeting help recruit members. We sign them up for dues check-off,” Tuff said. “I always sing that famous Barbara Streisand song, ‘People who need PEOPLE are the luckiest people in the world.’ ” To join or learn more about PEOPLE , please call the DC 37 Political Action Dept. at 212-815-1550.

— Diane S. Williams