PEP, January 2008: For political power, be an MVP

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

To give working people a decisive impact on the November 2008 elections, DC 37’s national union has launched a campaign to increase its PEOPLE political action fund by expanding membership and raising more contributions to the MVP level.

“As public employees, we must be involved in politics,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. “Our wages, benefits, jobs and services are paid for by tax dollars. We get to elect our bosses, but we have to make sure our bosses understand the value of our work and do not try to cut, underfund or privatize our jobs. PEOPLE is one of the most effective avenues for achieving our goals.”

The revamped PEOPLE program at DC 37 will help achieve the 21st century goals of DC 37’s parent union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. AFSCME is calling for every council to sign up 50 percent of its membership to contribute to PEOPLE at the MVP level. Most Valuable Participants will contribute $8 each month, or about $100 a year, to PEOPLE in the months leading to the November 2008 presidential election.

“I don’t think any of us are interested in having a ‘Bush Lite’ or a Rudy Giuliani in the White House next year,” said Ralph Palladino, 2nd vice president of Clerical Administrative Local 1549. “I believe we need a veto-proof Democratic majority in Congress. If you agree, you should join PEOPLE.”

MVPs needed
PEOPLE is the Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality, AFSCME’s grassroots political action committee. PEOPLE funds help elect union-friendly politicians, regardless of party affiliation, and lobby for support on issues important to working families. PEOPLE supports candidates who side with public employees on issues such as Social Security, pensions, health care and education funding. DC 37 members can enroll as PEOPLE MVPs by joining or increasing their current contribution to $2 or more a pay period.

Additionally, the DC 37 Political Action Dept. plans to bolster PEOPLE participation by assigning each local a PEOPLE coordinator who will receive training. The department will also train field staff to reach out to enroll members as PEOPLE MVPs, and will press to increase PEOPLE participation levels within the leadership.

“Currently 18 percent of DC 37 members are in PEOPLE, but some of the larger locals have much higher participation,” said Political Director Wanda Williams. “We are challenging locals large and small to increase their membership participation in PEOPLE to reach our goals.”

PEOPLE funds built the coalition that stopped President Bush from privatizing Social Security. Currently AFSCME is fighting to override Bush’s veto of S-CHIP, the children’s health funding bill. Palladino explained, “When Bush vetoed S-CHIP, he also killed the funds to hire additional public employees and ease our workload.”

“DC 37’s ability to fight anti-labor interests and big corporations depends on a well-funded PEOPLE program,” said Williams. “Every member can help by making PEOPLE contributions a priority, especially at the MVP level.”

“We can sway the course of politics by sharing information, contributing to the election of labor-friendly candidates, and coming out to vote for them on Election Day,” said Palladino. “If we fail to do so then we will lose for ourselves and our families.”

“Big corporations and right-wing politicians have a powerful influence on elected officials. They have lots of money, but we have people power,” said PEOPLE Chair Kevin Smith, who is president of Local 1655.

“We need to step up our PEOPLE contributions to the MVP levels without hesitation in the battle for our jobs, our benefits and the services we provide. PEOPLE dollars give us a fighting chance to win.”