By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees President Gerald W. McEntee called a special conference of more than 100 union officials in Washington, D.C., Dec. 9 and 10 to address the impact of the 2002 elections and the current nationwide budget crisis.

And on Jan 14, all New York State AFSCME affiliates convened in Albany to strategize on the union’s statewide political agenda.

“We’re under the Bush siege,” Mr. McEntee said. “We can no longer afford to do business as usual. Our mission is to develop a battle plan for working families to take back America in 2004 and get the states on the road to economic recovery.”

“Take Back America,” the theme of the highly charged meeting, is a top-priority campaign aimed at addressing the political and fiscal crises unions and working families face under the new, more conservative U.S. Congress and stiffened campaign-finance restrictions.

“Trade unionists have become the frontline targets in the Republicans’ national agenda to dismantle labor unions and privatize public sector jobs,” said Political Action Director Wanda Williams. “We have no choice but to stand up and fight back, and make sure the mistakes made in the 2002 election cycle do not repeat themselves. Our very existence as a union depends on it.”

DC 37 Research and Negotiations Director Dennis Sullivan and Assistant Director Michael Musaraca participated in the Wash-hington meeting, as did representatives of Locals 371, 1457 and 1549.

Participants agreed that as they build momentum for 2003 and 2004 political activity, the union must focus their strategy on protecting public sector jobs.

AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy made strong recommendations on how unions can fight back. He encouraged leaders to intensify voter registration efforts and build stronger working relationships with groups like the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities.

To promote an effective Take Back America campaign, Mr. McEntee said the responsibility and effort must be made clear, must be shared by the international union and the affiliated locals and must involve each and every union member. “This is the time for us to strategize like never before. Mobilize like never before. And act like never before,” he said.

“ ‘Take Back America’ is a two-year campaign to get out our message, increase our fundraising efforts through the PEOPLE program, and mobilize more members and staff,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts at the Albany event.

“We have signed on to this program to work in unison with other affiliates,” Ms. said. By so doing we can mobilize a statewide infrastructure of over 400,000 AFSCME members, which will give us an even stronger voice in the public policy debate.”