Public Employee Press

Activists mobilize

By GREGORY N. HEIRES



Over 600 activists went to boot camp at the union March 12 to become soldiers in DC 37's fightback against the attack on public-sector workers and the vital services they provide.

They learned how they could combat the nationwide campaign to destroy the power of public-sector unions and work against the state and local assaults on the livelihood of working families and the poor.

"We are in a war, brothers and sisters," said Associate Director Oliver Gray. "The plan is to take away what the union has fought so hard to gain over the years. It starts with Republican mayors and governors and ends up cutting your paychecks."

The activists gathered as the nation was gripped by the high drama in Wisconsin, where Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed a controversial law that strips the collective bargaining rights of state workers, including thousands of members of DC 37's national union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Republican governors and legislators in over 35 states are pushing for legislation to undermine public employees' union protections.

"If they can do it in Wisconsin, there is a possibility that they could do it in New York," said Eligibility Specialist 2 Dwayne Butts, a member of Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549. "You have to head it off at the pass."

"The attack on the unions seems to be countrywide," said Patricia Miller, a retired Local 371 member. "It's a rollback to the fifties. These attacks, if successful, will demean and denigrate our quality of life."

"The rich are trying to take everything away from the middle class and the poor," DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts said.

She expressed alarm over the state budget, which reduces spending on health services and education by $2 billion. And she denounced Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's procurement policy, which allocates more than $10 billion for contracts. A significant number of the city's 17,000 contracts are with out-of-state and even foreign firms, Roberts noted.

"Are you ready for a fight?" asked Political Action Director Wanda Williams. "Yes!" shouted the activists.

Williams gave an overview of the union's fightback campaign, which includes legislative training, lobbying, community organizing, electronic networking and education, media outreach and spreading the word in the workplace.

New York: A battleground State

New York is among 12 "battleground states" identified by AFSCME where members face particularly grave threats.

Jessica Weinstein, the national union's New York State campaign manager, spoke at the conference, which DC 37 organized with the help of Yolanda Medina, AFSCME's field education coordinator for the state.

"You hold the key to our victory in New York," Weinstein told the activists. AFSCME Education Director Elissa McBride and Eastern Region Communication Specialist Kevin Hanes also gave presentations.

Sonte DuCote, AFSCME's New York State battleground campaign outreach coordinator, accompanied DC 37 Assistant Political Action Director Erica Vargas in leading a session on political activism. In group exercises, activists compiled a list of the union's opponents (topped by Mayor Bloomberg and Gov. Andrew Cuomo) and a series of fight-back slogans.

DC 37 Associate Director Henry Garrido discussed the union's efforts to curtail contracting out. The union is pushing for legislation that would require contractors to accept a 10 percent reduction in their fees, and it is pressing the city to do a better job of collecting revenues. That action would make the mayor's planned downsizing of 10,000 positions through layoffs and attrition unnecessary, Garrido said.

"We are fighting for our lives," said DC 37 Field Operations Director Barbara Ingram-Edmonds, who urged activists to participate in upcoming mass leafleting campaigns.

DC 37 Secretary Cliff Koppelman called on members to reach out to their City Council representatives as the union seeks restorations in the city budget.

"We need to be very clear and focused," said John Lefferty, an activist with Rent Regulation Services Employees Local 1359. "We need to make sure our members are involved in the fightback."