Public Employee Press

PEOPLE MVPs can win the White House

Join the team, step up your game and become an MVP as one of PEOPLE’s Most Valuable Participants. DC 37’s national union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, has launched a new campaign to increase fundraising and voter participation and win back the White House in 2008.

PEOPLE, Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality, isAFSCME’s political action committee and one of the nation’s largest grassroots fundraising organizations. Your PEOPLE contributions can help decide who the next president is and who controls Congress. In the 2008 elections, at least 33 U.S. Senate seats, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and many state and local offices will be at stake.
To ensure victory for unions and working people, AFSCME’s 21st Century Committee has called for the entire union to:

• increase PEOPLE enrollment,
• sign up 25 percent of PEOPLE members into the MVP Club, and
• raise at least $35 million in PEOPLE contributions.

“We need new members,” said DC 37 PEOPLE Committee Chair Kevin D. Smith, “and we want current members to raise their contribution to $4 a pay ­period so we can win back the White House and expand the pro-union majorities in both houses of Congress.”

For about $4 per pay period, PEOPLE members who become MVPs can help DC37 and AFSCME achieve their political goals in 2008,” Smith added. MVPs will contribute about $100 a year and get new incentives, including the green PEOPLE jacket.

Winning with PEOPLE dollars would mean electing leaders who would

• support the needs of working families, labor’s right to organize and individuals’ right to join unions;
• end the war in Iraq, bring U.S. troops home safely, support them with jobs and fund quality care for the injured;
• end anti-worker policies that have threatened to eliminate Social Security; and
• increase funding for the vital services public employees provide, such as health, education and environmental protection.

“If just 25 percent of PEOPLE members enroll as MVPs, AFSCME will reach its goal of $35 million in annual contributions,” said DC 37 Political Director Wanda Williams. PEOPLE funds support politicians, regardless of party, who stand up for workers’ rights and understand public workers’ needs.

DC 37’s Political Action Dept. plans to recruit 56 PEOPLE coordinators, one in each local, and give them special training to help reach the union’s goals. Shortly, DC 37 will speed up PEOPLE checkoff enrollment and offer online enrollment for active members. DC 37 retirees can already make PEOPLE contributions through ­auto­matic pension deductions.

“Support from the locals is vital to our success,” Smith said. “We will be reaching out to newer and younger members. PEOPLE participation counts us in and amplifies our voice.”

DC 37 members already enrolled can increase their voluntary payroll deductions to $4 or more per pay period to become MVPs. The minimum voluntary contribution is 50 cents per pay period. To enroll in PEOPLE or become an MVP, please call the DC 37 Political Action Dept. at 212-815-1550.

— Diane S. Williams