Welcome to Council 5

Recount Done:
SENATOR FRANKEN!

On January 5, the Minnesota Canvassing Board certified recount results showing AFSCME-endorsed Al Franken winning the U.S. Senate race with 225 more votes than incumbent Norm Coleman.

Unfortunately, Coleman isn’t ready to congratulate Franken on his victory.  Instead, he’s instructed his campaign lawyers to challenge the results in court.  That could leave the seat vacant for weeks.

“Senator Franken should be representing Minnesota next week when the Senate meets to make important decisions about economic recovery,” said Council 5 President Mike Buesing.  “Norm Coleman and President Bush have been marching lockstep on the backs of working families and change is overdue.”

AFSCME Council 5 sent dozens of volunteers and contributed financially to help Franken with the recount.

Save the dates...
AFSCME Day-On-The-Hill

Tues, March 10 – Legislative Conference
Wed, March 11 – State Capitol Action & Legislator Visits
Crowne Plaza ▪ 11 East Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul Riverfront

Day-On-The-Hill is our annual opportunity to share AFSCME’s legislative priorities with the Governor, state senators and representatives.  This year’s event will be two days.  Participants are invited to a legislative conference on March 10, followed by a State Capitol action and legislator visits on March 11.  If you can attend only one day, choose March 11.

We need to pack the rotunda with at least 1000 AFSCME members in order to beat back attempts to starve, shrink and privatize public services.  Those threats are more serious than ever due to a staggering state budget deficit of nearly $5 billion.

Join us to share these legislative priorities:

Click here for registration and other information on DOTH. Local presidents and other activists received this information in the mail. Due to technical difficulties you cannot yet register online starting Jan. 5 as planned; we hope to have that up and running soon. Click link above to locate the printable registration form you can complete & mail to the AFSCME Area Office. Or phone in your registration or other questions to Pearl Coleman 651-451-7678.

FAIR TAXES, NOT UNALLOTMENT

This week Gov. Pawlenty is expected to exercise his emergency budget cutting power to balance the state budget.  He could unallot as much as $271 million, including severe cuts in state aid to cities and counties.  For a complete list of potential cuts to cities, visit www.lmc.org.

Instead, the Governor could raise $300 million with a 1 percent increase on Minnesota’s wealthiest taxpayers.  Pawlenty says the deficit is an opportunity to shrink government; we think it’s an opportunity for fair taxes.

Today, the wealthiest 1 percent, who earn over $355,000, pay only 9.6 percent of their income in taxes.  Meanwhile, typical Minnesota workers, who earn $38,000, pay 12.2 percent.  As an example of fair taxes, Twins owner Carl Pohlad can afford to pay at the same rate as average Minnesotans.

Immediately call the Governor (651-296-3391) and your state legislators (to find out who represents you, dial 651-296-2146 or toll free 1-800-657-3550).  Tell them fair taxes are better than unallotment.  Working families have already tightened their belts; it’s time for the wealthy to do their part.

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PAWLENTY THREATENS SALARY FREEZE

Gov. Pawlenty has threatened to freeze the salaries of state employees starting January 1.  He’d have to break AFSCME’s contract to deny step increases.  And he can’t lock us into zeros before we negotiate our next contract.

He also advises cities, counties and school districts to freeze salaries.  Worse yet, he’s asking the Legislature to cut state aid to cities and counties this year.

Here’s our response to the Governor:

Call Gov. Pawlenty (651-296-3391), Speaker Kelliher (651-296-0171) and Majority Leader Pogemiller (651-296-7809).  Tell them:

TAXPAYERS WILL PAY IF STATE SERVICES ARE PRIVATIZED

House Minority Leader Rep. Siefert (R-Marshall) wants to put state services up for sale.  He says the problem is union wages and benefits.  The solution may be to privatize prisons, the lottery, airports, mowing, etc.   Hear his comments on MPR’s Midmorning show (http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/programs/midmorning/ - cue audio to 36:29). 

Privatization is a scam to put corporate profits over people.  People pay more, get less and lose accountability.  To read AFSCME’s response to Seifert, click here. 

Call Rep. Seifert at 651-296-5374 or toll free at 1-888-234-1242.  Tell him that a garage sale of government services won’t solve Minnesota’s budget crisis.  Ask him to jumpstart the economy by creating good jobs, not cutting them.

Unionization Improves Pay and Benefits for Women

In 2007, women made up 45 percent of union members.  If the share of women in unions continues to grow at the same rate as it has over the last 25 years, women will be a majority of the unionized workforce by 2020.

A new report by the Center for Economic and Policy Research shows that unionization raises women’s wages by 11.2 percent – about $2 an hour – compared to their non-union peers.  The report, "Unions and Upward Mobility for Women Workers," found that women in unions were about 19 percent more likely to have employer-paid health insurance and 25 percent more likely to have an employer-paid pension.  These union gains are on par with the gains of a college education.

If you’d like to organize your workplace with AFSCME, call 651-450-4990 and ask to speak with an organizer.

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State Employees Prepare to Bargain

On November 21st, 368 state employees laid the groundwork for their next contract.  Six units – representing craft, service, health, office, technical and corrections workers – met to review contract proposals submitted by local unions.  Each unit also elected members to serve on the master bargaining team. 

The team will present its contract proposal to the employer on March 2.  Watch for “Bargaining Updates” on the lower right margin of this website. 

Pledge to Do Your Part

With a projected $4 billion state deficit, it will be an uphill battle to get a fair raise and affordable health care.  That’s why every state employee needs to help make this the most powerful contract campaign ever. 

Watch for contract pledge cards and sign up to do your part.  Can you wear a green t-shirt to show solidarity?  Can you post a sign in your cubicle?  Meet with legislators?  Talk with other union members at your worksite?  Participate in a job action?  You decide – there’s a role for everyone in getting a fair contract.

Our goal is to collect 7,500 pledge cards by January 17.  To see how we’re doing, click here. 

State Contract Campaign “For the Common Good”

Officers of the State Employee Policy Committee (President John Hillyard, DOC Local 600; Treasurer Jane Spaude, MnSCU Local 753; Secretary Sue Edwardh, DHS Local 390; and Vice President Darren Trast, DOT Local 2792) kicked off their “Common Good” contract campaign to get public support for state services.

To get involved, contact AFSCME Contract Campaign Coordinator Chris Cowen at 651-287-0531 or chris.cowen@afscmemn.org.

TELL RED CROSS:
BARGAIN A FAIR CONTRACT,
KEEP SAFE BLOOD AVAILABLE

AFSCME lab workers marched on the American Red Cross November 15 to demand a fair contract with affordable health care. 

“Saving lives is our top priority and we want to settle this contract, but we can’t do that until the Red Cross provides us with the information we need to negotiate wages and benefits,” explains negotiator Nola Lynch.

Please make two calls today to avert an unfair labor practices strike and a shortage of blood.  Tell the Red Cross to keep safe blood available by bargaining in good faith and settling a fair contract with the lab workers who save lives. To help us keep safe blood available, click here.

Please call:
Howie Walz, Division VP – 208-484-3816
Dr. Mair, Interim CEO – 651-290-8994

RED CROSS LAB WORKERS SAVE LIVES

Blood could be unavailable if lab workers are forced to strike at the American Red Cross in St. Paul.

Today 68 lab workers are working without a contract, which expired October 31.  These highly skilled workers safely process donated blood and blood products for 111 hospitals in Minnesota, western Wisconsin and eastern South Dakota.  Their customers include Regions, Allina, Fairview and many Mayo Clinic-affiliated hospitals.

Blood donor Colleen McGilp supports the lab workers.  She has donated 60 gallons of blood and says, “I won’t donate again until these workers get a fair contract.”

Duluth Workers Protest City Shutdown

When Mayor Ness shutdown the City of Duluth on November 17, furloughed city employees told residents “We Want to Work.”  The doors at City Hall were locked.  Parks, libraries and offices were dark.  And most services came to a grinding halt. 

“AFSCME members want to provide the services that Duluth residents want and need, but Mayor Ness wants to shrink and shutdown government,” explains Eliot Seide, director of AFSCME Council 5.

The city employees who will be forced out of work for four days would prefer to be serving the public.  Laid off park and library workers would like to return to work.  Zookeepers, who have been told that they will be laid off by year’s end, would like to keep their jobs, but their work is being contracted out to non-union replacements. 

PRESIDENT OBAMA
We Did It!

President-elect Obama told America in his victory speech, "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.”

With the most ambitious political program in AFSCME history, our union helped Barack Obama take back the White House for working families.  Not because of the money we spent, but because of the energy of our members and staff.  Our volunteers were amazing!

U.S. Senate Democrats gained at least five seats, but fell short of a filibuster-proof majority.  Still, the gains will help Obama move the legislation he wants.

Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race will be decided by a recount, which is likely to last into December.  Norm Coleman leads Al Franken by only several hundred votes out of 2.9 million cast.  Franken and Coleman each have 42 percent of the vote; Independent candidate Dean Barkley finished with 15 percent.     

In the Minnesota House, the DFL majority gained two working-family representatives.  While it’s not a veto-proof majority, it’s enough to be a formidable challenge to Gov. Pawlenty. In the Minnesota Senate, we gained one seat with a surprise win in SD 16.

Change has come.  Hope is here.  And our hard work begins today.  Now we must help our elected leaders to rebuild the middle class, fix health care and give workers a stronger voice.  And we must hold every politician accountable for promises made to hardworking AFSCME members.

Convention Wrap-up

Nearly 700 delegates, alternates and guests gathered in Bloomington for the 4th Annual AFSCME Minnesota Council 5 convention.  “Organize for Power” was the theme of this year’s event. To watch a 20-minute video of convention highlights, click here.

Check out these materials, which were shared at the convention.

Unionization Improves Pay and Benefits for Young Workers

Despite being better educated, young workers have fallen farther behind over the past 30 years.  For many young people, union membership is the key to a better future.

A new report by the Center for Economic and Policy Research shows that unionization raises the pay of young workers by about $1.75 an hour.  The report, "Unions and Upward mobility for Young Workers," found that young unionized workers – those ages 18 to 29 – earned, on average, 12.4 percent more than their non-union peers.  In addition, young workers in unions were much more likely to have health insurance benefits and a pension plan.  The full report can be found here.

"Younger workers need to unionize," said Council 5’s Organizing Director Eric Lehto, who is 33.  "Young people don’t have to be poorly paid or go without benefits."  If you’d like to organize your workplace with AFSCME, call 651-450-4990 and ask to speak with an organizer.

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Are Your Pension Benefits Secure?

Recent events on Wall Street have raised questions about the financial impact of the volatile stock market on Minnesota’s public pension systems. 

Click here for a response from MSRS. For more MSRS information, visit http://www.msrs.state.mn.us/
Click here for a response from PERA. For more PERA information, visit http://www.mnpera.org/

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Moose Lake & Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center
Hold Informational Pickets

Members of Local 1307 at Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center are protesting layoffs in the Department of Human Services by holding informational pickets.  Layoffs threaten worker safety and public safety.  Locals from around the state are mobilizing because of these dangerous cuts. To watch a short clip of the picket, click here.

Last week Moose Lake DHS Local 1092 held an informational picnic with legislators to educate and talk about the layoffs.  Over 40 members attended, ate and planned for future actions.

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St. Peter Layoffs Threaten
Public Safety and Worker Safety

Local 404 members who were laid off this week at the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter held a news conference to share their concern that the cuts put public safety and worker safety at risk.

The facility houses sex offenders and people who are mentally ill and dangerous.  Community members are worried because it’s near this playground and dorms at Gustavus Adolphus College.

After convicted rapist Michael Dale Benson escaped in 2006, Governor Pawlenty pledged that no other sex offender would escape under his watch.  “With these layoffs, he’s given the inmates the keys to get out,” a security counselor told reporters.

Click here to watch the news report: www.keyc.tv.
For more information, visit www.union404.com.

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BUST LORI SWANSON FOR UNION BUSTING!

In the face of fear, attorneys in the Attorney General’s Office want to join AFSCME.  In March they courageously wrote a letter asking their boss for recognition of their union.  Soon after, Attorney General Lori Swanson held captive audience meetings to coerce her employees into opposing the union.  She summoned small groups of the attorneys to a conference room.  With two supervisors and two judges watching, the workers were asked to mark an anti-union ballot saying that the letter requesting union rights didn’t speak for them. 

Let’s end the fear and intimidation, so the office can get back to protecting consumers. 

Call Attorney General Lori Swanson immediately at 651-296-6196.  Tell her to stop union busting and recognize the union chosen by her attorneys.

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AFSCME Council 5, AFL-CIO
300 Hardman Avenue So, South St Paul MN 55075 • (651) 450-4990, fax (651) 455-1311
211 Second Street W, Duluth MN 55802 • (218) 722-0577, fax (218) 722-6802
West Central Office, 1305 First Street So, (mail to PO Box 899) Willmar MN 56201 • (320) 235-2344, fax (320) 235-1613