For four years now, workers at Resurrection Health Care in Illinois have sought union representation with AFSCME Council 31 amid the stubborn opposition of their employer.

Their struggle, however, is more than just a fight to assert their rights as workers and make their voices heard. The hospital chain’s rapid expansion is not only having a severe impact on working conditions but also on patient care. Resurrection’s nearly 8,000 employees, including 2,000 nurses, are concerned about the service the hospital is providing the community, and rightfully so.

Poor management practices recently led Fitch Ratings, one of the nation’s top credit rating agencies, to downgrade Resurrection’s debt outlook from stable to negative. If that wasn’t enough, the hospital’s anti-union practices elicited a complaint from the National Labor Relations Board. Resurrection had to settle with the NLRB and was required, among other things, to inform its employees that they have the right to express support for labor unions.

Resurrection’s authorities can’t seem to read the writing on the wall. Their workers’ fight is not just about unionizing. It’s about dignity… for its employees and for its patients.

For more information about Resurrection workers’ struggle, visit www.reformresurrection.org

Politicians continue to drag their collective feet when it comes to funding vital public services. As the time to adjourn for the year approaches, the do-nothing Congress remains faithful to its tradition and instead of voting on its annual spending bills– bills to fund vital services like health care, social services, and financing for student lending – it decided to dump all the work on the new majority. That is to say, most of the bills will have to wait until January, when the new Congress will convene.

The House and Senate already cleared a continuing resolution to fund government programs through December 8. The problem is that this continuing resolution restricts funding to the Republican-led House’s low proposed funding level, or last year’s enacted level, which do not provide for increasing needs, inflation, and long-term under-funding.

Congress reconvenes December 4 to attempt to complete further action on the remaining 2006 spending bills. If they fail to make progress, they will have to continue insufficient funding, with ensuing budget nightmares for vital public services and America’s social safety net.

For more information, check out the Emergency Campaign for America’s Priorities.

Thanksgiving marks a time of appreciation. While most AFSCME members will be enjoying a well-deserved holiday or getting paid overtime for working the holiday, we might want to think about the numerous nonunion workers who don’t get paid holidays, sick leave or other decent benefits. Whereas the median earnings for a union worker average $801 a week, nonunion employees make an average $622 per week.

More working people than ever want to join a union, but employers routinely harass, intimidate and coerce their employees who want to exercise such a right. Resolutions are usually reserved for New Years, but perhaps this Thanksgiving in addition to being grateful, we can each resolve to think about what we can do to help those without the rights, benefits and protections of a union. Maybe it’s as simple as speaking out the next time you hear someone disparaging unions. Maybe it’s taking action online in support for the Employee Free Choice Act. Or maybe it’s becoming an AFSCME Volunteer Member Organizer to support other public service workers who are trying to form a union with AFSCME (often in the face of stiff opposition from management.) After all, things like paid holidays and employer-paid health care do not happen spontaneously. As the old saying goes, union members are the folks who brought you the weekend.

With that in mind, have a happy holiday. You deserve it because of your hard work (AFSCME Members Proudly Serving America video) and so do your fellow workers, unionized or not.

CA and NM university workers have been busy in the past few weeks fighting for fairness.

Custodians from the University of California and AFSCME Local 3299 are waging a fierce battle for pay equity. Although some of them have cleaned UC Berkeley’s dorms and classrooms for 5 years, they make a mere $12 an hour. Not only are they unable keep up with the cost of living, but they earn significantly less than counterparts from other universities in the area. Allied with students and community supporters, they engaged in civil disobedience (click here to see the video) as well as filed unfair labor practice charges against the university.

Struggling for better pay, fellow members from AFSCME New Mexico State University Local 2393 recently marched and delivered their wage increase petitions to the university administrators. In spite of its excellent financial health, NMSU is claiming the need to reduce costs and is hinting at the possibility of layoffs. With their jobs, health and safety at stake, NMSU employees marched for better pay in an event that garnered the attention of local television, issuing a call for the administration to work with them at the bargaining table.

Learn more about the battles that AFSCME members are waging by clicking on the above links and visiting our Web site regularly.

Last week, the voices of working families were heard loud and clear, and those voices said we are ready for change! Based on the election exit polls, union families provided at least two-thirds of the Democratic victory. AFSCME members did their part and likewise came out in full force to vote and help effect the change America so badly needed.

Both houses of Congress are now controlled by the Democrats, paving the way for pro-worker initiatives such as raising the minimum wage, strengthening Social Security and Medicare and making healthcare affordable and available for everyone. In addition, six governorships and seven state legislatures were gained by the Democrats — a huge win for public service workers. On November 7th, voters also raised the minimum wage in all six states where the initiative was on the ballot and rejected so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights initiatives in three states.

The mid-term elections signified an unprecedented effort on the part of AFSCME, as members across the nation mounted an aggressive effort to get voters to the polls. AFSCME members across the country made over 8 million telephone calls and distributed 7 million worksite fliers and direct mail pieces in targeted districts. The union spent $35 million on member mobilization, candidate contributions and “Get Out The Vote” (GOTV) activities in support of pro-worker candidates and initiatives. You can see for yourself the power of the AFSCME green machine at www.afscme.org by checking out our Election 2006 photo gallery and listening to AFSCME president McEntee discuss the election results.

From AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee

Today, Americans will make a choice. We will choose not to stay the course — but instead to change the course of our country. With our votes, we will demand a new direction in Iraq. With our votes, we will demand and end to the misplaced priorities that have meant tax cuts for the super wealthy paid for on the backs of middle America.

Today, we stand up for national security, job security, retirement security, and health care security. Today, we take back all of America for working families.

This election is personal for AFSCME members. It is not just about national issues. The results can directly affect our contracts. For years, the right wing has worked to weaken us at the bargaining table. If we elect a progressive majority in Washington and in state capitols across the country, we will have allies instead of adversaries in our effort for strong contracts with affordable health insurance, fair pay and real job security.

That’s why all across America, hundreds of thousands of AFSCME members have worked hard to make this change happen. From phone banking in Philadelphia to canvassing in Des Moines to door knocking in Spokane. In fact, y labor’s efforts, including those of Joel Gutzki, a member of AFSCME Local 1390 in Lansing MI, were recently profiled in an Associated Press story.

Today, we will show our brothers and sisters that their work mattered. Every workplace leaflet handed out, every phone call made, every door knocked on will mean fairer contracts, a bigger voice, and a stronger America.

Today, we will change America for the better. We have the power.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7 – a mere five days away. Have you had enough of the attacks on our Social Security, pensions and health care? Have you had enough of the mismanagement of the Iraq War? Have you had enough of scandal?

Most of us have. That’s according to our recent AFSCME election survey where 75% of respondents said they think our nation is seriously on the wrong track. If that’s the case, each and every one of us must do something about it.

Voting is our one and only chance to right thee wrongs in Washington, D.C. Sure, we can let our elected officials know how we feel while they are in office. But only once every two years do we get to hire or fire them.

What’s more, experts predict that less than half of eligible voters will go to the polls this Election Day. We can make the voice of working people even more influential by turning out to vote on November 7.

So click here and pledge to change America. Vote – and bring your co-workers and friends to vote – on November 7. Let’s show Washington that we’ve had enough.

While AFSCME President Gerald McEntee doesn’t believe we should take anything for granted on Election Day, some on the right believe that Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum is headed for near certain defeat.

In McEntee’s latest contribution to the Huffington Post, he takes conservative columnist David Brooks to task for praising Santorum while ignoring his atrocious record on issues that affect the poor and middle class.