Custodians at the 10 campuses of the University of California (UC) scored a major victory in their fight for better wages and to put an end to the outsourcing of groundskeepers. UC and AFSCME Local 3299 members reached a settlement that mandates wage increases for all UC custodians and allows the replaced groundskeepers to be brought on as full UC employees effective July 1, 2007.

The agreement was based on the recommendations of former state Senate Pres. Pro Tem John Burton, who mediated between both parties. The 18-month struggle was backed by high-profile boycotts of UC campuses by former President Bill Clinton, presidential candidate John Edwards, and actor/activist Danny Glover and also included boisterous student protests.

A promise is a promise.

Ten freshman members of Congress did what they said they would do: They voted to help America’s working families when they voted to raise the minimum wage, increase funding for veteran’s healthcare and strengthen congressional ethics rules.

Now AFSCME is saying thanks with a TV campaign praising the legislators for making good on their word and supporting America’s workers. As Pres. McEntee said: “If you stand with America’s working families, this union will stand with you.”

Check out the ads here.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer for women in the U.S. While the greatest risk is to older persons, women of all ages should take protective measures.

Early Detection of Breast Cancer: An AFSCME Guide is a good place to start when it comes to prevention. There are still many questions surrounding the disease, and the Sister Study – a survey being conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences – is looking for the answers and you can help.

By Sept. 2007, the Sister Study hopes to identify 50,000 women whose sisters had breast cancer. It is important for women from different ethnic groups and backgrounds to participate so that the study’s results benefit everyone. The women needed most at this time are blue collar workers, African Americans, Latinas (for Spanish, visit www.estudiodehermanas.org), Native Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders and all women over 55.