Day 4 of AFSCME’s 38th International Convention: Hope was in the air when U.S. Senator Barack Obama spoke to thousands of cheering AFSCME activists today. Even though he spoke via satellite, we could feel the energy of his words as he called for “jobs for the jobless and hope for the hopeless.”

Shirley Brown

Obama told the inspiring story of Shirley Brown, a housekeeper at Resurrection Health Care’s Westlake Hospital in Illinois, and a leader in workers’ efforts to win a voice and dignity on the job with AFSCME. Senator Obama has been an active supporter and has spoken at two rallies in support of Resurrection workers. He also signed a letter to Resurrection CEO Joseph Toomey urging him to dialogue with employees.

In addition, Senator Obama renewed his commitment to make sure the Employee Free Choice Act becomes law. The Employee Free Choice Act would allow employees to form a union without employer interference and intimidation.

Senator Obama was preceded by U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton.

Watch an excerpt from Senator Obama’s address:

Day 4 of AFSCME’s 38th International Convention: Hillary Clinton arrived at AFSCME’s Convention today to loud cheers and warm applause from the delegates. She was smart, compelling, and gracious. She thanked AFSCME for being such an important part of her campaign. “From the very beginning, I counted on you and you never let me down.”

And she promised not to let us down – to continue to fight for working people and the public services that make our nation strong.

At the close of her speech, her escorts started to lead her backstage. She had another idea, and headed to the throngs of AFSCME members so she could shake their hands and thank them personally.

Watch an excerpt from Sen. Clinton’s address:

Day 3 of AFSCME’s 38th International Convention: Organizing was in the spotlight yesterday as delegates heard inspiring stories of successful campaigns and contract fights, bruising battles against anti-union bosses and exciting accounts by volunteer member organizers (VMOs) who are helping workers win a voice on the job.

Led by Brian Blackledge, a corrections officer and member of Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA)/Local 11, the special program featured testimonials from eight members who described how joining the union changes lives. Child care providers from Wisconsin and Michigan, a registered nurse from California and a utilities worker from Oklahoma all talked about doing what many said was impossible.

AFSCME members who work for school bus operator First Student Inc. spoke about the threats they faced while trying to organize and the thrill of victory when they won. The international company – the largest school bus contractor worldwide – is notorious for threatening and intimidating workers and union organizers.

As a VMO, Blackledge helped workers fight for bargaining rights in Kentucky. He urged delegates to get involved and become VMOs themselves.

Watch these inspiring members below:

AFSCME members chanted “No Contract, No Peace!” and “Stand up, Fight back!” in front of UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus yesterday to support Local 3299’s fight for a fair contract and an end to poverty wages.

Hundreds more marched outside of Moscone Center to protest Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s threat to cut the wages of more than 200,000 state workers, instead of pursuing a responsible solution to the state’s budget crisis.

Day 3 of AFSCME’s 38th International Convention: Former Vice President, Nobel Prize Laureate and winner of the 2002 presidential election Al Gore addressed AFSCME’s 38th International Convention, where he was warmly and enthusiastically welcomed by the Green Machine.

Gore spoke of his long history with AFSCME, the importance of public services, the environmental crisis the world faces and and our ability to save the planet through the use of renewable resources.

And he talked of the need for change in Washington, saying, “The only obstacle to accomplishing change is political will, but in the United States of America political will is a renewable resource.” On AFSCME’s role in making that change happen he said, “Over the years, I’ve repeated the slogan that I learned from my father and you’ve heard this so many times before: ‘Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and organize.’ That is a big part of what we count on you all to do and what I want to help you do.”

Day 3 of AFSCME’s 38th International Convention: Inspired by Pres. Gerald W. McEntee’s call “to tell our story about the tremendous value of the services we provide in each and every community across this country,” delegates enthusiastically participated yesterday in the first-ever Special Caucuses on Promoting Public Services. Members from across the nation who are involved in similar work came together in 21 unique caucuses to address common concerns and strategies.

Saul Schniderman of the Library of Congress Professional Guild Local 2910 (Federal Employees Council 26) put it this way:

“Our jobs are at risk because of privatization. We need to fight the privateers with a message that what’s at stake is not our union but the public interest.”

Delegates affirmed this point yesterday by adopting Resolution 84, which calls on the union to run various programs to promote public services.

Visit the AFSCME.org website to see video about these Special Caucuses on Promoting Public Services.

Day 2 of AFSCME’s 38th International Convention: In addition to a stirring speech by Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy, the important work of public service workers across the nation was featured during a special “We Make America Happen” program on Tuesday. The program was led by Jim Howell, executive director of Connecticut Council 15.

Through a blend of video and live member testimonies, delegates learned about the different ways AFSCME members make America happen as workers in the public sector, and as activists in politics and grassroots organizing. Watch an excerpt from Yolanda Gonzales, senior food service worker at the University of California, Local 3299:

Visit the AFSCME.org Convention site for more video from Tuesday, including testimony from Michelle Mason, direct care worker at the Bellefontaine Habilitation Center, Local 2370 (Missouri Council 72); Mike McGuire, house inspector in the City of Langley, Local 1896 (Pennsylvania Council 13); and Mike Flaherty, equipment mechanic for the City of San Diego, Local 127 (California Council 36).

AFL-CIO Exec. Vice Pres. Arlene Holt Baker, a former AFSCME International Union area director in California, also addressed the Convention. Today, delegates heard from former Vice President Al Gore.

For photos and more convention coverage, go to www.afscme.org/convention.

Day 2 of AFSCME’s 38th International Convention: AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy delivered the main address to delegates today. In his speech, Lucy called the fight against privatization nothing less than a fight to save our nation.

Lucy also spoke movingly of the long history that led up to June 3rd, the day Barack Obama won enough votes to secure the nomination of the Democratic Party for President of the United States. Said Lucy:

“To understand Tuesday night, June 3rd, you have to understand the journey from Goree Island to Charleston, South Carolina, crossing over five thousand miles of ocean chained in the bottom of a ship… To understand Tuesday night, June 3rd, you have to understand the sacrifice of Fannie Lou Hamer, Viola Liuzzo, Rosa Parks, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, Jimmy Lee Jackson, Medgar Evers, E.D. Nixon, the walkers in Montgomery and the marchers in Selma, and the four little girls in a church in Birmingham… And as we look toward the future we do so understanding that nothing is certain but all things are possible.”

Watch an excerpt below:

Day 1 of AFSCME’s 38th International Convention: Unity and Victory was the theme as Alice Goff, president of California Council 36 and an International vice president welcomed the nearly 6,000 delegates, alternates and guests to her home state, reminding us of the great importance of the November 2008 elections. “We must come together,” she declared.

President McEntee, in his keynote address, called for members to work together to meet our biggest challenges: to elect pro-worker candidates across the country and build public support for the vital public services that make our communities a better place to live, work and raise a family.

“The stakes are too high – too high – for our nation to elect another President who doesn’t respect our work, doesn’t respect our families and doesn’t respect the public services that America depends on and that our members provide,” McEntee said.

The day’s program, which was chaired by former International Vice Pres. Russell Okata and included testimonials from members from CA, HI, NY, OH, OR and IL, underscored our common commitment to make this country a better place for working families.

“You know something is wrong when Big Business is getting their bailout packages handed to them from the government but all working people seem to be getting are foreclosure notices. I want a President who will do the right thing,” declared Davida Russell, a school bus driver in Cuyahoga County, OH, and state vice president of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees/AFSCME Local 4.

Russell was joined at the podium by Lorraine Guest, president of Local 215 (New York’s DC 1707); Michael Hanna, vice president of Local 88 (Oregon Council 75); Margarita Jaramillo, member of United Domestic Workers (UDW/NUHHCE Local 1199); Lori Laidlaw, member of Local 817 (Illinois Council 31); and Kim Wallace, member of New York’s Civil Service Employees Association/AFSCME Local 1000.

For pictures, videos and more of the AFSCME 38th International Convention, check out www.afscme.org.

Day 1 of AFSCME’s 38th International Convention: President Gerald W. McEntee got delegates jumping to their feet when he asked them to, “stand up if you’re ready to make a better America happen!”

In his keynote address, McEntee told the crowd of nearly 6,000 that, “Together we will build an even more powerful union! Together we will reach out and organize the unorganized! We will negotiate contracts that make our families strong! Together we will fight for a new America!” Watch an excerpt below: