Day 4 of AFSCME’s 38th International Convention: Activism was celebrated on day 4 with an inspiring program emceed by Lamont Wilkerson of New Jersey Council 1, Local 2209), and a Volunteer Member Educator since 2002.

Things got cooking when Deborah Jeffers, the head cook for a school in Salem, MA told how she helped build a partnership of parents, workers, principals, teachers, school committee members, and students to fight to keep freshly cooked meals prepared by skilled AFSCME workers. Not only did they win, they’ve now been selected to run the food service program in 2008-2009, and Jeffers is taking a year leave of absence to become interim Director of the program.

Natasha Pranger, a Forensic Scientist and a member of Local 304, Council 28 in Washington State went from fee payer to Next Waver. And now she’s helping organize the Next Wave of AFSCME members 35 and under.

And Janet Ramsey (Wisconsin Council 24), a Medical Lab Tech for almost 30 years at the University of Wisconsin Hospital, attended an AFSCME women’s leadership training in San Jose, California where she learned how to organize – and hasn’t stopped organizing since.

Watch these inspiring AFSCME activists here:

From AFSCME’s 38th International Convention: Congratulations to International President Gerald W. McEntee and International Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy who were both re-elected by delegates to another four-year term.

The following International Vice Presidents were elected by Convention delegates:

California – George Popyack and Lakesha Harrison
Capital – Glenard Middleton
Central – Dave Warrick
CSEA – Danny Donohue, Mary Sullivan and George Boncoraglio
Eastern – Sherryl Gordon
Hawaii – Randolph Perreira
Illinois – Henry Bayer and Roberta Lynch
Michigan – Albert Garrett
Midwestern – Danny Homan
New York City – Eddie Rodriguez and Veronica Montgomery-Costa
New York State – Raglan George Jr.
North-Central – Eliot Seide
Northern New England – Anthony Caso
Northwestern – Greg Devereux and Ken Allen
NUHHCE/1199 – Henry Nicholas and Kathy Sackman
Ohio – John Lyall
OAPSE – Joe Rugola
OCSEA – Eddie Parks
Pennsylvania – David Fillman and Mike Fox
Puerto Rico – Braulio Torres
Southeastern – Jeanette Wynn
Southern New England – Salvatore Luciano
Southwestern – Greg Powell
United Domestic Workers – Douglas Moore
Wisconsin – Michael D. Murphy

Resolutions
Delegates to AFSCME’s 38th International Convention adopted several resolutions, among them were these calling on AFSCME to:

• provide each council and large, unaffiliated local with assistance to facilitate strategic planning work and implementation (#12)
• enhance member communications and activism through the use of new media (#24)
• reform government contracting to protect against privatization problems (#51)
• promote public service workers and the public services that keep our families safe and make our communities strong (#84)
• protect deserving homeowners from bank foreclosures (#87)
• fight for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act (#7)
• seek neutrality agreements during organizing campaigns (#16)
• provide resources to develop the union’s “Next Wave” program(#59)
• lead the fight to defeat Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) efforts to slash the salaries of California’s state workers (#98)
• fight for universal health care (#19 and #81)
• build member activism (#77)
• redouble efforts to raise PEOPLE dollars (#83)
• and support our troops and veterans, and urge the quickest possible withdrawal consistent with troop safety (#84)

New Legislative District
On Wednesday, delegates adopted Amendment Number 7, establishing the United Domestic Workers District, consisting of California Locals 3930 and 4034, formerly of the NUHHCE/1199 District. The 57,000 members of the newly created UDW District are home care workers throughout the state of California.

Day 4 of AFSCME’s 38th International Convention: This day was about activism, so, fittingly, we also honored the 40th anniversary of AFSCME Memphis sanitation workers’ strike and the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ruth Davis, proud President of Local 1733, introduced a special video saying, “The video honors Local 1733’s fight, determination and their victory that underlies not only Local 1733, but all of AFSCME and the House of Labor.”

See the video below:

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.