SUMMER 2014

Thank you! communicating with our membership. Educating COVER My heartfelt thanks to the delegates, State our membership about the political climate in  A Letter From ASEA Executive Board is vital to our Union. Alaska has gone Executive Board, Executive Director and staff for President Val Kenny their hard work and dedication for successfully from a positive cash flow to a negative cash flow navigating through ASEA/AFSCME Local 52’s and State workers are taking the hit— from  Alaska’s 28th Legislative Comes To 15th Biennial Convention. Yes, we quarreled, Universal Space Standards to positions being left An End open and programs being cut. Unions are being argued and debated. Just like any other large  Famous Words of Solidarity family trying to get their voices heard. As a wise attacked at both the municipal and state level. Page 2 scholar once said, “Democracy is messy.” We must be diligent in supporting labor candidates for us to continue to live in  Did You Know ? One of the points of contention was my decision communities of our choice. We bring value to our not to ask for personal preferences when making communities by educating our children in local  The 15th Biennial Convention - From committee assignments. My intention was to try schools, volunteering for local charities, shopping A Delegate’s View something different in order to accommodate as at local grocery stores and supporting our chosen Page 3 many delegates as possible and to make an effort house of worship. We collectively bring economic to ensure the make-up of our committees had a and spiritual values to communities across the  Photos From the 15th Biennial good cross section of demographics and gender State of Alaska. Alaska works because we do! Convention equality. Did it work? Maybe, maybe not. But  Alaska’s 28th Legislative Comes To after hearing from a majority of delegates, it is The Convention has ended but the An End (continued from page 1) clear that delegates want to be asked for their conversation continues. Now the hard part starts. preferences, even if they can’t all be We need to change the political climate at the Page 4 accommodated. Lesson learned. State level. None of us can go it alone; we need our families to be involved. So sisters and  ASEA Health Trust Benefits Annual This Convention we invited two gubernatorial brothers, let us unite in the fight. Please Vote. Open Enrollment May 12 - June 6 candidates to speak as part of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52’s Strategic Plan on educating and President Val Kenny  Alaska’s 28th Legislative Comes To An End (continued from page 3)

The wrapped up its second resolved by the two chambers, most of the and final session April 25, 2014, five days later offensive language affecting teachers had been “There is no political democracy without economic than its expected adjournment date. Gaveling a removed. democracy. close to the 90-day session was put off while the The delayed adjournment pushed three ballot - Popula Banner Senate and House reconciled versions of the initiatives from the primary election in August to Governor’s education legislation. the General Election in November. The “There is nothing fairer than workmen having The legislation, House Bill 278, was opposed questions of Bristol Bay protection, marijuana unions for their mutual benefit.” by the ASEA Political Action Committee (PAC) legalization, and raising the Minimum Wage will - Will Rogers (1879-1935) , humorist, political and organized labor groups from the start. appear on the Nov. 4 ballot. commentator journalist, actor, in Freedom of the Press 1935 The bill contained inadequate funding for Proposition 1, the referendum to repeal the school districts, as well as harmful proposals Governor’s Big Oil welfare legislation Senate Bill “What can Labor do for itself? The answer is not affecting teachers — including increasing time to 21, remains on the Aug. 19 ballot. difficult. Labor can organize, it can unify; it can tenure from 3 to 5 years and a statewide salary SB 21 has resulted in billions of dollars in lost consolidate its forces. This done, it can demand schedule. revenue from reduced royalties on state and command. By the time the sticking point of one-time petroleum resources. Subsequently, the state is -Eugene Debs, in The Bending Cross, 1949 versus formula funding for education was spending money from savings to fund operating (From Great Labor Quotations Sourcebook and Reader Peter Bollen) Continued on page 3 Page 2 - SUMMER 2014 Solidarity Update

Did You Know That: This year it was my honor and pleasure to of the people of AFSCME make me glad and oh th Memorial Day was originally known as attend the 15 Biennial Convention of the so thankful that they are on our side. Alaska State Employees Association as an Decoration Day? We also heard from gubernatorial candidates elected delegate by the members of my Bill Walker and Byron Mallott who shared their Chapter. Thank you, Cook Inlet Chapter for that vision for Alaska's future. It was good to be able honor. It was my pleasure because it provided to hear and compare their message first-hand me the opportunity to meet and interact with and to ask them questions. brothers and sisters from across the State. Delegates represented woodland firefighters, All in all, thirty nine, (39) Resolutions and four fish and game people, nurses, caregivers, (4) Constitutional Amendments were proposed, correctional workers, heavy equipment amended and brought forth to be heard and operators and administrative personnel. Each voted on by the delegates. Thirty seven (37) of delegate came with a desire to preserve jobs the forty (40) proposed Resolutions were and improve working conditions for Alaskans. adopted and one, (1) of the four, (4) Did You Know That: The Convention was five (5) days, beginning Constitutional Amendments was passed. As with delegate education on the first day and summed up by the words of one brother Memorial Day originated in the years committee work sessions the next two days. waiting for a cab outside the hotel, “A lot of following the Civil War. It became a The Business Session of the Convention was on good work was done at this Convention.” federal holiday in 1971 when Congress Saturday and Sunday, March 15th and 16th. As you might expect, it is a huge commitment passed the Uniform Monday Holiday It was invigorating to be surrounded by so of time, energy and determination to organize Act, establishing Memorial Day as the many people who were dedicated to the and manage an event of this magnitude. last Monday in May to create a three- advancement and success of our Union; and Whether or not you were a delegate or perhaps day weekend for federal employees. who were committed to accomplishing the hard a member attendee, our members owe a big The original date observed had been work that it took to keep us moving forward. thank you to Executive Director Jim Duncan May 30th. Although there was fun and games, it wasn't all and each and every one of his staff for fun and games. Delegates came together in providing the commitment and putting in so their respective Committees to create, review many long hours to make our Convention and submit the Resolutions and Constitutional successful. Thank You! Amendments that would be heard and voted on I was proud, glad, sad and exhausted as I at Convention. Make no mistake, the Union is drove home. I was proud to have been a part of you and me. At Convention we direct how it all, glad that it was over, but also sad that it ASEA works and what it does. As you may was. I was tired but it was the kind of tired that expect, the process was not without some long was fulfilling and satisfying as in “Misson hours of debate and serious “gnashing of teeth.” Accomplished.” I encourage every ASEA Did You Know That: Peppered throughout our meetings and member to seek nomination and election to gnashing were some informative and somewhat represent their Chapter as a delegate to the Each year on Memorial Day a national th alarming presentations provided by our brothers Alaska State Employee Association's 16 moment of remembrance takes place and sisters of the American Federation of State Biennial Convention scheduled for March 2016. at 3:00 p.m. local time. County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). In the meantime, there are many ways to get This was not the first time I have enjoyed the involved— you can become a steward, work on company of these fine people who share our one of several committees, get elected to the fight. As an example of the commitment to our Executive Board or join the Political Action affiliation, AFSCME International President Lee Committee. In this organization every member Saunders provided a rousing Keynote Address has the opportunity to have their say and these on Saturday, March 15th. It is no secret that the are great ways to have a voice in your future. working class of this country and indeed our democracy is under attack and if we don't stand together now, we may not be able to stand In Solidarity together later. The caliber and professionalism Tony Lopez, Cook Inlet Chapter Solidarity UpdatePage 3 - SUMMER 2014

Delegates at ASEA 15th Biennial Convention Continued from page 1 and capital needs while Big Oil in Alaska has This session also featured essential budget made no commitment to turn tax cuts into bills that passed with language to fund state concrete benefits for the state. employee wages and benefits, including those for ASEA supports the ‘Vote Yes’ campaign to employees in the GGU and represented by pass Proposition 1 and repeal SB 21. ASEA. The second session of the Legislature is the Dozens of other bills were tracked by ASEA make-or-break time for pending bills. If not and received recommendations from the PAC Jim Duncan, ASEA Executive Vince Belltrami AFL-CIO passed by both chambers before adjournment, after members considered the benefits and risks Director with Lee Saunders, President , with Lee Saunders, to ASEA members. AFSCME International President AFSCME International President legislation will need to be reintroduced before being considered anew by the next Legislature. One such bill was the DMV fee skimming bill Teachers and public employees alike will see (SB 127) introduced by Sen. Cathy Giessel and increased stability in the PERS/TRS retirement opposed by the PAC. The bill would have allowed system that received a $3 billion lump sum private contractors, who already are permitted to payment toward the estimated $12 billion charge a service fee for registering vehicles, to unfunded liability. retain 15% of the DMV fees collected. Fianance Committee Meeting HB 385 also authorized annual payments to A fiscal analysis estimated that $2 million in amortize the entire liability by 2037 with a state revenue would be lost in this giveaway to provision to restore assets to the General Fund if banks, car dealers, and private DMV storefronts, all liabilities are satisfied. while DMV itself would continue to process all the paperwork. The lump sum legislation had its roots in a proposal by Sen. Johnny Ellis several years ago. SB 127 quickly passed the Senate Floor and This session the actual lump sum language first the House State Affairs Committee. After ASEA appeared in the operating budget submitted by sent out a Legislative Alert requesting members contact their legislator to oppose the bill, SB 127 Women’s Committee Meeting the Governor and was quickly stripped out while in the House Finance Committee, then appeared expired in the House Finance Committee. ASEA briefly in a version of a bill to ease municipal will continue to oppose any legislation that PERS obligations. Later the language was written promotes the outsourcing of public service jobs. into HB 278 as part of a “pay as you go” program The Legislature did not address the benefit gap for TRS. facing new public employees since 2006 when Legislators appealed for stand-alone legislation the Defined Benefit (DB) pension retirement to finance the unfunded liability and HB 385 was system was replaced with Defined Contribution submitted. After introduction, HB 385 passed with (DC) individual retirement accounts for new hires. Delegates at Convention in Session few changes. The unknowable and inevitably inadequate DC retirement for public employees and teachers hinders recruitment and retention of qualified employees in positions directly serving Alaskans. The affected employees themselves, already in the thousands, face the uncertainty of outliving Bill Walker Byron Mallott Hollis French their benefits even after a dedicated career in Guest Speaker Guest Speaker Guest Speaker state service and not knowing whether an untested retiree medical benefit will meet their needs after navigating all the hoops of eligibility. Legislation to provide a DB retirement option (Tier 5) for new hires and for employees currently enrolled in the DC retirement was introduced by Sen. and Rep. Beth Kerttula. SB 30 went on to receive three hearings in the Senate State Affairs Committee before the session adjourned. ASEA will continue to work with the Alaska Public Pension Coalition and Group Photo of the ASEA /AFSCME15th Biennial Convention Delegates Continued on page 4 PageSolidarity 4 - SUMMER 2014 Update

Invest In Your Own Good Health enroll. Or go online for even more health It’s easy to enroll online! Just go to information. Log in to your secure member ASEA Health Trust Benefits Annual website at www.aetna.com to explore the Open Enrollment Is May 12 - June 6! aseahealth.org and click on “Open Enrollment”. resources available to you. Select Health Open Enrollment is your once-a-year Programs and 24-Hour Nurse Line. Or, opportunity to change your Health Plan New! Informed Health Line click on Health Programs and Get Health choice or sign up for a HCRA. Remember: from Aetna Information. Here’s what you can do:  Any changes you make will take effect Learn more about health conditions with the new Plan Year, which begins Get answers from a registered nurse, July 1, 2014. day or night Learn about an upcoming medical test You don't need to enroll if you want to With one simple call, you can:  Research a new medication you’re taking and more rollover your current Health Plan for Learn more about health conditions Watch for more information in the summer next year.  Find out more about a medical test or edition of Health Trust News and on the Your HCRA does NOT rollover. If procedure you want a HCRA for 2014/15 you must Health Trust website – aseahealth.org.  Get help preparing for a doctor’s visit

Continued from page 3 other concerned Alaskans to restore a DB supporting public education and ensuring that SJR 21 also appeared briefly on the Senate retirement option for all public employees. public money is spent on public education. Floor Calendar, though Sen. Kelly withdrew the The crushing workload for probation officers and The bill seemed very close to passing the resolution when the outcome did not appear parolee recidivism prompted Sen. Hollis French Senate when it appeared on the Senate Floor favorable. and Rep. Chris Tuck to introduce HB 101 and SB Calendar, suggesting it had support from the As always, the outcome of elections determines 114, respectively, to limit caseload numbers. minimum number of senators to pass the the priorities of our Legislature. Your ASEA PAC The legislation would ensure probation officers resolution (a two-thirds majority or 14 votes). will announce recommendations soon for 2014 have more time to closely monitor felons on However, the SJR 9 soon returned to the Rules legislative candidates in the upcoming primary probation and to better rehabilitate offenders Committee without explanation or further action. and General elections based on questionnaire through the probation process. A proposal amending the Alaska Constitution to responses and voting record. Though the two bills did not pass this session, modify the number of members on the Alaska You play an important role in casting your vote authorization for the hiring of 22 new probation Judicial Council and the manner in which they are for candidates who support public employees and officers was written into the omnibus crime and selected was introduced by Sen. Pete Kelly. the services they provide to Alaskans. corrections legislation SB 64. SJR 21 would have increased the seats from Election Day for the primary races and SB 21 This session also featured a handful of bills that seven to ten by adding three selected by the Repeal (‘Vote Yes’ campaign) is Tuesday, Aug. sought to alter sections of the state’s Constitution governor and granted Legislative approval over 19. The General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 4. that have contributed to making Alaska the three existing seats for attorneys selected by the Some voting districts have changed since the last success it is. state bar. election, so check your voter status. Senate Joint Resolution 9 was introduced by The resolution would extend legislative influence If you are not registered to vote, please do so Sen. Mike Dunleavy to proceed with an election to over nine of the ten seats, with the majority of immediately to participate in first step of the amend the Constitution allowing public resources those seated to be picked by the governor. This legislative process—choosing lawmakers! to be put toward private, religious, and for profit would be an excursion from the current and schools. balanced council to select judges that has served Alaska since statehood. SJR 9 would remove constitutional provisions

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