Solidarity Update

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 Alaska 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 Alaska Legislature 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.

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