October 2018

Over the last two years ASEA members have Republican Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux also faces benefitted from the support and priorities of the similar opposition to reelection from her party COVER House Majority Coalition, a 22-member after joining the Alaska House Coalition  2018 Election Update, Your Vote group of Democrats, Republicans and Majority and accepting the leadership Does Matter independents that assembled to control the responsibilities of House Rules Committee  Words of Solidarity Alaska House of Representatives after the Chair. Her recent victory in the primary election 2016 election. spawned a write-in campaign by yet another As Alaskans prepare to cast their votes in the Republican challenger. Page 2 General Election on November 6, the ASEA ASEA members need the political moderation Political Action Committee reminds union and legislative experience in a lawmaker like  ASEA PAC Announces 2018 General members that ASEA PAC-endorsed Rep. LeDoux. ASEA PAC endorses Rep. Election Endorsements candidates have a record of defending Gabrielle LeDoux and believes she has collective bargaining the recognizing the value earned your vote to represent Anchorage and Page 3 of public services and the employees who District 15.  ASEA PAC Announces 2018 General provide them——as well as opposing Rep. is running for the legislation that would target public Election Endorsements Senate District A seat representing Fairbanks (continued from page 2) employees with financial burdens as an and Fort Wainwright. He has represented alternate to seeking a responsible fiscal Fairbanks in the State House for more than ten plan. years, serving as co-chair of the House Armed Page 4 Ten of twenty seats in in the Services Committee and as member of the and all forty seats in the House of influential House Finance Committee.  ASEA Health Trust News - ASEA Representative will be filled in this upcoming Health Benefits Trust – Preventive Aside from Rep. Kawasaki’s qualifications, it’s Care...Even Without The Health Fair election. Those elected lawmakers will worth remembering that his election sustains determine Alaska’s future and the course of the checks and balances of Senate rules by  Did You Know legislative outcomes for ASEA members for the ensuring the Senate Minority has standing  From The Desk Of The Executive next two years. within the chamber. The worst impulses of a Without friendly lawmakers to share control Majority have no filter without a viable Minority. of both chambers, efforts to advance good Recent examples of bad proposals from an legislation——like a bill to restore a Defined uncontrolled Senate Majority include a 11th Benefit (pension) retirement system for public hour amendment to the State Operating Budget employees——will always come up short of that eliminated funding for negotiated state support for passage. Below, we highlight three employee wage increases, legislation to legislators: an independent, a Republican and eliminate state employee merit increases and a Democrat that deserve our support and your pay increments, and operating budget vote. stalemates resulting in pink slips to satisfy “ Workers normally do not make long-range Among House Majority incumbents seeking lawmakers’ taste for brinksmanship. investments in stocks, bonds or reelection is Rep. Paul Seaton from Homer. ASEA members benefit from Rep. Kawasaki’s developments, but they spend weekly. Rep. Seaton, last session a Republican, is now support for state programs and public Therefore, their paychecks turn over running as an Independent to remain employees, as well as maintaining that several times within the community.” competitive despite the barriers to his necessary balance to prevent bad legislation -Stanley M Smith reelection engineered by his former party. from becoming law. ASEA PAC endorses Seaton’s courage to help lead the Alaska Rep. Scott Kawasaki and urges your support “There’s a direct relationship between the House Coalition Majority, faith in public for his campaign to represent Fairbanks/Fort ballot box and the bread box, and what the services and insistence on a fiscal plan for Wainwright and District A. Alaska has led to a noteworthy standoff with union fights for and wins at the bargaining Election Day is Tuesday, November 6 and the Republican Party. table can be taken away in the legislative ASEA members are encouraged to support ASEA PAC endorses Rep. Paul Seaton candidates who prioritize your value as halls. - and believes he has earned your vote to public employees! -Walter Reuther represent Homer and District 31. Solidarity Update Page 2 OCTOBER 2018

The ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Political Action Committee recommends the following list of candidates for the upcoming General Election to be held Tuesday, November 6. The ASEA PAC endorsed independent, Republican and Democratic candidates. PAC endorsements are determined by questionnaire responses from candidates and incumbents, as well as legislative voting records. An endorsement for public office is based on the candidate’s support for public employee issues, not party affiliation. The following candidates and incumbents have expressed or taken political positions that the PAC believes are in the best interest of public employees. As a contributing member of the PAC you can be elected to serve on the PAC Board of Directors. For more information, contact the ASEA Juneau Office at 463-4949 or (800) 478-0049 toll free. The ASEA Political Action Committee (PAC) unanimously endorsed for Governor of Alaska. Mark has a history of distinguished service to Alaska. As an Anchorage Assembly Member, Anchorage Mayor and U.S. Senator, he committed himself to supporting and improving public services, public education and public safety. The PAC believes Mark Begich is the correct choice for Governor of Alaska. ASEA members themselves are frontline workers providing essential public services to families, communities and industry throughout Alaska. Mark Begich has demonstrated a clear vision for the state and recognizes the value of public employees who serve Alaska’s residents and economy, alike. Mark supports returning to a defined benefit retirement system for public employees because he knows Alaska has failed to retain and recruit teachers, nurses, probation officers, social workers, police officers and firefighters. He supports bonding for long term capital projects to rebuild Alaska’s neglected infrastructure. He supports industry growth and wilderness priorities for a balanced, vibrant economy. From Anchorage to Washington D.C., Mark stood up for working families and growing communities.

Alaska Governor Alaska Lt. Governor US HOUSE

Name Party Name Party Name Party Mark Begich D Debra Call D Alyse Galvin I

State Senate State Senate (continued) District Name Party District Name Party A Rep. Scott Kawasaki D K No Endorsement - B L C Sen. R M Janice Park D D N E No Endorsement - O No Endorsement - F P G Oliver Schiess D Q Jesse Kiehl D H R I Elvira Gray-Jackson D S Sen. D J T (Continued on page 3) Page 3 OCTOBER 2018 Solidarity Update

(Continued from page 2) State House

District Name Party District Name Party 1 Kathryn Dodge D 27 Elizabeth Snyder D 2 No Endorsement - 28 Amber Lee D 3 No Endorsement - 29 Shawn Butler I 4 D 30 No Endorsement -

5 Rep. D 31 Rep. Paul Seaton I 6 Edward Alexander D 32 Rep. R 7 No Endorsement - 33 D 8 No Endorsement - 33 Chris Dimond I 9 Bill Johnson D 34 D 10 Patricia Faye-Brazel D 35 Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins D 11 No Endorsement - 36 Rep. I 12 No Endorsement - 37 Rep. D 13 Nancy Dahlstrom R 38 Rep. D 14 R 39 Rep. Neil Foster D 15 Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux R 40 Rep. John Lincoln D 16 Rep. D 17 Rep. D 18 Rep. D 19 Rep. D 20 Zach Fields D 21 Rep. D 22 Rep. Jason Grenn I 23 Rep. D 24 Rep. Charles Kopp R 25 Pat Higgins D

26 R Solidarity Update Page 4 OCTOBER 2018

Attending a Fall Health Fair is one way to get some of your preventive care well-child checkups for children 2+ in Fairbanks and 5+ in Anchorage. services (such as the flu shot and comprehensive lab tests) each year. But, it’s You can get your standard immunizations and flu shots here, too! not the only way! (Appointments are required for preventive care services.) Your health plan provides options for getting your recommended preventive Just need a flu shot? Stop by a CVS/caremark network pharmacy for care services all year long, at a time and place that works best for you and your flu shots – as well as standard immunizations. (Remember to bring schedule – and, at no cost to you: your Plan ID card.) Make an appointment with your regular provider for an annual checkup and Even after the annual health fairs have come and gone, you have options get the preventive care services are right for you including to get your preventive care services on your own time and without paying a comprehensive lab tests, standard immunizations, and seasonal flu shots. dime. Be sure to take advantage of this valuable benefit and maintain your Visit a Coalition Health Center for an annual well-adult exam and for good health.

● That AFSCME’s ● The 1958 strikes in New York, forced the mayor to grant collective original focus was bargaining rights to union representing city employees. Collective lobbying to pass or Bargaining became their driving force and under Jerry Wurf ‘s strengthen civil service laws. The focus changed in the 1950’s and leadership, AFSCME became the strongest public worker union in became collective bargaining as the means to improve working New York. conditions.

Brothers and Sisters, we do and the communities we serve. Never underestimate the Fall is here as the leaves on our trees are turning their yellow and orange power of solidarity because when we come together for a common goal colors to make for a beautiful fall back drop. Our Union, your union we all benefit. encompasses a vast array of challenges as we navigate each day to serve our We have our Statewide Committee members who come together in public in the jobs that we do. For some reason I acquired writers block for this Solidarity to work for a common interest. I can go on and on but I think you solidarity issue and it finally hit me. SOLIDARITY! get the point. Now it’s time for us to reach out to our contract negotiating What does Solidarity mean? Solidarity means unity or agreement of feeling team members and share your concerns for what you want to see in our or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support contract (raises in all three years of our contract, cost of living allowance, within a group. Many events and groups embrace the meaning of solidarity. A geo-differential pay, safer workplaces, better parking, more training, no football team, all players are coming together to win the game. Firefighters furloughs, etc.). Yet, another opportunity to show and use our Solidarity. who have a common interest to save lives. Nurses that service our community We are all aware of political races that are going on in each of our who are trained to care for us all. communities and I am encouraging you to exercise your right to vote and The Anchorage chapter came together in Solidarity on Alaska Day, (our day encourage your youth who are of age to vote. Ask questions of all off) and gave back to our community by volunteering at the Food Bank of individuals running for a political seat in our communities and our legislature. With a soon to be changing administration our Solidarity will Alaska in Anchorage. One purpose, one cause to help those in need of food. need to be strong and powerful. Every vote counts and that is your power. We are ASEA/AFSCME, united as one to serve our public through the jobs Brothers and Sisters I continue to be honored to serve you as your President and I look forward to meeting everyone. Give yourself a pat on the back for all the hard work you do for our State. Your service does not go unnoticed. Thank you! Once again say hi to a fellow member, it may be me, so if I have not met you please reach out and email me because I would love to meet you and talk with you. I will continue to serve you with Style and Grace!

In Friendship and Solidarity, Dawn Bundick, ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 State President

This Is A Member To Member Communication