T H E M I S S O U R I STATE WORKER Vol. 25 No. 3 Communications Workers of America Local 6355, AFL-CIO Fall 2014 ON NOVEMBER 4TH... Your Vote Can Be Part of the Solution! he experts are predicting that a record low schools. The people we vote for will decide T number of citizens will vote on November whether to grow or shrink the budget for state 4th. Given the enormous issues we face as public employee pay and benefits. They will decide workers, but that can’t be true of CWA Local whether to increase or decrease the number of 6355 members. It’s easy to paint all politicians staff assigned to where we work. with the same brush and to think that our vote The most important question is, which doesn’t matter. Just like it’s easy for our candidate is committed to protecting our nonunion member democratic rights? Our coworkers to think that right to organize and their decision not to join MISSOURI BALLOT take collective action to our union doesn’t improve our jobs and matter. Paycheck Deception the financial well being Union members of our families. Our know better than that. right to vote and We understand that Funding for Education peaceably assemble. collective action is the Our right to participate most powerful tool for in the political process. people to make change: Fair Pay and Staffing Levels In keeping with our in their communities, in long standing practice their jobs or in their during election years, government. That’s Voting Rights page 2 and 3 has a why union members published list of will vote on November candidates for 4th. We know that the stakes could not be Congress and the General Assembly whom our higher. The candidates our union has endorsed union has recommended receive your support. for the General Assembly and Congress will Our union is a nonpartisan organization. Our work to secure the resources we need to recommended list of candidates includes succeed. They understand that the conditions Democrats and Republicans. How you vote is a we are forced to serve Missouri’s people under personal decision. Our candidate must improve. recommendations are based on a careful review The work that the members of our union do is of the public records of those running for office too important for any of us not to vote and interviews with union activists from all over strategically. We will be voting on officials who Missouri. To look up what legislative district you will decide how much support to send to our live in, go to www.senate.mo.gov. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Endorsed Candidates ..................................................................................... Page 2 Amendment 3 ............................................................................................... Page 3 DSS-DHSS Bargaining Update .......................................................................... Page 4 Parkway Bargaining ...................................................................................... Page 5 The Missouri State Worker 1 Fall 2014 CWA Local 6355 Endorsements for Nov. 4th How you vote is a personal decision. Based on careful review of candidate positions and voting record, your union believes the following will best represent the interests of union families. To check your registration status go to: sos.mo.gov/elections. An asterisk (*) indicates an incumbent. STATE AUDITOR 17 Mark Ellebracht 67 Alan Green No Endorsement 18 Lauren Arthur 68 Keith English * 19 JJ Rizzo * 69 Margo McNeil * U.S. REPRESENTATIVES 20 John Mayfield * 70 Bill Otto * 1 Lacy Clay * 21 Ira Anders * 71 Sue Meredith * 2 No Endorsement 22 Brandon Ellington * 72 Mary Nichols * 3 Open 23 Randy Dunn * 73 Courtney Allen Curtis * 4 Nate Irvin 24 Judy Morgan * 74 Sharon L. Pace * 5 Emanuel Cleaver II * 25 Jeremy LaFaver * 75 Rochelle Walton Gray * 6 Bill Hedge 26 Gail McCann Beatty * 76 Joshua Peters * 7 Jim Evans 27 Bonnaye V. Mims * 77 Kimberly M. Gardner * 8 Open 28 Tom McDonald * 78 Penny V. Hubbard * 29 Noel Torpey * 79 Michael Butler * MISSOURI SENATE 30 Open 80 Mike Colona * 31 Sheila Solon * 81 Jacob W. Hummel * 2 Open 32 Jeanie Lauer * 82 Michele Kratky * 4 Joe Keaveny * 33 Donna Pfautsch * 83 Gina Mitten * 6 No Endorsement 34 Open 84 Karla May * 8 Open 35 Ken Duvall 85 Clem Smith * 10 Ed Schieffer 36 Kevin McManus * 86 Joe Adams 12 No Endorsement 37 Joe Runions * 87 Stacey Newman * 14 Maria N. Chappelle-Nadal * 38 TJ Berry * 88 Tracy McCreery 16 No Endorsement 39 Open 89 No Endorsement 18 Open 40 Lowell Jackson 90 Deb Lavender 20 No Endorsement 41 Dan Dildine 91 Jeanne Kirkton * 22 No Endorsement 42 Bart Korman * 92 Genise Montecillo * 24 Jill Schupp 43 Ed Lockwood 93 Bob Burns * 26 Open 44 Open 94 Vicki Englund * 28 No Endorsement 45 Kip Kendrick 95 No Endorsement 30 No Endorsement 46 Stephen Webber * 96 No Endorsement 32 No Endorsement 47 John Wright * 97 John McCaherty * 34 Robert Stuber 48 No Endorsement 98 No Endorsement 49 Gracia Yancey Backer 99 No Endorsement MISSOURI HOUSE 50 No Endorsement 100 No Endorsement 1 Open 51 Gary Grigsby 101 No Endorsement 2 Mike Waltemath 52 No Endorsement 102 John Callahan 3 Nate Walker 53 Henry Grubb 103 No Endorsement 4 No Endorsement 54 Open 104 Open 5 C. LeRoy Deichman 55 No Endorsement 105 Matt Judkins 6 Robert Harrington 56 Patty Johnson 106 Chrissy Sommer * 7 Open 57 William Grimes 107 Ron Hicks * 8 Jim Neely * 58 No Endorsement 108 No Endorsement 9 No Endorsement 59 No Endorsement 109 Barbara Bollmann 10 Pat Conway * 60 No Endorsement 110 No Endorsement 11 Galen Higdon, Jr. * 61 Tom Smith 111 Michael Frame * 12 Sandy Van Wagner 62 Open 112 Robert Butler 13 Open 63 Bryan Pinette 113 Sean Fauss 14 Open 64 Open 114 T.J. McKenna * 15 Jon Carpenter * 65 Anne Zerr * 115 Elaine Gannon * 16 Open 66 Tommie Pierson * 116 No Endorsement The Missouri State Worker 2 Fall 2014 MISSOURI HOUSE (continued): 117 Linda Black * 134 Kevin Knox 151 Ryan Holder 118 Ben Harris * 135 Angie Filbeck 152 Open 119 Open 136 No Endorsement 153 Open 120 No Endorsement 137 Sandy Grogan 154 Open 121 No Endorsement 138 No Endorsement 155 No Endorsement 122 No Endorsement 139 No Endorsement 156 No Endorsement 123 No Endorsement 140 Jim Billedo 157 No Endorsement 124 No Endorsement 141 No Endorsement 158 No Endorsement 125 No Endorsement 142 Open 159 No Endorsement 126 Open 143 Open 160 No Endorsement 127 No Endorsement 144 Open 161 No Endorsement 128 No Endorsement 145 Charles Elrod 162 No Endorsement 129 No Endorsement 146 Open 163 No Endorsement 130 No Endorsement 147 Open 131 Marlee Yant 148 No Endorsement BALLOT MEASURES 132 Charlie Norr * 149 Bill Burlison Amendment 3 (education issue) – 133 No Endorsement 150 Walter Dearing Opposed DON’T LET POLITICIANS TAKE AWAY LOCAL CONTROL OF OUR SCHOOLS A constitutional amendment is threatening to radically remake the way our local schools are run. The top-down mandate would take local control away from parents, teachers and school districts and give it to Jefferson City politicians with their own agenda. (St. Joseph News-Press, 8/5/14) Missouri schools should not be run on a one-size-fits-all plan. The proposed amendment would treat our children like numbers and force teachers to teach to the test rather than focus on learning and instruction. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9/2/14) The amendment would cost Missouri MORE than is currently spent. The increased testing this measure requires statewide could cost Missouri taxpayers more than $1 billion. Local school districts would have to spend money on these tests, taking even more money out of the classroom. (Education Week, 8/6/14; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 8/5/14) OPPOSE ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL LEGISLATION FOR SCHOOLS Vote NO on Constitutional Amendment 3 The Missouri State Worker 3 Fall 2014 Members Continue Bargaining with State he CWA bargaining team has continued in T intense negotiations that will determine the contract that will define your rights for years to come. From the beginning, we knew this was going to be tough. As expected, the State is seeking concessions on all of the most valuable in the current contract. For starters, the State wants to eliminate seniority rights, weaken job protection, not offer positive support at work, reduce rights around vacation and sick leave, and even wants to abandon its responsibility to have working alarm systems. CWA members are backing up their bargaining team. There is still a long way to go, but recently the bargaining team successfully beat back the State’s attempt to weaken your rights to use religious holidays. When all was said and done, the State agreed to actually mildly strengthen your rights to observe religious holidays. It’s the hard work of members just like you that made this possible. Show your coworkers that you are part of the fight for a fair contract by taking action at your workplace. Wear red, especially your CWA t-shirts, on days that your bargaining team is in session. Watch your email or check the facebook page for those upcoming dates. This is also the best time to recruit new members. When our union grows during the bargaining sessions, it gives your coworkers more leverage and power at the table. These are the best ways to join the fight! If no one in your office is in charge of bargaining mobilization call the union office at (800)575-6355 for more information. See Pages 6 & 7 to learn more about the bargaining team... The Missouri State Worker 4 Fall 2014 Gearing Up for Bargaining at Parkway Now is the Time for You to Add Your Voice to Build a Fair Contract he Labor Agreement covering CWA represented workers at the Parkway School District will T expire next year, but Local 6355 activists are already mobilizing Parkway members to fight for the best possible contract.