November 6, 2018
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American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO Issue 5 Stepping Nov. 6, 2018 UP VOTERS’ GUIDE Elect Tim Walz as VOTE Governor TO SUPPORT WORKERS, OUR Turn over the Minnesota House FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITIES & Turn over the Senate by OUR FREEDOM winning District 13 ONE STRONG, UNITED VOICEwww.afscmemn.org FOR MINNESOTA • VOTERS’ GUIDE WORKERS2018 • STEPPING UP • 1 Make workers an unstoppable force on Nov. 6 very election cycle, we hear that this is the election that Ensuring Minnesota stays pro-worker means electing really matters. In 2018, that’s never been more true. Joe Perske for Senate in District 13. Perske, a County Commissioner and former mayor, is running for the only open EWe know corporate America is spending millions to break Senate seat. It’s being vacated by Michelle Fischbach, who unions and take away our freedom to rise together. Wealthy acted as both Senate president and Lieutenant Governor in special interests don’t want to share their power or their violation of our Constitution. money. Our very existence as a union of people committed to making life better for ourselves, our families and our Nationally, we must elect our fine U.S. Senators Amy communities is at stake. Klobuchar and Tina Smith. The GOP-led Senate already confirmed one Supreme Court This year, we have the rare opportunity justice who is so anti-worker, he ruled to turn all three branches, the it was OK to fire a trucker who Minnesota Governorship, House Where do I vote? temporarily left a broken-down and Senate, into a pro-worker www.sos.state.mn.us/ trailer – after several hours of bastion. To vote for candidates elections-voting/. waiting for help – rather than who believe real freedom freeze to death. The Senate is on comes from being able Who’s a good candidate? the verge of confirming a judge to attend parent-teacher AFSCME members on PEOPLE just like him. We can’t give them conferences, go to the doctor Committees have screened and more ammo to turn the court and retire with dignity. Who interviewed candidates. against workers for decades. care about the 99 percent, not Find their recommendations There are simple yet powerful just the rich. on pages 6 and 7. steps we can take: The first step is electing • Door knock. U.S. Rep. Tim Walz as Governor. • Phone bank. He’s a former teacher, football coach • Talk to AFSCME members, and National Guardsman who will follow friends and relatives. in Gov. Dayton’s footsteps as a staunch • Vote. supporter of labor. If we want our state contracts We can’t let up for a second. The November election is days approved, if we want funding for quality public programs, if we away. want a leader who believes that public services matter or should even exist, we must elect Walz. AFSCME members and our allies are knocking on doors nearly every day from now through Election Day. Join them His opponent wants to destroy us: Jeff Johnson has infamously throughout the state – including the metro area, Duluth and said he wants to “go all Scott Walker on Minnesota.” St. Cloud – on the AFSCME 5 Facebook page under Events. POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Stepping Up, 300 Hardman Ave. S, Suite 2, South St. Paul, MN 55075-2469 Periodicals postage paid at South St. Paul and additional mailing offices. Patrick Guernsey, President Publication No. 352180 John P. Westmoreland, Executive Director Published by AFSCME Minnesota, AFL-CIO 300 Hardman Ave. S. Member International Labor AFSCME Council 5 is a union of 43,000 workers South St. Paul, MN 55075-2469 Communications Association who advocate for excellence in services for the six times yearly: Design: Lynette Kalsnes public, dignity in the workplace, and opportunity January/February, March/April, May/June, Printing: Seven Corners Printing Mailing: Do-Good Biz and prosperity for all working families. July/August, September/October, Information and story ideas November/December. should be submitted to: Subscription price $1 per copy; $5 per year Lynette Kalsnes, Editor 2 • STEPPING UP • 2018 VOTER’S GUIDE • www.afscmemn.org H Elect a Governor for working people or the past eight years, working people and our families have had Fa strong supporter in Gov. Mark Dayton. This election, when our freedom to stand together is under attack by billionaires and corporate CEOs, it’s more important than ever that we elect someone who will follow his example and fight for working people. AFSCME Council 5 has found that true champion of working people in Tim Walz. The Council 5 Executive Board – made up of members, elected by members – unanimously endorsed Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan for Governor and Lieutenant Governor following their decisive primary victory. Congressman Walz is a former teacher and football coach who served for 24 years in the Army National Guard. His parents instilled a commitment to the common good and selfless service; summers spent farming with his family reinforced those values. In Congress, Tim worked across party lines to make Peggy Flanagan and Tim Walz health care more affordable, support quality education, toughen ethics laws and help our veterans. and silence our powerful, united voice.” • Continue fighting tax breaks that benefit the wealthy few, just as Tim Tim is running for Governor to bring “We can count on people like Tim who has in Congress. He voted against the Minnesotans across our great state respect the work we do and our right Trump tax plan that gives big tax cuts together and to make sure everyone to organize and bargain collectively,” to the rich and their corporations; gets a fair shot. says Patrick Guernsey, the newly elected puts Medicare and Social Security at president of Council 5. “We expect risk; and is making the debt skyrocket. State Rep. Flanagan is a citizen of the he’ll build on Gov. Dayton’s legacy and White Earth Nation of Ojibwe who continue to make Minnesota the most “I’m proud to be endorsed by, and stand is dedicated to building coalitions and livable state in the union, with quality with, my union sisters and brothers of working on behalf of children and public services and a large middle class AFSCME Council 5 to protect workers’ families. Peggy is a strong advocate for work force.” rights,” Tim Walz says. people of color, indigenous communities and working people. Tim and Peggy will: “As a lifelong educator and proud public sector union member, I understand • Make sure every Minnesotan has “Tim and Peggy have strong track how important unions are to ensure access to high-quality health care at a records of supporting the rights of price they can afford. workers’ and their families’ rights are workers, allowing us to make life better protected,” he says. “This is even more • Lower health care costs. for ourselves, our families and our important after the Supreme Court’s communities,” says Council 5 executive • Fight for lower class sizes, universal Janus decision earlier this summer. As director John P. Westmoreland. “We pre-K, career and technical education your next Governor, I will stand with are confident they will stand up to the and affordable college. you and fight every day to ensure our billionaires and other corporate special • Build an economy that works for all unions stay strong in Minnesota.” interests trying to take away our rights of us. www.afscmemn.org • VOTERS’ GUIDE 2018 • STEPPING UP • 3 How high are the stakes this election? Ask AFSCME members pound doors, pavement Iowa. You can see what happened weeks after There’s a reason an AFSCME Council 5 endorsement carries so much weight on they elected an anti-worker GOP Governor Election Day. and Legislature. An endorsement means a candidate: • Can proudly associate with the AFSCME name, the unified voice of workers. The stuff in green? That’s what public workers • Values public workers and public programs. • Believes that forming a union to improve can negotiate now: working conditions and the quality of life is a fundamental right. Bargaining Topics Under New Iowa Collective Bargaining Law And it means that AFSCME members will Topics of Bargaining Minnesota Iowa do our very to help elect them. This election (non-public safety) season, 18 member organizers are voluntarily Base Wage MANDATORY MANDATORY taking time from their usual jobs to visit work Call-back Time MANDATORY PERMISSIVE sites and knock on doors at least five days a Dues Checkoffs MANDATORY EXCLUDED week, until their feet and knuckles are sore. Evaluation Procedures MANDATORY EXCLUDED “I believe in the cause,” says Bryan Kirsch, a Grievance Procedures MANDATORY PERMISSIVE MnDOT worker from Apple Valley. “You have to Health and Safety Matters MANDATORY PERMISSIVE protect your rights. If no one does it, then we’re Holidays and Holiday Premium Pay MANDATORY PERMISSIVE going to lose our rights. You’ve got to step up if Hours MANDATORY PERMISSIVE you’re going to get things changed.” In-Service Training MANDATORY PERMISSIVE Insurance (All) MANDATORY EXCLUDED “It’s important to elect Tim Walz as Governor Job Classifications MANDATORY MANDATORY because we want to protect our local, our Labor/Management MANDATORY PERMISSIVE union, we want to protect Minnesota,” Kirsch Leaves of Absence (non-political) MANDATORY PERMISSIVE says. “If we get the wrong person in office, Leaves of Absence (political activity) MANDATORY EXCLUDED they’re going to destroy Minnesota. They’re Longevity MANDATORY PERMISSIVE going to mess with health care, take our Meal and Rest Periods MANDATORY PERMISSIVE pensions, and mess with the budgets that fix Overtime Compensation MANDATORY PERMISSIVE roads and education, too. They’re going to care PAC (PEOPLE) Dues MANDATORY EXCLUDED more about putting money in their pockets than Pay Date MANDATORY MANDATORY serving the residents of Minnesota.” Pay Grades MANDATORY MANDATORY “I think it’s very important that our AFSCME Procedures for Staff Reduction MANDATORY EXCLUDED members are engaged and understand not only Retirement Systems EXCLUDED EXCLUDED who they’re voting for but why they’re voting Seniority MANDATORY PERMISSIVE for these people,” says Local 753 member Shift Differentials MANDATORY PERMISSIVE Destiny Dusosky of Sauk Rapids.