March News Letter

Anchorage Chapter Newsletter March, 1998

FROM YOUR EDITOR

“THE ASEA 10TH YEAR BIENNIAL CONVENTION- A DELEGATE’S PERSPECTIVE”

I was fortunate enough to be one of the 100 delegates that attended our union’s 10th year biennial convention. Delegates (your fellow workers) from all over the state and from varied job professions converged here in Anchorage from February 27th thru March 1st.

Those three days saw your delegates working on

Problems facing our union today
Policies intended to address those problems
Budget issues within our union
Organizational issues within our union

Outsourcing, privatization, our employee health care plan, and our upcoming contract negotiations (expected to start later this year) were key problem areas addressed by your convention delegates. There were sessions for the delegates that focused on these problem areas.

Good things also came from this convention:

Plans for the development of a Retiree Chapter in ASEA.
Establishment of the Class I occupational group within our union, the ASEA.

And there were the speeches by Governor Knowles, dignitaries, and a myriad of politicians about the importance of our organization & what they are trying to do to help us.

The ASEA biennial convention is intended to set the policies of our union over the next two years. Although three days seemed such a short time to accomplish so much, I did sense a “grim & focused” determination by the 100 delegates on addressing our problems.

We’ve come to the 10th year point of our union’s existence. After 10 years, the delegates knew what problem areas face our union. The problem areas will not be easy to resolve nor solved overnight…but I like to believe that I was part of that key group that set the stage for what will follow in the next two years.

Talk to your delegates about their perceptions…Your Editor.

ON THAT NOTE…fellow Anchorage Chapter member Larry Rabideau submits the following articles:

PROFESSIONAL COURTESY by Larry Rabideau

The State should get a thank you letter from the Private Sector. Thank you for training our people. Thank you for not paying them enough to keep them. Thank you for treating them so poorly that they are willing to come work for us. Thank you for hassling them so they are grateful, loyal, dedicated employees that we will enjoy for years.

I remember a friend of mine who used to work here. He came on board as a programmer. He received training and got proficient working on our antiquated systems. He rose to a pay level of $60,000 a year. ARCO hired him at a starting salary of $100,000.

I know of other professionals that are hassled and harassed. Certificates that were not even in existence when people were hired are routinely made “mandatory” for the job…even though that knowledge is not needed. Why? In the case of one person I know…the “new guy” they wanted to hire had a certificate. To justify his hiring, management made that certificate mandatory for the position. So others had to go out and, at their own expense, obtain that certificate just to keep their job.

Why would someone hassle their professional employees? The State pays less than the private sector. It’s working conditions are usually worse. The retirement benefits are pretty good…but hey, at an extra $40,000 per year- you can buy a lot of retirement. So why do they do it?

The State does not appreciate any of its employees and that includes the Professionals. They have the attitude that if you quit, t here are dozen to take your place. They are right.

People are lined up to get hired by the State. People want to be trained. People want to earn a slightly inferior wage while they hone their skills. People want to get trained and get hired by a real business that will pay them the going rate.

Is it smart to constantly have to train people over and over again? Is it efficient to have your experienced people go to high paying jobs in the Private Sector? It must be smart and efficient- the State has been doing it for years. It must not make sense to value your employees and pay them a decent rate…the State doesn’t and some of us are still here.

FACING DOWN THE BULLIES by Larry Rabideau

I’m gonna take my ball and go home! If you don’t let me play, I’m gonna tell Mom! Give it back or else! All good threats…if you’re not dealing with adults.

Dealing with adults is a little different. You hit me and I’ll sue. I’ll see you in court.

We too, as a union, are dealing with bullies. We have a hostile legislature. We have a hostile Commissioner of Administration. And we have a Governor facing reelection that doesn’t want to appear soft on State Employees. How do we deal with these bullies?

That depends. What do you think will work? Do you think the governor will negotiate in good faith and give us a good contract? Do you think the Legislature will fund that contract? Do you think the Administration will pay any attention to honoring this contract any more than they honor our current contract?

You even wonder where your union dues go? It goes to constantly fight the Administration over violations of our contract. Violation of your rights. Violations of a contract we negotiated in good faith and they violate daily. It goes towards Court battles, and Lawyer fees, and Arbitrators. All because we are not dealing with honorable people…we are dealing with bullies that have the power. They know they have the power. And they have all the money in the State coffers to fight and delay forever.

So how do we get a decent contract? I doubt asking for a good contract will get one for us. I know most of the people on the negotiating committee and am confident they will do their best, but what leverage do they have? The fact that we work hard, are underpaid, under-appreciated and have contract violated daily does not mean a whole lot to the administration. The fact they make up new rules to the game and new requirements of your jobs does not phase them. They have the power.

What can we do? We have a weapon, THE WEAPON!!! Yes, we have the ultimate weapon. We have the strength of numbers, we have a union. We have the ability to shut this State down. We can stop the ferries. We can stop the checks. We can slow down revenue, telecommunications, welfare…WE can stop the government. We have the ability to stop the game.

And what would happen if the Teamsters, IBEW, Municipality workers, and the Laborers all refused to cross the picket line. That means the State is shut down from within and without. We could shut this State until…the contract is honored, until…they leave us alone to do our jobs and stop jerking us around.

Your decision is the ultimate one. Will you give your strength to the union? Will you help us stop the bullying? Or will you continue as you are, in a downward spiral till you retire or are forced to quit. Decision time is coming. Make up your mind. We need you….