This month’s newsletter covers a subject that has the potential for splitting apart an organization: Namely, “membership dissatisfaction”. Even an organization such as ours, the ASEA, is not immune from this problem.

Issues such as continued downsizing of state government, outsourcing, a declining health benefit program, and the poor results of the last two negotiated contracts….are all adding up to stresses on the state worker that sooner or later results in “membership dissatisfaction”.

•  “What is my union doing for me?”
• “How can my union protect me from these problems?”
• “Why is my union failing to make progress on these problems?”

Maybe better questions to ask are:

•  “What can I do to help?”
• “What support to you need from me to address these problems?”

I want to lead off this month’s newsletter with this perspective by our Chapter president, Larry Rabideau. Feel free to send me comments and articles on your views after reading this newsletter…..Your Editor.
 

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Well, we were unsuccessful in getting enough people together for a quorum in the last “Special GGU Chapter Meeting”. As a result we are sending only six people to Fairbanks for Leadership training. Juneau is sending over 20.

Why is Juneau sending so many? Why are they willing to spend over $20,000 to go to Fairbanks? Well according to my sources, they’re pissed.

They are pissed about the poor contract we have. They are pissed because the union doesn’t have enough money to hire more staff in the union office in Juneau. They are pissed at the Statewide Executive Board., the Business Manager, and the State.

I have one message for our brothers and sisters in Juneau and those around the State, including our members here in Anchorage: Tough Shit.

People are upset about Health Care Costs. BUT they won’t self-insure.

People are upset about a Shitty Contract. BUT they won’t Strike.

People are upset about the way  the Union is being run. BUT they won’t elect different people or make their anger known.

People are saying that Boyer is being punitive with the contract. That he is getting away with murder. We are having to spend our money fighting the same battles with the State over and over. BUT they won’t shut down the State to show the Administration REAL power.

Listen folks, it is real simple. If you don’t like what you have, you have to be willing to do something to change it. If you are unwilling to do that, then shut up.

To my fellow members in Juneau. You have the POWER. You can shut down this State. You have the people in key positions. You have the State Computer there. You have the jugular of the State in your hands. You want things to change- change em.

Wildcat strikes are illegal, but sometimes effective. Rolling Strikes, where we shut down critical agencie at critical times are effective. Name one strike lately that has not been effective. UAW – won. CWA – won. Everybody that has struck won.

So put up or shut up.

Editor’s Note:   Following such a letter from your Chapter President, I thought it best to print this interesting article from a president from another government local in Kentucky. This article was written in 1995. Perhaps this may give you members “food for thought”.
 

ONE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Through a series of misfortunes and unavoidable circumstances I recently found myself appointed, by attrition, to the presidency of our union. This is not a job that I actively sought, but I have accepted it and intend to do it well.

There has been much said recently about the growing dissatisfaction of some of our brothers and sisters in our local.

Finger-pointing, innuendoes and threats of withdrawal have been heaped upon me and other members of the Executive Board. To those people I say:  I am one of you.

Over the last year I was angry at having my measly salary reduced, my family’s medical coverage pruned and my workload left to grow  and grow and grow.

The patronizing cries of, “These are hard times!” and, “We all have to tighten our belts!” had a really hollow ring looking at the healthy salaries and perks of our elected leaders, judges, and administrators.

It was really annoying to have to reorganize my work schedule to go back and forth between four and five day workweeks, only to have members of the public say, “Hey you sure have it easy” and county officials say, “Well, it’s what you wanted!”

Your’re damn right I’ve been dissatisfied.

So what can we do?

Firstly, we don’t go around bashing our union and weakening our only defense. That is like saying “I’m tired of running around in circles so I’m going to nail my feet to the floor.”

Secondly, we need to change those things which we don’t like about our organization. The union is you and me, folks. It is not some secret society or a handful of would be politicos playing kingmaker. It belongs to all of us, not any one individual and we are all responsible when it doesn’t live up to our expectations.

My goals are simple:

• Make the union accountable to the individual. Be there when we call or come in. Strive to make positive resolution of any grievance or problem we may have. That is the most important function of any union.
• Actively lobby our elected leaders or those seeking our vote to make firm, pro-employee policies and dog them to assure they follow through.
• Take our union out of the political crony arena and stop supporting divisional political issues that have nothing or very little to do with local labor concerns. We shouldn’t be paying our membership’s hard earned money to PACs or politicians that come around during election time and are then never heard from again.
• Support and encourage employee groups within our local that aren’t employed directly by our jurisdiction. The smaller the group, the more we need to show our support and be there for them when the wolves of administration are hounding them.
• Finally, improve our current wages, benefits, and working conditions. Accept nothing less than satisfaction.

I look forward to your support……John Hartley, President, AFSCME Local 1684, Humboldt County, KY, in his first message to his membership after becoming President.

   

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