We Make Contra Costa Happen
Local 2700
TIELINE
SUMMER
2013
IN THIS ISSUE
President’s Message
1
Quotable
1
You Can’t Make This Stuff Up!
1
Farewell
2
Strike School
2
Golden Gate Fields
2
Getting More Bang for Your Buck 2
Everything is Perfect
3
Did You Know?
4
George Miller’s Birthday
4
Congratulations!
4
QUOTABLE
“A little group of willful men,
representing no opinion but
their own, have rendered the
great
government
of
the
United States helpless and
contemptible.”
President
1917
Woodrow
Wilson
YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS STUFF
UP!
Mississippi Tea Party leader, Janis
Lane, declared that women should not
be allowed to vote in elections because
they are “diabolical and emotional”.
Evidently that doesn’t apply to her,
because she votes.
Source: Examiner 10/31/12
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Gregory, Richard Ramirez, and
Joanne Peterson for the work
they did on the survey. It was a
group effort to create it and
analyze it.
Bargaining has begun again
and I’m pleased that we have
a number of new people who
have volunteered for the team.
We are still doing our
preliminary
research
and
discussing what we should
focus on. We recently sent out
a survey to the membership
via Surveymonkey, which
saved the Local a great deal
of money. Those who don’t
have computers or prefer a
hard copy were able to obtain
one. I am gratified that the
first day we got over 100
responses! The survey was
due on May 31.
My thanks to Cheryll Grover,
Nicole
Rochin,
Rosa
Jaureque, Suzie Griffith, and
the rest of the bargaining team
for creating the survey, and to
Cheryll, Neil Janes, and Patty
DeRose for analyzing the
results. Thanks also go to
Council 57 employees Linda
Make sure the union office has
your home e-mail address so
you can receive updates. And
call the office or any member of
the bargaining team if you want
to help post flyers and updates
or hold meetings at your work
site.
On a personal note, this will be
my last newsletter, as I have
been
promoted.
I
have
resigned as President and
withdrawn from the bargaining
team. If you or someone you
know is interested in running
for President contact me as
soon as possible. Nominations
will be accepted until our next
meeting, Thursday July 18.
Voting will take place that
night. Robbie White and
Cheryll Grover are taking over
the newsletter.
It has been an honor to serve
as your president these past
3 1/2 years.
FAREWELL TO A UNION SISTER
STRIKE SCHOOL
In May members of your
bargaining team joined
AFSCME Local 512,
SIEU, Local 1, Local 21,
and PDOC at Strike
School, put on by SEIU.
We learned about the
historic sit down strike by
the UAW in 1937 and last
year’s strike by Chicago
teachers. We were given
information and tools to use
should we need to go on
strike
ourselves.
Most
importantly we reaffirmed
our solidarity with one
another as we face our
upcoming negotiations.
My thanks to SEIU for this
valuable training.
Local 2700 has lost one our most active
members, Nicole Rochin, who died in May .
She was only 40 and she left behind a 17
year old daughter, who graduated high
school in June. Nicole was a long time
shop steward and served as Chief Shop
Steward several times. She was committed
to the membership and always made
herself available to them. Her death leaves
a big hole in our Local. We will miss her.
AFSCME AT GOLDEN GATE
FIELDS!
STRIKE SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS
AFSCME was well represented at
our special day at the race track! We
sold all the tickets we had purchased
and members from 2700, 512, and
the Retirees turned out to enjoy a
day at the races. We had a great
buffet and watched the races from
the turf club. The 7th race was “ours”.
Below is a photo of some of our
members posing with the winning
jockey.
GETTING MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
All of us are going to need the services of a dentist or
eye doctor sooner or later. Even if you qualify for the
VDT program it still costs money to buy glasses and
contacts. We have here in Martinez two doctors who
can help make that bite hurt a little less.
Eye care: Dr. Edward Williams not only accepts the VDT
program discounts but also many insurance policies. I
saved about $280 on my glasses buying from him
instead of my previous eye doctor. If you need glasses
or contacts he may be able to save you money too. I
found both he and his staff to be very nice and helpful.
Dental: Union Dental offers good prices to county
employees, according to members who have gone
there. They may be able to help you with your dental
care too.
We have sent out mailers about both these doctors to
our members in the past. Check them out!
EVERYTHING IS PERFECT AT WORK
OR
HOW TO CHANGE CONTRA COSTA IN 5,400 SECONDS
Do you wake up thinking, "I can't wait to get to work. I make plenty of money, my health care, pension and other benefits are excellent and secure, I love my supervisors
and they love me, and nothing could change these facts. Life couldn't get any better."
Let's get serious. We have difficult negotiations, attacks on our pensions, and violations of our contract. When things go well, others soon line up to take back what we've
fought for and won. Ask yourself, are we as strong enough to confront these challenges? Probably not.
In ninety minutes all that can change. If each of us takes just 5,400 seconds, our life would be much better. Five steps - 90 minutes. It couldn't be simpler.
Step 1: Join AFSCME as a full Member In Good Standing (5 minutes)
There are nearly 200 of you who haven't signed the union membership form. You're already paying an agency fee. Why not sign the card and get full membership
benefits? Get the right to vote on your contract, elect your local union leadership, get your voice heard on AFSCME endorsements, enjoy member-only discounts and
scholarships opportunities. Don't like some of the things your union does? Get involved to make it better. We are much stronger when all eligible workers are union
members. Elected officials and management recognizes our increased strength and influence with full membership and participation. Contact your shop steward or
the union office at 925-228-4400 for a membership card.
Step 2: Register to Vote, and Ensure all your Household Members are Registered (10 minutes)
Elections matter! The Board of Supervisors sets the direction for our negotiations, approves our contracts, funds the services we provide, appoints top management,
etc... Our entire work life is based on politics. Influencing this process is critical to our success. Yet here's a dirty little secret: sixteen percent (273 members) of
AFSCME Local 2700 members aren't registered to vote. Nearly 1,000 of our household and family members aren't registered! Are we better off if more worker-friendly
candidates were elected? Absolutely! Can 1,200 more votes make a difference? Bet your bottom! Take a few minutes and make sure you're registered, and all eligible
family members are as well. You can now register to vote on-line. Go to http://registertovote.ca.gov/.
3) Get Informed - Attend the next Union Meeting (60 minutes)
Knowledge is power. What are the main sticking points with contract negotiations? How can we stop millions in tax giveaways to corporations for nothing in return?
What's about AFSCME's legislation to restrict private contracting in the courts? What are my union dues being spent on? How can I defend my contractual rights? What
can we do to help? All this and more can be addressed at your monthly union meetings. If you don't know your rights, and don't know what's happening, how can you
fight to protect yourself? Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 5:30 PM, 1333 Pine Street, Martinez.
4) Join the AFSCME PEOPLE Program (5 minutes)
Our success at the ballot box is key to influencing the Board of Supervisors to properly fund our services, hire respectful management, and achieve a decent contract.
We recruit good candidates, phone bank, and go door-to-door. That's only part of the story. Politics cost lots of money. That's where our PEOPLE Program comes in our highly-recommended union fundraising effort. For less than $9.00 a month (or two cups of Starbucks) you can participate. As a bonus, you'll get a nice green
AFSCME PEOPLE jacket for signing up. It cost millions to defeat Prop. 32 last year, with most of that coming from AFSCME PEOPLE members in other states. We must
do our part by joining this critical program. And trust me - if all L.2700 members joined, our politicians would immediately take notice and know we're powerful, organized
and not to be trifled with! Contact myself, your union office at 925-228-4400, or attend a union meeting to become a PEOPLE member.
5) Talk to One Group About the Services You Provide (10 minutes)
AFSCME members provide critical services for all residents, yet most of our neighbors take our work for granted. They simply don't understand what they get from us. If
each of us takes a few minutes to talk to just one group we already belong to (perhaps your church, neighborhood association or little league), tell them about the work
you do - the specific service you provide - then we will dramatically increase public support for our efforts. That's something politicians really notice! There are over 1,700
of us. That's 1,700 different clubs, groups and organizations that will understand us a little bit better, support us, fight with us - and for the services we provide them. All
it takes is ten minutes from each of us.
There is no single union super-hero to fly in and save the day. Yet if each of us comes together and spends just a few minutes on the items above, we'll be much more
powerful than Superman ever could. Together WE are the union. And together - in 90 short minutes - we can make Contra Costa better for all time.
Jason Haenel is the AFSCME, Int'l Political Representative for Northern California. Based in Sacramento, he works with Locals, union members and
community partners to effectively build and flex AFSCME's political strength on behalf of all working families.
He can be contacted at
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> or 202-256-4209 (cell).
AFSCME LOCAL 2700
1333 Pine St., suite I
Martinez, CA 94553
925-228-4400
Fax: 925-228-4472
E-Mail:
[email protected]
VISIT US ON THE WEB!
www.afscme57.org
and look for us on Facebook!
Newsletter Editor:
Margaret Harris
[email protected]
925-370-5200 ex 4932
DO WE HAVE YOUR E-MAIL?
Call or e-mail the office with your
updated HOME e-mail address so
that we can keep you up to date with
everything that is going on and send
you the newsletter!
GEORGE MILLER’S
BIRTHDAY BASH
In May Congress George Miller held
his annual birthday celebration at the
Shadelands Ranch. Members from
2700, 512, and the Retirees were
there to listen to Congressman Miller
and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
speak to the crowd. Both of them
reaffirmed their commitment to
working people, the Affordable Care
Act, and preserving Social Security
and Medicare.
DID YOU KNOW?-THE WOMENS’ DAY MASSACRE
When the Steel Workers
Organizing
Committee
(SWOC) went on strike
against Little Steel in 1937 it
organized a “Women’s Day”
on
the
picket
line.
Youngstown,
Ohio
Police
Chief,
Charley
Richmond
demanded that the women
leave the line, saying they
belonged at home. The
women began arguing with the
him.
He
responded
by
ordering his men to use tear
gas on the picketers, who
included children and an infant
in his mother’s arms.
Outraged, a group of unarmed
union supporters confronted
the police, beating one. The
police fired into the crowd,
wounding
wounding several and killing at
least one man
As the situation escalated the
SWOC organizers attempted to
negotiate a cease fire with the
police, with no success. According
to the police the union members
began to return fire. Many of the
union leaders risked their lives to
to protect members and restore
order. It took until dawn before the
police and the strikers agreed to let
the police withdraw peacefully.
The SWOC leadership pledged to
fight to “the last drop of blood” to
win the strike. But it wasn’t until
1941 that Little Steel agreed to
recognize unions.
One of our members, Joanie
Copeland, had a moment with
Congresswoman Pelosi. As she
was leaving she saw Joanie’s
AFSCME t-shirt and expressed
her gratitude for working people,
giving a thumbs up and saying
“Go Union Local 2700!”
Pictured: Joanie Copeland
and AFSCME Local 2700
Secretary Patricia DeRose
CONGRATULATIONS!
CONGRESSMAN GEORGE MILLER
CONGRESSWOMAN NANCY PELOSI
How many of you are familiar with Union
Communications Services, Inc (www.unionist.com)? It
is full of information about union history and music and
provides a weekly joke and cartoon. It also offers a
trivia question each week. The winner receives a CD of
union music. In June one of the winners was our own
Vicki Smith, a Board Member who works in Health
Services. Way to go Vicki!
Check out Union Communications today Maybe you
will be our next winner!