Building AFSCME’s Strength Title Slide Power Through Organizing afscme.org/academy

Agenda Slide   Understand the economic crisis facing working families   Be aware of how declining unionization affects our standard of living   Know about the AFSCME Organizing Program – our plan for fighting back   Learn what role YOU can play in organizing the unorganized and changing our country Workshop Objectives afscme.org/academy Brendel, Free Software Foundation

Working Families are in a Crisis Our jobs are being privatized. Our retirement security is being threatened. Healthcare costs are skyrocketing. Wealth is funneling to the top like never before.

Public Services Are Being Privatized Source: ICMA Municipal Year Book, 2002.

Union Workers Have Better Health Care and Pensions Source: U.S. Dept. of Labor, BLS, March %

Health Care Costs Outpace Wage Increases

The Growing Gap Between Workers’ Wages and Executive Pay For large U.S. corporations surveyed by Business Week magazine Source: Institute for Policy Studies and United for a Fair Economy In 1980, CEO pay equaled 42 times the average blue collar worker’s pay. By 2006, CEO pay had grown to 364 times the average blue collar worker’s pay -- by far the widest gap in the world.

Recommend Clipart here Recommend Clipart here Agenda Slide Workshop Objectives   Understand the economic crisis facing working families   Be aware of how declining unionization affects our standard of living   Know about the AFSCME Organizing Program – our plan for fighting back   Learn what role YOU can play in organizing the unorganized and changing our country. afscme.org/academy

Fewer Workers Are In Unions Source: AFL-CIO.

0% to 9% 10% to 20% 21% to 30% Source: U.S. Department of Labor Union Density by State, 1984

0% to 9% 10% to 20% 21% to 30% Source: U.S. Department of Labor Union Density by State, 2004

Unions Raise Wages Source: U.S. Dept. of Labor, BLS, Jan. 2007

Union vs. Non-union wages Job Library Assistants Refuse Collectors Bailiffs, Corrections Officers Avg. Union Salary $28,995$44,720$46,259 Avg. NON Union Salary $20,301$18,970$30,514 Union Difference 42.8%135.7%51.6%

Organizing the unorganized is a matter of self interest. If we don’t raise non-union workers up, we will get caught in the race to the bottom!

Knowledge Check 1.The percentage of workers represented by unions in the U.S. peaked in: a.The 1950s b.The 1960s c.The 1970s 2.The percentage of workers represented by unions in 2007 was: a.23% b.18% c.13%

Answers 1.The percentage of workers represented by unions in the U.S. peaked in: Correct Answer - b. The 1960s 2. The percentage of workers represented by unions in 2007 was: Correct Answer - c. 13%

Recommend Clipart here Recommend Clipart here Agenda Slide Workshop Objectives   The economic crisis facing working families.   The effect of declining unionization on our standard of living   The AFSCME Organizing Program – our plan for fighting back.   What role YOU can play in organizing the unorganized and changing our country. afscme.org/academy

Grow the Union by 5% each year. Establish and strengthen Organizing Departments in every AFSCME Council. Recruit and train Volunteer Member Organizers (VMOs). Develop strategic organizing plans that leverage the resources and power we have at every level of the union. Negotiate contract language that helps us organize. AFSCME Power To Win Organizing Plan

AFSCME Power To Win: Our Strategy Win new organizing rights for public employees. Organize strategically in the private sector. Organize emerging workforces.

Organizing Goals: International Union 2% growth per year Recruit and train organizing staff Recruit and train VMOs

Organizing Goals: Major Affiliates 3% growth per year Dedicated Organizing Department Strategic organizing plans Utilize VMOs

Organizing Goals: Local Unions 90% membership in units with collective bargaining. Majority membership where we don’t have collective bargaining. Negotiate release time for organizing campaigns. Negotiate to include uncovered jobs. Recruit VMOs.

We’re Making Progress YearNumber Organized , , , , , , , ,648

Success in the Public Sector Oklahoma Municipal Workers Won the Municipal Employees Collective Bargaining Act in Organized 2,100 workers in six cities.

Success in the Private Sector First Student Inc. bus drivers First Student is the largest private provider of student transportation in the U.S. First Student workers are organizing with AFSCME across the country. Victories in Indiana, Maine, and Pennsylvania

Success in Emerging Workforces In-Home Child Care Providers Receive payment from state government treasuries. Not classified as “employees”, so no workers comp, safety and health laws, etc. Have organized with AFSCME in eleven states.

We Face Real Obstacles Organizing isn’t a top priority for some councils No right to organize in many states and local governments Weak labor laws Retaliation from employers against workers who try to organize Employers hire professional union busters

Knowledge Check 1.The Plan adopted by delegates to the 2006 International Convention challenges the union to grow AFSCME by: a.1% per year b.5% per year c.20% per year d.25% per year 2.VMO stands for: a.Very Motivated Organizer b.Volunteer Member Organizer c.Voting More Often

Answers 1.The Plan adopted by delegates to the 2006 International Convention challenges the union to grow AFSCME by: Correct answer - b. 5% per year 2.VMO stands for: Correct answer - b. Volunteer Member Organizer

Agenda Slide Workshop Objectives afscme.org/academy   The economic crisis facing working families.   The effect of declining unionization on our standard of living   The AFSCME Organizing Program – our plan for fighting back.   What role YOU can play in organizing the unorganized and changing our country.

How can you combat the obstacles to organizing? Encourage your union to have an active organizing program. Commit resources. Identify unorganized workers who do the same work as we do. Become a VMO. Negotiate organizing friendly language. Find out where political candidates stand on organizing and ask them for their support.

Become a Volunteer Member Organizer – VMO. You are the most credible voice in a union organizing campaign. Inspire unorganized workers by educating them about the benefits of union membership. Help unorganized workers overcome fear. Build local union awareness about the necessity of organizing. Gain skills to help build your own union.

Bargain to Organize Release time to work on organizing campaigns Negotiate to bring uncovered job titles within our bargaining units

Build Political Support for Organizing Recruit politicians who understand and support the right to organize. Ask politicians to publicly support workers involved in organizing

Generations of AFSCME members have taken risks… Philadelphia – 1938 City public works employees face layoffs and 30% wage cut. Four-day strike. City tries to bring in strike- breakers. Victory! Cuts rescinded. First signed agreement with a major U.S. city.

Generations of AFSCME members have taken risks… Striking sanitation workers in AFSCME Local 1733 fighting for respect and recognition in Memphis in 1968

Generations of AFSCME members have taken risks… AFSCME Local 101 members march in San Jose, CA during the nation’s first strike for pay equity.

Now, It’s Our Turn What will our grandchildren say about OUR generation of AFSCME members?

Additional Information For more information, contact the Organizing and Field Services Department at:  Closing Slide Option 1 Closing Slide Option 1 afscme.org/academy