“Almost 200 AFSCME activists converged on the state capitol in March to educate legislators about the benefits of an increased cigarette sales tax and stronger corporate accounting laws.

“First-time participants included an estimated 40 home care providers who care for the elderly and people with disabilities who would otherwise have to live in institutions. Some of those workers were accompanied by their ‘consumers’ as well.” …

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This local’s publication has a strong “Teamster-style” voice that is in-your-face while also never talking down to its members. It includes updates on bargaining and organizing spliced with national economics and politics to illustrate the connection between bargaining power and the big picture.

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Working with SEIU’s President Andy Stern, the president of Local 73 was about to embark on a politically risky but crucial effort to realign the union membership of multiple amalgamated locals into industry-specific locals. All public sector members would end up in one local, all industrial in another and so on. More than half of Local 73′s members would be moved to other locals. This editorial in the union’s quarterly newspaper planted the seeds of this move months before it came before the membership.

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This union of 2,000 professionals had only 500 active members, and was entering into negotiations for its second contract. Leaders needed to remind bargaining unit members what the union had accomplished, while also admitting there was much work left to be done, and inspiring people to join.

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