AFSCME planning new organizing effort (legislation, electoral politics)

[Omaha Steve]

Full story: http://www.suntimes.com/output/business/cst-fin-afscme04.html



Business

AFSCME planning new organizing effort

August 4, 2006

BY FRANCINE KNOWLES Business Reporter

The nation's biggest union of government workers will gather here next week to vote on an ambitious plan to commit more resources to organizing and electing pro-labor politicians-- an effort that calls for raising dues to fund the efforts.

A 21st Century committee formed two years ago by the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees to do a top-to-bottom review of the union has recommended that 70,000 new workers be organized annually, 5 percent per year.

It also has called for the launch of a year-round strategic program to focus on issue advocacy, legislation, electoral politics and PAC fund-raising, and to galvanize 40,000 AFSCME activists nationwide by 2008.

To fund the effort, the committee has recommended a dues increase of $3 per member per month phased in over three years that would generate about $4 million annually.

In addition, the committee has called for returning its normal minimum dues increase, a projected $22 million annually, to affiliates to help achieve the goals.

The proposals come as workers face continuing privatization of jobs, said labor leaders ahead of the week-long convention, which kicks off Monday. AFSCME, which has 1.4 million members, has organized 350,000 people in the last three years. But it has realized only a net gain of 75,000 members because of privatizing public-sector jobs, said AFSCME President Gerald McEntee.

[rodeodance]

1. grand,