Vote FOR the Impact Fees -- April 10

AFSCME Local 965 has endorsed the Road Impact Fees proposed by the Fayetteville City Council. We need safe roads as our community continues to grow, and the Road Impact Fee to be paid for by developers will help reduce the cost of sprawl. The alternatives to the impact fees are to shift the burden to citizens who are not causing the problem and making them pay higher regressive sales taxes on necessities or hiking up the property taxes on existing homes.

Someone has to pay for growth, and it should not all be dumped on working families. The developers should pay their fair share.

Early voting is already underway at the Washington County Courthouse, and the election is on Tuesday, April 10th at designated polling places in the City of Fayetteville.

VOTE FOR THE IMPACT FEES.
For additional information, click here.

Disabled Workers Lose House Vote

The State Chamber of Commerce bill to abolish the Workers Compensation Second Injury Trust Fund sailed through the Arkansas House on Friday by a vote of 71-21. House Bill 2674 by Rep. Keven Anderson (R-Rogers) is a cruel slap at disabled workers who might be injured on the job. One of the main reasons for creation of the Second Injury Trust Fund was to encourage hiring people with disabilities, but the Workers' Compensation Commission has failed to fund it for 8 of the last 16 years. Rep. Anderson and the State Chamber would rather abolish the program and leave disabled workers without a safety net than to provide reasonable insurance premiums to support coverage for injured workers.

Voting against protecting disabled workers were local Representatives Marilyn Edwards (D-Fayetteville), Keven Anderson (R-Rogers), Mark Martin (R-Prairie Grove), Jon Woods (R-Springdale), Mike Kenney (R-Siloam Springs), Daryl Pace (R-Siloam Springs), Eric Harris (R-Lowell), Donna Hutchinson (R-Bella Vista), Horace Hardwick (R-Bentonville), Aaron Burkes (R-Garfield), Bryan King (R-Berryville), and Roy Ragland (R-Marshall).

Voting to protect the fund for injured workers were Jim House (D-Fayetteville) and Lindsley Smith (D-Fayetteville). AFSCME Local 965 thanks Representatives House and Smith for voting against this anti-worker legislation.

Dispute Resolution Bill Passes House

House Bill 1630, providing alternative dispute resolution practices for public employees, passed the Arkansas House of Representative by 68-19 on March 21st. AFSCME 965 strongly supports this legislation to protect public sector workers from arbitrary actions.

Voting for the bill were Fayetteville Reps. Lindsley Smith and Marilyn Edwards and Mark Martin (R-Prairie Grove). Republican Reps. John Woods of Springdale and Mike Kenney and Daryl Pace of Siloam Springs voted against it. Rep. Jim House of Fayetteville did not vote.

The bill is now in the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor. Senator Bill Pritchard of Elkins is a member of that committee. Please contact him at pritchardb@arkleg.state.ar.us and ask him to support HB1630 to protect worker rights.

Cynthia Nance Honored for Public Service

Local 965 member Cynthia Nance, Dean of the University of Arkansas School of Law, is among four women to be honored at the 9th Washington County Women's History Month Dinner/Celebration on March 28 at the Fayetteville Clarion. The banquet is hosted by Altrusa, American Association of University Women, Business and Professional Women, Delta Kappa Gamma, Democratic Women of Washington County, League of Women Voters, National Organization of Women and Republican Women of Washington County.

The annual event recognizes women who have made a substantial contribution to their communities through service and who have made contributions in areas historically closed to women. Sister Cindy Nance has worked for equal opportunity in a variety of ways. She's been head of the American Association of Law Schools Employment Discrimination Section and is on the board of the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice. Locally, she works with the Cooperative Emergency Outreach ministry supported by several churches, Habitat for Humanity and the Northwest Arkansas Worker's Center. At the university, she's sponsored the Labor and Employment Law Society, the Black Student Law Association, and Phi Delta Phi legal honor society, and she represented AFSCME Local 965 as a delegate at the recent AFL-CIO convention in Chicago

Tickets are $ 17 and will be available only through Friday, March 23. More information is available at 751-6258.

Committee Votes Against Pregnant Workers

The House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth on Friday failed to give a Do Pass recommendation to House Bill 2772 by Rep. Lindsley Smith. The bill would have provided unpaid family medical leave for women workers who give birth during the first year of employment. Business interests and "human resource managers" opposed the legislation as too burdensome for employers, leaving women workers to face the harsh choice between losing their job or losing their child.

The bill needed 11 votes to get out of committee but received only 8 favorable votes (7D-1R): Representatives David Cook, Sharon Dobbins, Bubba Powers, Johnnie Roebuck, Bobby Pierce, Donna Hutchinson, Dawn Creekmore, and Linda Chesterfield voted for the bill.

Seven legislators voted against protecting the jobs of pregnant women employees: Johnny Key, Joan Cash, Bryan King, Barry Hyde, Steve Breedlove, and Tracy Pennartz. Five legislators did not vote, which had same effect as voting against: Representatives Michael Lamoureux, Aaron Burkes, Ed Garner, J.R. Rogers, and Randy Stewart. (7D-5R)

Arkansas AFL-CIO Convention in May

The Twenty-Sixth Arkansas AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention will be held May 21, 22, and 23^rd at the Clarion Resort on the Lake at 4813 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, Arkansas. The convention will convene at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 21^st. Delegates may register on Sunday, May 20^th, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. or on Monday, May 21^st, from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Convention Credentials will be mailed to the Secretary of each Local Union in the next few weeks.

The convention registration fee is $80 for each delegate, alternate delegate, and registered visitor planning to attend.

All resolutions and proposed constitutional amendments must be received ten (10) days before the convention. All late resolutions and constitutional amendments are referred to the Executive Board.

The special hotel room rate at the Clarion Resort on the Lake for convention delegates is $76.00 for a single or double. The hotel is holding a block of rooms for our convention delegates. Their cutoff date is April 20^th. Please make your reservations early by calling toll free 1-800-432-5145. Be sure to specify the reservation is for the AFL-CIO convention.

Chamber Trys to Punish Disabled Workers

The Arkansas Chamber of Commerce is pushing anti-worker legislation to abolish the Workers' Compensation Second Injury Fund. The Chamber members are writing legislators in support of House Bill 2674 by Rep. Keven Anderson (R-Rogers), and we must make our voices heard against this cruel bill and in support of disabled workers. One of the main reasons for creation of the Second Injury Fund was to encourage hiring people with disabilities, but the Workers' Compensation has failed to fund it for 8 of the last 16 years.

Please contact Legislators today and ask them to oppose HB 2674 (AN ACT TO AMEND ARKANSAS CODE 11-9-525 CONCERNING COMPENSATION FOR SECOND INJURIES; TO AMEND A PORTION OF THE ARKANSAS CODE WHICH RESULTED FROM INITIATED ACT 4 OF 1948; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES . This bill will be in the Public Health, Welfare & Labor Committee on Tuesday, March 20.

You can copy and paste this list of email addresses for committee members: schultes@arkleg.state.ar.us, keyj@arkleg.state.ar.us, berrys@arkleg.state.ar.us, coopere@arkleg.state.ar.us, sumpterd@arkleg.state.ar.us, paced@arkleg.state.ar.us, medleyj@arkleg.state.ar.us, edwardsm@arkleg.state.ar.us, raglandr@arkleg.state.ar.us, greenr@arkleg.state.ar.us, hardyw@arkleg.state.ar.us, adcockp@arkleg.state.ar.us, flowerss@arkleg.state.ar.us, reepg@arkleg.state.ar.us, creekmored@arkleg.state.ar.us, praters@arkleg.state.ar.us, burrism@arkleg.state.ar.us, dobbinss@arkleg.state.ar.us, gaskillb@arkleg.state.ar.us, hawkinse@arkleg.state.ar.us,

House Passes Two Bills Backed by Local 965

The Arkansas House of Representatives on Wednesday passed two bills in the legislative package endorsed by AFSCME Local 965 and improving the educational opportunities for the children and grandchildren of working families.

By a 63-26 vote, the House approved House Bill 1796 giving state employees eight hours of paid leave per year to attend parent-teacher conferences and participate in field trips and other educational activities for their children or grandchildren in K-12. Fayetteville Democratic Representatives Jim House and Lindsley Smith voted for this family-friendly bill. Representatives Marilyn Edwards (D-Fayetteville), Eric Harris (R-Lowell), Daryl Pace (R-Siloam Springs), and Jon Woods (R-Springdale) voted against it. Reps. Mark Martin (R-Prairie Grove), Keven Anderson (R-Rogers), and Donna Hutchinson (R-Bella Vista) were listed as Not Voting.

The House also approved House Bill 2299 setting up the Higher Education Opportunities Grants, a needs-based scholarship program for low-income students providing $1,000 grants annually to full-time college students and $500 to part-time students. To be eligible, the student's average family adjusted gross income must be $25,000 or less if the student is an only child. The income limit increases by $5,000 for each additional child. The bill was co-sponsored by Fayetteville’s Democratic Representatives Edwards, House, and Smith, who voted for the bill. Jon Woods (R-Springdale) and Donna Hutchinson (R-Bella Vista) were listed as Not Voting.

Legislation to Help Injured Workers

Representative Lindsley Smith (D-Fayetteville) has introduced two bills to strengthen protection for employees under the Workers’ Compensation Act.
House Bill 2532 provides protection for claimants against retaliatory discrimination by employers and requires that fines for an employer’s willful discrimination in hiring be paid to the claimant.
House Bill 2533 provides compensation for job-related mental injury or illness regardless of whether there is physical injury. It would also increase the benefits from 26 weeks to 52 weeks.
Both bills are supported by the Arkansas AFL-CIO, and both are opposed by the State Chamber of Commerce.

Support Dispute Resolution Process

House Bill 1630 by Representatives Adcock, Smith, and Chesterfield is pending in the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor. It is a bill drafted and supported by AFSCME to allow public employees and government employers to settle grievances through alternative dispute resolution instead of hostile and expensive litigation. It is voluntary, and it makes good sense for everyone.

Who could oppose this simple and sensible legislation? The State Chamber of Commerce does. Their lobbyists are telling legislators that the bill is intended to repeal the state right-to-work-for-less laws and lead to easier organizing of unions in the public and private sector. We could only wish it did that, but we must confront the Chamber's misrepresentations with the plain truth of workplace justice for public employees.

Contact Representative Marilyn Edwards today and ask her to step up and support this legislation for the benefit of University of Arkansas employees.

UPDATE: Representative Edwards has committed to make the Do Pass motion for this legislation in the Committee. Send her a note thanking her for her support. Her email is edwardsm@arkleg.state.ar.us

Thank You Senator Madison

We were informed this evening that Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 361 is on the Calendar for Thursday, March 1. It removes the names of Senator Jack Crumby of Widener and Senator Sue Madison of Fayetteville as sponsors of this unconscionable legislation to reduce the state minimum wage to $2.13 for workers who might receive tips for service.

Senator Madison told the Northwest Arkansas Times that she did not know how her name came to be listed as a sponsor and that she had not signed onto the bill. We appreciate Senator Madison removing her name as a sponsor of the bill, and we urge her to lead the opposition to this anti-worker legislation when it comes before the State Senate.

Local Democrats Join Opposition to SB361

We received an email today informing us that the Washington County Democratic Central Committee has unanimously adopted a Resolution opposing Senate Bill 361. The text of the Resolution says that the local party "supports the recently enacted increase in the state minimum wage, opposes Senate Bill 361 to cut the minimum wage for hourly workers, and respectfully requests that all Democratic state legislators support the interests of working families by opposing and voting against Senate Bill 361."

Working families and UA students who rely on the minimum wage to make ends meet each month are grateful for this expression of support from the Democratic Party. We would be even more impressed if local Democratic legislators Sue Madison and Marilyn Edwards would remove their names as sponsors and lead the opposition against this bill.

NWA Labor Council Opposes SB361

More evidence that public opposition is growing against Senate Bill 361 that would cut the minimum wage for thousands of Arkansas workers to $2.13 per hour.

Resolution 2007-1, adopted this evening, states in relevant part: Now, Therefore, be it Resolved, that the Northwest Arkansas Labor Council unanimously opposes Senate Bill 361 and respectfully requests that all Northwest Arkansas legislators support the interests of working families by opposing and voting against Senate Bill 361.

Members of affiliated unions in Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington Counties wishing to contact their legislators can find email and mailing addresses here.

Shameful Attack on Minimum Wage

For the first time in Arkansas history, legislation has been introduced to reduce the minimum wage for hourly employees by 49 cents an hour.

AFSCME was among the leadership of the religious groups and labor unions that drafted and collected signatures last year to offer a constitutional amendment raising the Arkansas Minimum Wage, but we suspended that effort in favor of legislation that was enacted during the 2006 Special Session. Among the provisions opposed by AFSCME Local 965 but demanded by the Chamber of Commerce and business interests and accepted by legislative leaders was a Sub-Minimum Wage of $2.62 per hour for employees who might also receive tip income for services.

Now the business and corporate special interests want even more out of the hide of workers; they want to CUT the Arkansas Sub-Minimum Wage to a paltry $2.13 per hour—that would be a total paycheck of $85.20 before taxes for a 40-hour work week. It is shameful that nine Democrats have joined 10 Republicans in sponsoring Senate Bill 361.

We are pleased to see that Representative Lindsley Smith (D-Fayetteville) has already announced her opposition to Senate Bill 361. We trust that other legislative supporters of working families in Arkansas will join her in publicly opposing this attack on workers in the service industry.

It is deeply disappointing that Senator Sue Madison and Representative Marilyn Edwards are co-sponsors of this disgraceful attack on low-wage workers. They falsely claim that the legislation “is necessary to protect jobs within the State of Arkansas, prevent an increase in costs to residents and tourists that patronize restaurants, and protect the financial stability of businesses that rely on the services provided by tipped employees.” We have heard those deceitful arguments from Republicans and big business ever since FDR’s first minimum wage law was enacted over their opposition. They ring equally hollow and equally cruel today. What about the quality of life for hourly employees who would receive $19.60 less each week?

Write to Senator Madison and Representative Edwards today and remind them that the Platform of the Democratic Party of Arkansas adopted in 2006 declares, “We strongly advocate that workers and their families be supported by fair compensation through a living wage and provision of benefits.” Ask them to remove their names as co-sponsors of this dishonorable attack on working families and to vote against the bill.

Senator Sue Madison: madisons@arkleg.state.ar.us

Rep. Marilyn Edwards: edwardsm@arkleg.state.ar.us

Peace at Home Project

Since 1980, the Peace At Home Family Shelter has served thousands of families in their current facility. This building has been a refuge for battered women and their children, and the programs provided in it have provided a springboard to new hope and healing for residents of our community. The present building is only still operating because friends have donated hundreds of hours of volunteer time each year to paint it and fix it up. AFSCME Local 965 members recently volunteered their time and money to help, as Bruce McNully rebuilt a bathroom floor at the shelter, and Lindsley Smith purchased and donated the materials for the project.

With the help of concerned citizens, groups, churches, and unions, Peace at Home Family Shelter gets one step closer each day to fulfilling its mission to END family violence. The Shelter has seen a dramatic increase in clients hoping to create better lives for themselves and their children. Over the past two years, their crisis calls have doubled and their shelter is full or near capacity most nights. We at AFSCME Local 965 hope to see it grow stronger for years to come until no woman or child has to live in fear, but, rather, has peace at home.

Community Service Awards for 2006

Local 965 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees has announced the winners of the Community Service Awards for 2006. Just as AFSCME workers are "in the public service," we appreciate and wish to recognize those who significantly contribute to improving the lives of working families in our local community. It is in that spirit that we are pleased to announce the annual Community Service Awards for 2006 and to express our appreciation for these individuals who make a difference.

News Reporting: Adam Wallworth
Northwest Arkansas Times

News Commentary: Doug Thompson
Arkansas News Bureau appearing in The Morning News

Electronic Media: Jim Bemis
Community Access Television

Public Education: Karla Bradley
Owl Creek School

Local Government: Lioneld Jordan
Fayetteville Ward 4 Alderman

Citizen Activist: Jeff Erf
Fayetteville

Mid-South Union Leadership Institute

The Mid-South Union Leadership Institute, conducted by the UALR Labor Education Program is sponsored by the Arkansas AFL-CIO, Mississippi AFL-CIO, Oklahoma AFL-CIO, Tennessee AFL-CIO, and Texas AFl-CIO. It will be held March 15-17 at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock. Workshops for union officers and representatives with leadership responsibilities include:

Effective Local Union Administration: Roles of the Officers and Executive Board; Setting and Achieving Goals; Conducting Effective Local and Committee Meetings; and Using Parliamentary Procedure

Union Building: Identifying Leadership Styles and Skills; Growing The Membership; Increasing Participation; Dealing with Conflicts in the Local

Faith and Labor: Explore the link between the values and beliefs of the major religious traditions and the labor movement. Learn how to build support from the faith based community.

Political Action in the Local: Learn how to talk to your members about important political and legislative issues and to mobilize members around those issues.

The complete agenda and registration materials are available here in PDF. Certificates will be awarded. University policy requires delegates stay for the entire seminar in order to receive a certificate of completion and continuing education units.

Arkansas AFL-CIO Legislative Conference

There will be an AFL-CIO & APFF Joint Legislative Conference on February 26^th – 28^th, 2007. The conference will be held at the Comfort Inn & Suites located at 707 Interstate 30, Little Rock, Arkansas. At the conference we will be discussing legislation of interest to union members and the working families of Arkansas. Any member of AFSCME Local 965 can attend this conference. There is a registration fee of $35.00 per person.

Coalition of Labor Union Women Leading the Fight Against Cervical Cancer

Maybe you've seen the TV ads where women implore you to "Tell Someone" that cervical cancer is caused by a common virus and that you need to be screened regularly to prevent getting the disease. The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) is reaching out to educate union women and the wives and daughters of union men about the need for screening.

The big news is that women and girls between the ages of nine and 26 now can get a vaccine to prevent the disease, says Carolyn Jacobson, director of CLUW's Cervical Cancer Prevention Works program. The cancer is caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), which can be detected through regular screenings before it becomes cancer. Yet, this year, health experts say, more than 10,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 3,700 will die from it.

Jacobson says: There is no reason why union women should get cervical cancer. More than 86 percent of union members have health insurance and most health plans today cover the Pap test and the Pap and HPV test for women over 30, which is recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Cancer Society.

To spread awareness of the ways to prevent cervical cancer, CLUW prepared a two-page, ready-to-use article to use in union publications or websites. The article features two union women, both cervical cancer survivors, who have created not-for-profit organizations to get the awareness and prevention message out in unique and creative ways. To download a copy of the CLUW ready-to-use article, click here .

AFSCME President Gerald McEntee Calls Iraq War Escalation 'Reckless and Wrong'

Gerald W. McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, issued the following statement on the escalation of the war in Iraq: "The President's decision to escalate the war in Iraq is reckless and wrong. It's bad foreign policy and takes away the resources we need to solve problems here at home. This ill-conceived war of choice has cost the lives of more than 3,000 American soldiers and countless billions in U.S. treasure. We could have solved the American health care crisis for what this war has cost us. The time has long past to bring our troops home.”

President Bush has nudged support for the troop increase to 35%, with increased support from Republicans and people with higher incomes. Overall, however, 63% of Americans surveyed oppose the increase. A majority of people said the war was a hopeless cause, and they did not think more troops would stabilize Iraq, according to the AP-Ipsos poll released on February 16^th.

House Democrats, responding to the public's opposition to the war, pushed a nonbinding resolution that criticized Bush for the planned buildup. The resolution passed Friday, but Congressman John Boozman (R-AR3) was the only Arkansas Congressman to oppose it and vote in favor of Bush’s plan to send more troops to Iraq.

AFSCME Local 965 on Thursday, February 15th, adopted a Resolution opposing President Bush's escalation of the war in Iraq and supporting the M11 Demonstration for Peace set for March 11, 2007.