UA Employees Take Another Hit

Following on the news that University of Arkansas employees will get no merit raises or service awards this year, the UA Administration has also announced that workers will have to pay more for health care and dental care benefits. Health insurance costs to workers and their families will go up by 5% and dental insurance costs will be increased by 3%.

The increases in the amount that employees must pay for health and dental insurance means that workers will have to choose between giving up benefits or taking home smaller paychecks for their families. Classified employees have had their wages frozen for next year, and faculty will not get merit raises for the second straight year.

Chancellor David Gearhart will get an additional $225,000 annually in deferred compensation from "private" funds through the UA Foundation. There was no consideration of deferred compensation for workers who have had their salary frozen and health insurance rates increased.

UA Workers Salaries Frozen

On Friday, June 18, UA Chancellor G. David Gearhart sent University workers an email stating that he just learned on Thursday, June 17, “that the Governor’s freeze on state raises did, in fact, apply to higher education. This information has caught the entire higher education community by surprise.”

How that could have been a surprise instead of a delayed announcement is puzzling. Last month, the Director of the state Department of Finance and Administration sent a memorandum to all “Presidents/Chancellors of State Supported Institutions of Higher Education” specifically stating, that “annual career service recognition payments and classified and unclassified employee merit increases will be suspended for 2011.”

This is especially burdensome for low wage workers who already struggle. It also means that faculty will get no merit increases for the second consecutive year, because Gearhart recommended and the Board of Trustees voted to give no faculty raises last year. Of course, all employees will still be evaluated annually, even if these reviews are financially meaningless for the workers.

The UA Board of Trustees on May 21st voted to raise Chancellor Gearhart’s salary from $282,000 to $289,000 and voted to throw in an additional $225,000 annual deferred compensation payment from the UA Foundation. We’re not sure how the Board of Trustees can make expenditures of that magnitude from a “private” foundation, but they did.

Will Chancellor Gearhart now decline his $232,000 annual raise for next year, or is this salary freeze just for the workers? We will wait for his next empathetic email before guessing.

Two Members Honored by Sierra Club

The Arkansas Sierra Club honored two members of AFSCME Local 965 at their annual awards banquet last night. Mayor Lioneld Jordan, past president of Local 965, received the environmental group's top award, "Conservationist of the Year." In making the presentation, Sierra Club President Rob Leflar cited Jordan's outstanding leadership for low impact development, energy conservation, and expansion of the trails system, as well as his voting record during eight years on the city council, and called him "the Greenest Mayor in Arkansas."

State Representative Lindsley Smith received the award for Outstanding State Elected Official. Leflar noted that she had a 100% Sierra Club voting record during her three terms in the legislature and had sponsored successful legislation, including an anti-SLAPP statute to protect critics of developers, a "Net Metering" statute that allowed individuals to sell alternative energy to electric utilities, and expansion of the wetlands mitigation bank to include other aquatic resources.

Spring Community Service Day

AFSCME Local 965 members will spend Saturday morning, May 22, volunteering for litter pickup and removal at Greathouse Park in south Fayetteville. With the end of the school year, the park will be more heavily used by neighborhood youngsters, so let's help make it a safe and enjoyable experience for them.

Members should arrive by 8:00 a.m. for the project that includes the six-acre playground areas as well as removing debris from the creek. Recent utility work has had an adverse impact on the public areas. Equipment and supplies will be provided.

Directions: Greathouse Park is located south of 15th St. Turn south off 15th Street onto Brooks Ave. (Brooks is opposite of the Pinnacle Foods plant & runs along the RV Lot on the opposite corner from Baum Stadium). Then turn left onto Boone St & go a block to the parking lot at the corner of Boone St. & Price Ave.

Hope to see you there!!!

UPDATE: Brother Lioneld Jordan, Mayor of Fayetteville, joined us for the park cleanup. Photo above by Sister Betty Martin, President of Local 965, shows Mayor Jordan with some of the other union members participating in the community service project. L to R: Rick Belt, Steve Smith, Lioneld Jordan, Bruce McNully, Larry West.

AFSCME Spring Picnic

AFSCME Local 965 will be hosting our Spring Picnic on Sunday, May 2, 10:00am to 2:00pm, at the Gardens Main Pavilon on Razorback Road across from Faciities Management. Free Food!! Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Baked Beans, Chips, and Drinks! Fun!! All are Welcome. Bring the Family!!! Celebrate the end of the semester and International Workers Day.

New Location for Picnic. This is where the Football Season "Hog Pen" is, south of Bud Walton Arena and north of Lot 56.

Officer Elections

Congratulations to our new officers for 2010-2011.
President Betty Martin;
Vice President Dwight Morris;
Treasurer Bruce McNully;
Secretary Theresa Sims.

Union-Made Easter Candy

Did you know Jelly Belly's, Peeps and Jelly Beans are union-made?

When you're searching for something for an Easter basket, why not buy union-made-in-America treats.

Here's a brief list of choices of candy products made by members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM); snack foods by members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW); or fruit and nuts from members of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW).

Hershey Products	Necco (New England Confectionery Company)
Hershey Kisses*	Sweethearts
Hershey Syrups	Mary Jane Peanut Butter Chews
Hershey Milk Chocolate Bar*	NECCO Wafers/Necco Wafer Smoothies
Hershey Milk with Almond Bars	Sky Bar
Hershey Special Dark Bars	Clark Bar
Hershey Nuggets	Canada Mints
Rolo	Candy Cupboard
Hershey Kissables	Thin Mints
Kit Kat Bars	NECCO Assorted Junior Wafers
Carmello Bar	Clark Junior Laydown Bag
Cadbury Fruit & Nut Bar	Mary Jane Laydown Bag
Cadbury Roast Almond Bar	Haviland
Cadbury Royal Dark Bar
Cadbury Dairy Milk Bar	Ghiradelli Chocolates
Hershey Symphony Bar with Toffee	All filled & non filled squares
	non pariels
Just Born	Chocolate chips
Peeps
Mike & Ike	Gimbals Fine Candies
Hot Tamales	JellyBeans
Peanut Chews	Cherry Hearts
	Scotty Dogs
Jelly Belly's Candy Company	Nestle
Jelly Bellies - also made in a non-union plants in Chicago/Taiwan	Nestle Treasures
Chocolate Dutch Mints	Laffy Taffy
Chocolate Temptations	Kathryn Beich specialty candy
dimples	Baby Ruth*
Goelitz Confections	Butterfinger*
Goelitz Gummi	Pearson's Nips
Pet Rat	Famous Old Time Candies (gourmet chocolates)
Pet Tarantula
Sweet Temptations	Pearson's Candy Co.
Candy Corn	Salted Nut Roll
Licorice	Nut Goodie
Malted Milk Balls	Mint Patties
Chocolate Coated Nuts, and Sours	Bun Bars
Sunkist Fruit Gel Slices
	Anabelles Candy Company
American Licorice	Boston Baked Beans
Black & Red Vines	Jordon Almonds
Strawberry Ropes	Rocky Road
	U-Nos
Sconza Candies	Look
Jawbreakers	Big Hunk
Chocolate Covered Cherries	Abbazabbz
Chocolate	Yogurt Nuts & Fruit
Kraft	Orville Redenbacher
snack products	popcorn
Frito-Lay
chips and snacks

Union Prayer

Addie Wyatt, former officer of the United Food and Commercial Workers, used to start a meeting with this union prayer.

"Each of us is a link in this great union chain that stretches around the world. I will try every day to keep my link, united, active and strong."

Addie L. Wyatt (1924-)

Labor leader, civil rights pioneer, pastor

The first female board member of the United Packinghouse Food and Alliance Workers Union, Addie L. Wyatt was elected vice president of Local 56 in 1953. During her 30-year career as a labor leader Wyatt fought for equality as a campaigner for women's rights in the workplace and as an active protester alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the early 1960s. She served as a member of President John F. Kennedy's Commission on the Status of Women and in 1976 became the first black woman labor leader of an international union when she was elected international vice president of the newly merged United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. A former Time magazine woman of the year (1975), Wyatt was inducted to the Civil Rights Walk of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2005.

Council Insults City Employees

The Fayetteville Civil Service Commission is responsible for examining and establishing eligibility lists for appointments and promotions within the Police and Fire Departments and acting upon appeals and disciplinary action taken by the Police and Fire Chiefs and the Mayor. To say it is unfriendly to the case of workers is an understatement. Not once in the last nine years has the Commission ever sided with an employee in an appeal.

Part of the problem is that the Commission has long been loaded up with Chamber of Commerce members who always side with management against city workers. For example, Fred Vorsanger, an employee of the Chamber is serving a term that will run through 2014. That's no wonder, really, because the official application for all City boards, commission, and committees asks whether the applicant heard about the opening from the Chamber of Commerce, so they can easily spot the business insiders.

Another serious problem is that the Secretary of the Board, William Brown, is the father of Police Captain William "Casey" Brown, whose disciplinary decisions against officers are subject to appeal to his father. How fair is that? None of his fellow Commissioners ever saw any conflict or raised the issue. None of them are known for showing much concern for employees or giving them a fair hearing.

Last night, the City Council nominated and unanimously approved, without debate, the appointment of Buddy Chadick, a distinguished citizen and a partner in the Bassett Law Firm. He has long experience in representing Tyson Foods and other corporations in fighting and appealing to deny Workers Compensation claims of injured workers; there is no record that he has ever represented an injured worker seeking medical expenses or any employee in an employment discrimination case. Mr. Chadick is a fine fellow, but he is an absolutely awful appointment to the Civil Service Commission that is supposed to be impartial and give employees a fair shake.

Chadick's appointment to a term that will run until 2016 is an insult to city employees and a poor reflection of the due diligence and concern for fairness by the members of the City Council.

Time for Action on Health Care Reform

This is the week we've been waiting for — the week when members of the House of Representatives choose to stand with us or the insurance companies.

The insurance industry operatives and Republican talking heads you see on cable TV say we need to start over and spend another year — or another decade — before we pass reform. They twist the facts to say that the public opposes reform, but what the public really opposes are attempts to water down or kill reform to keep the insurance companies happy.

AFSCME members like you are fighting the good fight and have been a critical voice for the past year in the health insurance reform debate. Together, we've made literally tens of thousands of phone calls and sent even more emails to our senators and representatives. The insurance industry has deep pockets and is doing all it can to kill reform — but we won't let them win. This is our moment.

The bill that the House will soon vote on would end the ability of insurance companies to deny coverage to those who have pre-existing conditions — or deny coverage when you get sick. It would require insurance companies to pay for preventive care. It would also allow parents to keep their unemployed children on their policies until they turn 26. And it would end taxpayer funded subsidies to Big Insurance.

The historic nature of this moment cannot be overstated. The opportunity to end insurance company abuses is a moment for which we have worked long and hard. It is a vote that will affect our children, and their children. Please take a moment now to contact your member of Congress. Tell him/her the time has come to stand up to the insurance companies. The time has come to pass health care reform.

Please go to: http://www.unionvoice.org/cam paign/stand_up_for_reform

Thanks to you, when the history books are written on this struggle, they will read: AFSCME was there.

In solidarity,

Gerald W. McEntee
International President

Fayetteville Gets Green Job Training Center

Fulfilling Mayor Lioneld Jordan's dream of a Green Jobs Training Center in Fayetteville, Governor Mike Beebe announced on Thursday a $1.3 million grant for the program to be conducted by NorthWest Arkansas Community College. The facility is scheduled to be opened this summer.

Pictured above at the announcement in Little Rock are Rick Mayes (NWACC Director of Building Sciences), Stephen Smith (President, Northwest Arkansas Labor Council), Alderman Sarah Lewis, Mayor Lioneld Jordan, Dr. Becky Paneitz (President, NWACC), State Representative Lindsley Smith, Steve Clark (President, Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce), and Professor Panneer Selvam (UA College of Engineering).

Mayor Lioneld Jordan, NWA Labor Council President Stephen Smith, and Representative Lindsley Smith are members of AFSCME Local 965.

UPTE-CWA Gains Tentative Contract at UC After 2-Year Fight

It took two years of tough bargaining, but University Professional and Technical Employees/CWA Local 9119 won a tentative agreement last week covering 9,000 researchers and technicians at the University of California.

The five-year agreement provides for pay increases of 14.5 percent over the contract term, plus a $1,000 lump sum payment to be paid this July.

The tentative settlement will be sent to members for a ratification vote.

"Local 9119 achieved this settlement during the worst economy in the history of California. I'm proud of the bargaining committee, the local leadership and everything they have done to protect members," said CWA District 9 Vice President Jim Weitkamp.

Progress in bargaining was delayed by university officials who refused to fairly address workers' concerns about their pay and retirement security.

Union members kept up a constant mobilization campaign, lobbied the state legislature, and gained public and community support through a media campaign.

In other improvements, the contract sets up a $1.7 million equity pool to help address pay inequities for workers in some job titles. The university will contribute 4 percent into the workers' pension plan this year, and has agreed to match or exceed additional one percent contributions by employees in 2011 and 2012.

The contract also limits increases in workers' health benefits and parking fees.

"This is a great agreement, especially considering the terrible state of California's economy," said UPTE-CWA Local 9119 President Jelger Kalmijn. "We won good raises and placed real limits on how much the university can charge for health care and other benefits. We will continue to fight for workers at UC, especially in the area of job security," he added.

UA Students: Experience What It's Like to be Part of the Labor Movement

As one of the fastest growing unions in the United States , AFSCME is constantly in search of skilled, motivated and passionate activists who are interested in a career in the labor movement. Through the AFSCME/UNCF Union Scholars Program, you can join us in the effort to support public service employees who are organizing unions.

Are You Eligible?

If you meet the following eligibility requirements, the AFSCME/UNCF Union Scholars Program wants you to consider applying for this cutting-edge program that will not only help countless working men and women but you as well. This program will open annually on October 1. You must:

• be a second-semester sophomore or junior during the application and interview process;
• major in Ethnic Studies, Women’s Studies, Labor Studies, American Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, History, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Economics, or Public Policy;
• have at least a 2.5 grade point average;
• be a college student of color, including: African American, Hispanic American, Asian Pacific Islander American and American Indian/Alaskan Native;
• demonstrate interest in working for social and economic justice through the labor movement.
• have a driver’s license
  

What are the Union Scholar benefits?

If you are selected, AFSCME will award you a 10-week summer field placement, during which you participate in a union organizing campaign in one of several locations across the United States .

You will receive:

• a stipend of up to $4,000;
• on-site housing at your location;
• a week-long orientation and training;
• an academic scholarship of up to $5,000 for the school year, based on successful performance.

To Apply

Find the application online or call toll free: 1-866-671-7237. To be eligible, you must meet all eligibility requirements as identified above. Make sure that you are eligible before you attempt to complete the online application. The annual deadline for this program is February 28.

Jobs for America Now

The Jobs for America Now coalition assembled leaders from across Arkansas for a press conference in Little Rock to release the report, "Putting Arkansas Back to Work: How Investment in Public Services will Save Jobs and Grow the Economy." Together, they called upon Arkansas' congressional delegation to support pending job-creation legislation under debate in Washington D.C. The need for more jobs is critical in Arkansas, just as across the country.

According to this report, economists predict that without federal assistance to state and local governments with these budget shortfalls, 900,000 Americans could lose their jobs in fiscal year 2011, and three million will lose their jobs by 2012. Like dozens of other states across the country, Arkansas faces a budget shortfall thanks to the recession's under-anticipated longevity and depth. Unless Congress acts, Arkansans will suffer dire consequences.

On the steps of the State Capitol, Alan Hughes, AFL-CIO, Justin Nickels, AFSCME, Robin Roark, public school teacher, Rev. Steve Copley, Interfaith Alliance for Worker Justice, Candice Smith, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, and Willie Holmes, Working America gathered to voice their concerns.

According to Robin Roark, public school teacher, "My name is Robin Roark and I'm the son of a Vietnam veteran, and the husband of a women in the service industry and the father of a public school child, and I'm also a public school teacher. I am pleased to join the call for a robust jobs bill, from our Senators and from our good folks in Congress. One that can help the state of Arkansas weather the current budget storm, and more importantly give back to our neighbors the sense of honor and decency that comes from earning a paycheck."

Congress must invest in vital public services

President Obama made it clear last night that he will fight for jobs. He knows that we cannot lose sight of the millions of working families who are still suffering from the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression. Too many Americans are out of work and too many jobs are at risk.

The President and Congress must act now or millions of Americans could lose their jobs in the months ahead. To this point, the President reminded the Democrats of their obligation to lead and served notice to Republicans that ‘just say no’ is not an option.

AFSCME agrees with the President that America needs to lay a foundation for long-term economic growth, and we continue to believe that providing affordable, quality health care for millions of additional Americans is not only the right thing to do, but is also a key to economic recovery.

We also agree that federal action is needed to keep our economy from slipping back into the ditch. Too many services in communities across the country are being cut to the bone. AFSCME members understand this first hand. Members like you are on the front lines of this crisis, trying to do more and more with less and less. State and local governments need help and they need it now.

AFSCME will fight for robust investment in vital public services. Indeed, investment in public services must be a part of federal jobs legislation. In the coming weeks and months, we will call you, our 1.6 million members, to lend your voice to our efforts to make this happen.

In solidarity,



Gerald W. McEntee
International President

No Layoffs or Furloughs at UA

University of Arkansas Chancellor G. David Gearhart said there will be no layoffs or furloughs at the main campus this fiscal year, despite a $3.2 million budget shortfall. He made the announcement Monday while introducing Governor Mike Beebe during an observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Arkansas Union ballroom.

The Legacy of Dr. King

On January, 18, 2010, people of all ages and backgrounds come together to remember the life and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He devoted his life's work to the causes of equality and social justice. He taught that through nonviolent direct action, problems such as hunger, homelessness, prejudice, and discrimination can be overcome. Dr. King's teachings continue to inspire and guide us as we address our nation's most pressing needs.

In our current economic crisis, bad employers, greedy corporations and self-serving politicians will exploit peoples' fears and use them to continue the attack on workers and communities. This will not go unnoticed. We will not idly stand by and watch as families are devastated, our rights eroded, and our future traded away. We will shine a light on the ugly system that that puts profits over people and money over morals. We will confront power and become powerful ourselves. The transformation to a new economy will not come from Capitol Hill, but from people like us taking direct action to demand change.

We ask that on this day, you take a moment to remember and celebrate Dr. King's work and recommit to the ongoing struggle for a just society. Take the JwJ pledge to be there at least 5 times in the next year for someone else's fight as well as your own. It will take all of us. We are the creative force in this universe.

UA Cuts Budget Again

The University of Arkansas has announced it will cut the budget by another $2.6 million for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

The cut is the second for UA and brings the total cuts since the start of the fiscal year in July to just more than $5 million.

UA Chancellor G. David Gearhart says he understands the economic problems facing the state. But he says the latest cut creates "dire challenges" that threaten the university's mission as an academic and economic engine in the state.

The university may consider a hiring freeze and some jobs may be eliminated through attrition. Faculty and staff may also be required to take unpaid furloughs. And there may be cuts to academic and outreach programs.

This would be a good opportunity for Chancellor David Gearhart to examine the number of administrators added in recent years with salaries exceeding $100,000 per year and consider which are necessary to putting "Students First." The size of the administrative staff expanded rapidly during the last decade under former Chancellor John White.

No Raises Next Year

Governor Mike Beebe’s proposed balanced budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year contains no raises for state employees, according to state Department of Finance and Administration Director Richard Weiss.

State employees were to have received a 2.3% pay increase, but all raises are suspended in Beebe’s proposed budget, Weiss told the legislative Joint Budget Committee on the first day of budget hearings in preparation for the Legislature’s first-ever fiscal session.

Because of revenue shortfalls, Beebe cut $100 million from this fiscal year’s budget in the fall and announced yesterday that he was cutting another $106 million. No layoffs are expected, the governor said.

UA Withheld Classified Workers' Raises

Arkansas legislators conducting budget hearings in Little Rock next month will be reviewing the decision by the University of Arkansas and other universities to withhold full pay increases from classified employees despite a law that provided for the raises this fiscal year, according to the co-chairman of the Joint Budget Committee.

All state agencies gave the full raises, but Arkansas Tech was the only four-year public university to give more than a partial pay plan increase to classified workers this fiscal year. Unlike state agencies, colleges and universities do not answer directly to the governor or legislature under the Arkansas Constitution. Finance director Richard Weiss admitted, “We don’t have any control or very little control over colleges and universities.”

In a memorandum to university administrators, Dr. Jim Purcell, director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, said “The level of support that higher education institutions received in this tough budget year was to some extent based upon an understanding that the institutions would implement the pay plan.” He also advised “that full implementation of the pay plan as soon as practical is highly desired,” and he reminded them that their budgets “are dependent on legislative and executive branch support.”

Higher education budget hearings begin on January 12, and the full legislative fiscal session begins February 8.