Page 4 - Retiree News Spring 2017

‘It can happen anywhere’
MADISON WIS — CSEA cameras continue
to roll as as Susan McMurray the only remaining lobbyist
on staff at AFSCME Council 32 pauses to wipe tears from her eyes She recounts how
Act 10 a a a a devastating
piece of legislation implemented by Wisconsin Gov Scott Walker gutted unions
across the the state in in in 2011 Since the the bill’s implementation she has said goodbye to 75 percent of of her co-workers and the the vast majority of of the the union’s members The Act 10 bill which was clearly a a a a a a a a direct attack on on the the the labor movement erased the the the rights for workers in in in the the the state of Wisconsin to collectively bargain “What I would tell my brothers and sisters in in in in New York state is is not not to to take take your your bargaining laws for for granted granted and not not to to take take your your political support for for granted granted ” McMurray solemnly urged “We are the living breathing example of that ” Devastating losses
In the the wake of Act 10 public sector workers suffered devastating
losses
as as their their unions
were stripped of their their bargaining power The state forced workers to to start contributing 6 percent percent of of their their their income income to to their their their pension plans and an an an an an additional 12 percent percent of of their their their income income to a a a a a a a a a a a newly-implemented health insurance plan with higher deductibles Wages are capped by a a a a a a a a a a a a formula that frequently sets the ceiling at at only a a a a a a a a a a few tenths of a a a a a a percent per per year The average average public sector worker was almost overnight bringing home an average average of $700 less per month in in in in his or or her paycheck — a a a a a a a a burden that most working families families can hardly bear As public-sector employed families families struggled to to make ends meet more more and more more left their once-secure careers in in search for new private sector jobs causing overtime to to skyrocket among those those who who remained remained One of those those workers who who remained remained is AFSCME Local 555 President Terry Magnant who is is a a a a a a a a a a certified nursing assistant 2 at at a a a a a a a a a a state- run veterans home With so much turnover in in her department she is forced to often work two or or or three 16-hour shifts a a week She breaks down in front of the camera defeated “I am am just so tired ” Yet she she stays because she she believes in in her life’s work — caring for those who have served our country Her friend and AFSCME Local 1954
President Annie Wacker speaks up her voice also cracking “This is is what happens when you have an Act 10 It decimates not only the employees (members) Unfortunately by then the the the damage had already been done Once the the the the the crowds slowly dwindled down the the the implementation of the the the bill began Our bargaining rights are protected by the the state Constitution
In New York on on on on on Nov 7 the the the choice of whether to hold a a a a a a state constitutional convention convention will appear on on on on on on on the the ballot If a a a a a a a convention convention is held it it would allow any part of of the constitution to be reviewed and rewritten by a a a a a a a team of of delegates elected from throughout the the the state Those changes would then be voted on on on on by the the the the public in future ballots The state constitution preserves not only the the the protections in place for public sector pensions McMurray Magnant A constitutional convention jeopardize our pensions The New York State Constitution
protects our our pensions noting in in in part that our our “benefits shall not not be be diminished ” This means that while the the state can make changes to the the plans such as adding extra tiers it can never take our our pension away This right is is in jeopardy if our our state holds a a a a a a a a constitutional convention Every 20 years the the question of whether to hold a a a a a a a a a a a constitutional convention must appear appear on on on on on on New York ballots ballots and it it will appear appear again on on November 2017 ballots ballots Because of several factors including
a a a a a a a a a difficult economy and and recent scandals involving state officials there is support for for holding a a a a constitutional convention for for the the first time since 1967 Recent polls have shown that while a a a a majority of of New York voters don’t necessarily know the the details of of a a a a a a constitutional convention they are also supportive of of the the the idea because many who support support the the the convention are selling it as a a a a a a a chance for for reform Along with other labor community and advocacy organizations we are strongly but your communities as as well For me Act 10 [was an an attack on] my own morality and what I believed in in about being a a a a public public employee a a a a a public public servant — that it’s about giving back to the community that supported me And we’re not able to do that anymore ” 4 CSEA RETIREE NEWS
It can happen anywhere It’s important to note that Wisconsin was the birthplace of AFSCME in in in 1932 With a a a a a similar story to to to CSEA’s own humble beginnings AFSCME grew into the large international federation it it is today by uniting fellow public sector unions
throughout the country including
CSEA in in in in 1978 Almost no one in in in in Wisconsin would would have believed the birthplace of AFSCME would would become such a a a a a a a a labor tragedy Yet all it took was was a a a a a a a a a a a single election and and swift legislative action and and the the rug was was pulled out from beneath the the the Wisconsin labor movement When the the the news of Act 10 10 first broke more than 100 000 enraged workers marched on on the the state Capitol in in in in in Madison camping out for weeks around the the the the building Joining the the the the workers at at at the the the the statehouse were supporters from across the the the the country including
CSEA Acting President Mary E E Sullivan and former Statewide Treasurer Joe McMullen Wacker