Dunaway
BROOKLYN — When it comes to pitching the PEOPLE program, Maurice Dunaway doesn’t waste any time.
“I get them right at the door,” said Dunaway, a janitor supervisor at SUNY Downstate Medical Center who also serves as 1st vice president of our union’s SUNY Downstate local. “I do the orientation for new employees.”
Dunaway was named our PEOPLE Recruiter of the Month for November, recruiting 12 members.
As a longtime activist, Dunaway knows that there’s too much at stake, especially this year, for the union movement.
“With this Janus v. AFSCME Council 31 case, we need all the political clout that we can get,” said Dunaway, referring to the U.S. Supreme Court case that threatens the ability of public employee unions to collect agency, or “fair share” fees.
PEOPLE also allows members to secure and strengthen other important benefits obtained through legislative and political advocacy, Dunaway said.
“We need a voice for CSEA and AFSCME in Washington D.C.,” said Dunaway. “Our contributions to PEOPLE allow us to have a seat at the table.”
While membership in the program is voluntary, Dunaway doesn’t hesitate to illustrate what’s a stake if we allow our political strength is weakened.
“I speak to members in layman’s terms,” said Dunaway. “I don’t sugarcoat it. I tell them ‘we’re here to help you, but you also need to support this program.’”
If all else fails, Dunaway breaks it down in dollars and cents. “You’re not going miss $1.93,” Dunaway said, referring to the program’s weekly cost. “Then, I start sharing all the other perks of membership, like our jackets.”
Emphasizing the unique position of public sector workers and the impact these members can have on legislation, Dunaway always emphasizes that PEOPLE helps protect “our benefits and our pension.”
— David Galarza
