AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY & MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, COUNCIL 77, AFL-CIO

Newsletter Date
Winter/Spring 2002

After a slow start, the heat is starting to rise under the Capitol Dome. AFSCME and other Labor Lobbyists are fighting for time with legislators who have corporate and industry lobbyists lined up to 'talk' with them. In addition to the $804 one time annual increase outlined in Governor Wise's State of the State address, we are fighting to remind legislators that state employees rank 49th in the nation in pay & any additional or multi-year increase for teachers has to be made available to state employees as well.
It looks like AFSCME's long time goal of removing the 20 year cap on increment pay may succeed this year (HB 2360).
The 'Fair & Equal Citizenship Act' (HJR 19) allowing public employees to run for office like any other citizen and the right to actually bargain collectively

with our public employers (HB 2902) are just a few of the bills we are working on. OSHA Coverage, retiree benefit improvements, pay equity and opposing a major Highways privatization threat are also important efforts among others. 
In addition to coming to Charleston to meet with your legislators on Lobby Day, February 18 (see next page and call your legislators to make an appointment if you can) YOU can do something else.
When you write, call and visit your delegates and senators and identify yourself as a constituent, a public employee AND an AFSCME member, they will pay attention. Letters (handwritten especially) are the best tool other than face to face visits, then phone calls with e-mails and postcards being least effective. Your action counts.

Inside this issue: