Wisconsin State Employees Union (WSEU)

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
ESSAY CONTEST WITH CASH PRIZES

The Wisconsin Labor History Society is sponsoring a unique essay contest for high school students. In about 750 words, write an essay on the following: "Unions have been important in my family and community because..."

For more information, including where to submit the essay and the cash prizes, download the PDF here. Good luck!

Great 2412 Member Participation at 9/26 Vigil

Thanks to everyone involved!

Sample Correspondence to Legislator
From: John Kreis, state employee at Red Granite Correctional Facility
To: Rep. Nass

“Mr. Nass I arrived home, on August 2nd, from a long day working (how you apparently feel) lucrative position as a Correctional Officer at Redgranite Correctional Institution. You know, that is one of them (how you feel) well funded, (how you feel) safe, (how you feel) secure and definitly (how you feel) Not Over Crowded Wisconsin Prisons. I opened up my e-mail and found your missives on the Wisconsin budget (ala the taxpayers alliance, the WMC and others). Now I am not a "lobbyist" nor a corporate ceo; and I don't have a staff nor a think tank to spoon feed me numbers to fit my political agenda and political contributors (like you).  I mostly knew that you guys mainly report in to work on Tuesday (Monday must be some kind of recurring legislative holiday or something). So I figured I would spend the rest of Friday and, my off work hours Saturday and Sunday, and sort of "fact check" your attempt to burry my personal points on the ARC Budget proposal.”

To read the complete emails, visit our Members Only site. Click on the " Members Only" link on the left.

Important Update on Local Agreement
LIBRARY FLEX-TIME AGREEMENT

We have reached a new Local Agreement. An important part of it has been the renegotiation of the library flex-time agreement. Library employees who participate in the flex-time arrangement should be receiving their appropriate evening and weekend shift differentials this pay period. If you do not, please contact the local office at local2412@sbcglobal.net, or call 257-2803.

AFSCME BUDGET VIGIL BEGINS
MEMBERS USE THEIR LUNCH HOUR TO GET THE BALL ROLLING

To apply pressure on all of the legislature and in particular the Joint Conference Committee set up to reconcile the two very different budget documents passed by the State Senate and the Assembly, AFSCME Council 24 is coordinating
a Budget Vigil at the State Capitol, Tuesdays through Thursdays, 8:00am through 4:30pm until further notice.

In addition we are asking all AFSCME Union Members to come and be a witness during the budget deliberations of the Joint Legislative Conference Committee beginning July 25, 2007 at 11 AM in room 412 East of the Capitol.

We encourage all AFSCME members to spend some time with their fellow Union Brothers and Sisters by joining in the Vigil and Conference Committee Watch. This is also a great time to supplement letters and emails by participating in visits to Legislator's offices.

You will need to use your own time-off, i.e., vacation, personal holiday, or compensatory time-off. DO NOT USE SICK LEAVE.

To register to participate please call the Bargaining Hotline at: 1-800-836-4024. This will ensure that the Union will have all appropriate materials – signs, buttons, t-shirts, etc. ready for your arrival. AFSCME Council 24 will reimburse
travel expenses for AFSCME Members.

For more information the Union has collated and distributed a summary of 112 attacks against public employees at: http://wseu-sepac.org/documents_print/arc_20070712_summaryofattacks_againstafscme.pdf

YOU SHOULD BE ANGRY!
AFSCME Vigils Being Held at State Capitol

The Assembly Republicans have decided that:

• Your raise for the next two years will be 0% in July 2007 and 1% in July 2008.
• Your share of the health insurance premium will increase to 10% of the total premium and health insurance will no longer be a subject of bargaining.
• You will earn only 6 sick days a year and sick days will no longer be a subject of bargaining. Employees in protective status will continue to earn sick days at the current rate of 16.25 days per year. Clumsy attempt to divide the Union.
• You will be paid only once a month and pay periods will no longer be a subject of bargaining.
• Eighty-one positions will be eliminated.
• Non-Represented Employees will be gouged 5% of their pay for retirement. Guess who’s next.

Look for 106 more reasons to be angry at:
http://wseu-sepac.org/documents_print/arc_20070712_summaryofattacks_againstafscme.pdf

AFSCME Council 24 is scheduling vigils and lobbying at the State Capitol every Tuesday through Thursday, 8:00am through 4:30pm as a means to show state employees displeasure with the Assembly Republican's budget proposal.

We encourage all AFSCME members to spend some time with fellow Union brothers and sisters to join in solidarity at the State Capitol and participate in visit's to Legislator's offices.

You will need to use your own time-off, i.e., vacation, personal holiday, or compensatory time-off. DO NOT USE SICK LEAVE.

AFSCME Council 24 will reimburse mileage only for members of any affiliated local union of AFSCME Council 24.

Visit the SEPAC website for continuing updates. The web address is: www.wseu-sepac.org.

We do ask that you register your participation by calling the AFSCME Council 24 Hotline at (800) 836-4024. Please leave your name, local union number and your bargaining unit, as well as the day and approximate time you may be able to participate.

In addition, if you have not done so already, send the below message or "click" the TAKE ACTION button to send a message to your elected legislator's.  

Thank you for your cooperation.

(submitted 7/17/07)

GOP Budget Proposal Signals Retreat from Wisconsin Values

Assembly Republicans have run up a white flag with a budget proposal that would surrender Wisconsin's leadership in areas critical to our future, said Marty Beil, executive director of the Wisconsin State Employees Union, AFSCME Council 24.

"They give up on everything that makes Wisconsin special," he said.

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Assembly Budget

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TAKE ACTION
ARC Slashes Comp Reserves by $94 Million
Full Assault on State Employee Benefits

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(submitted 7/10/07)

Bargaining Update

The Administrative Support (AS) Team began meeting with the employer the week of June 25-29. The Union and the state began by extending the Contract and establishing Ground Rules. The Team began initial discussions on some language issues. A more detailed report is posted to the “Members Only” area of the Local 2412 web site: http://danenet.wicip.org/local2412/

Please see the SEPAC Legislative Alert for critical information on the current state of the budget. There are many rumors that Assembly Republicans are trying to raid the Compensation Fund - to leave only enough money for 0 and 1% raises, higher co-pays for Health Insurance and a HUGE pay cut of 5% for retirement co-pay. We've been told not to take it personally. That it's just a negotiating position with the State Senate. WE ARE NOT BARGAINING CHIPS! YOUR contacts with your Assembly Representatives to fight the Compensation Fund raid will help insure that our negotiations are successful. If you aren't on the SEPAC Alert list you can copy and paste this link in your browser for the latest information.

http://capwiz.com/wseu-sepac/issues/alert/?alertid=9950411&type=ST

(submitted 7/6/07)

New Newsletter Available Online
July Stories continued in our Newsletter

View Newsletter Now -->

SCFL Scholarships

The South Central Federation of Labor (SCFL) is offering four $1000 scholarships to union members or their children. Winners and alternates will be determined by a lottery drawing. Scholarship applicants (or one of their parents or legal guardians) must belong to a union affiliated with SCFL (Local 2412 is affiliated) and live or work in Dane, Columbia, Sauk, or Iowa Counties. An applicant is also eligible if their parent/guardian died during the 12 months preceding the application while a member of an eligible labor organization. Students are eligible if they are attending or planning to attend post-secondary school, as long as they have not already been awarded a post-secondary degree or have previously received a SCFL scholarship. The application deadline is July 20, 2007, at 4:00 p.m. All applications must be received by the SCFL office b y that time. Applications and complete scholarship rules are available from SCFL at 256-5111, or you can email the 2412 office at local2412@sbcglobal.net. You can also log into the secure Members Only section to download the PDF.

(submitted 5/8/07)

News in Brief

• AFSCME Joins Occupation of UC-Davis Admin Building Over Outsourcing
• Rail Workers in Iraq  continue paralyzing strike
• Harvard Security Guards Approve Strike Vote

Read articles in latest newsletter here

(submitted 5/25/07)

Administrative Process Redesign Project (aka HUBs)

An estimated 350 people attended the two meetings co-sponsored by Local 2412 and the office of Vice Chancellor of Administration regarding the project formerly known as “HUBs” Monday and Tuesday at the Memorial Union and the Waisman Center. The “Administrative Process Redesign Project” as it is now known is very much in it’s beginning and needs YOUR involvement. To find out how to get involved come tonight’s Membership meeting or contact us at: local2412@sbcglobal.net.

(submitted 4/12/07)

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