AFS PEP News - July Aug 07 - AFSCME Council 13

Public Employee Press
Council 13 AFSCME, the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO
March/April 2009
Vol. 38, Issue 2
ISSN: 0190-4957
afscme13.org
800-5-AFSCME
3
Tentative Agreement
for State Workers
Biggest Turnout Ever!
‘09 Women’s Conference
– page 4
3
New DC85 Director
5
Members at Work
“
A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how
strong she is until she gets into hot water.
”
— Eleanor Roosevelt

AFSCME COUNCIL 13 DIRECTORY
Union Brothers and Sisters,
I heard the news today, oh boy... The numbers for March are in and the
nation’s unemployment rate is now 8.5% — the highest since 1983. 663,000 jobs
were cut last month. A record 13.2 million Americans are out of work. 5.1 million
jobs were lost since the recession began in December 2007.
Every state surrounding the Commonwealth has been hit hard with give-backs
and furloughs. New Jersey’s governor has proposed foregoing state employees’ 3%
raise, plus 12 unpaid furlough days. Ohio just ratified a new 3-year contract with a
3-year wage freeze; 10 unpaid furlough days; a freeze on accrual of personal days
and a 2-year freeze on longevity steps. In New York, AFSCME has rejected the
governor’s proposal for wage freezes and as discussions continue 9,000 state
employees are slated to be laid off. In the midst of an AFSCME organizing drive,
Delaware’s governor cut state salaries by 8%; increased health care program costs by
2%, with a cumulative total equaling a 10% salary reduction for every state
employee. State employees in Maryland will receive no raises in 2010, with wages
cut 1% and up to 5 unpaid furlough days.
And these are just states surrounding PA — at least 20 states are confronting
similar disastrous proposals. Wages are getting cut, frozen, sliced and diced. Hardwon
contracts have become the ‘concession for recession.’ Every time I hear about
a contract getting plastic surgery at the hands of government, I’m reminded of
ceremonious book-burning. Contract language reduced to ashes; the hopes of
working men and women up in smoke.
But, in Pennsylvania, our state contract escaped the flames. I promised you that
we would not open our contract for concessions and I will continue to keep that
promise. We have a tentative agreement with the Governor’s Office to avoid rolling
furloughs. You’ll find details of the agreement on the opposite page. We were able
to fight on your behalf to save your contract, save your benefits, and save your jobs.
Other states weren’t so lucky. I strongly recommend that this agreement be ratified
by our membership. If rejected, the Commonwealth has no obligation to bargain
any further and rolling furloughs would kick in immediately.
The governor always has the right to furlough. With discontinued programs and
possible shut-down of state funded institutions, those jobs would be discontinued.
However, unlike ‘rolling furloughs’, any future furloughs would have to be
contractually enacted. We will do everything we can to place members affected by
any closings and recall rights will be honored. In other words, essential and nonessential
will not come into play - seniority will.
I’m pleased we could reach this tentative agreement without any harm to our
members or their paychecks. Today’s news also reported that Pennsylvania’s March
revenues were down $334 million, with a projected $2.3 billion deficit by June 30.
We’re fortunate to be able to lock into this agreement now, before these new
projections could destroy any hope of resolution.
With the tentacles of this economic plague reaching far beyond our shores
Pennsylvania is certainly not immune to its grip. We are, however, one of the lucky ones.
Yours in Unity,
Executive
Director’s
Message
David R. Fillman
Executive Director, AFSCME Council 13
COUNCIL 13 — David R. Fillman, Executive Director
4031 Executive Park Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17111-1507
Phone: 717/564-9312; (toll free) 1-800-5-AFSCME
DISTRICT COUNCIL 83 — Dominic Sgro, Director
161 Patchway Road, Duncansville, PA 16635-8431
Phone: 814/696-0255; (toll free) 1-800-252-3785
DISTRICT COUNCIL 84 — Richard Caponi, Director
116 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 412/471-1218; (toll free) 1-800-222-8847
DISTRICT COUNCIL 85 — David A. Bielski, Director
1276 Liberty St., Franklin, PA 16323
Phone: 814/437-7654; (toll free) 1-800-865-9652
DISTRICT COUNCIL 86 — Sharon Sober, Director
250 Commerce Park Drive, New Columbia, PA 17856
Phone: 570/568-1147; (toll free) 1-800-540-9401
DISTRICT COUNCIL 87 — David Antle, Director
McEntee-Keller Labor Center, 1258 O’Neill Hwy., Dunmore, PA 18512
Phone: 570/961-5394; (toll free) 1-800-551-5066
DISTRICT COUNCIL 88 — Bob Cooper, Director
3031 Walton Road, Building C, Suite 300, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
Phone: 610/825-4944; (toll free) 1-800-478-4944
DISTRICT COUNCIL 89 — Michael Fox, Director
150 South 43rd Street, Suite 2, Harrisburg, PA 17111-5718
Phone: 717/564-7998; (toll free) 1-800-583-2376
DISTRICT COUNCIL 90 — Mary Schwanger, Director
4031 Executive Park Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17111-1507
Phone: 717/564-5123
AFSCME COUNCIL 13 MEMBERS’ BENEFITS
MEMBER ONLY BENEFITS
1-888-SVC-13-AFSCME or 1-888-782-1323
Call for more information about:
Car Discounts * Car Insurance * Car Rentals * Cell Phones * Checks
Computer Deals * Credit Card * Credit Counseling * Education Services
Eldercare Services * Entertainment * Financial Planning
Flower Service * Health Club Discounts * Mortgage Programs
Moving Vans * Pet Services * Scholarships * Theme Parks
Vacation Packages
Legal Services 1-800-631-1233 or 1-888-294-2747
Workers' Comp. Hotline: 1-866-413-2667
HEALTH FUNDS
PEBTF (State Workers)
717-561-4750
1-800-522-7279
AFSCME Health & Welfare Fund
(Non-State Workers)
717-564-9338
1-800-692-7332
PRESCRIPTION PLANS
Medco, Inc. 1-800-899-2674 (State Workers)
ESI/Express Scripts – 1-866-841-2368 (Non-State Workers)
DENTAL PLANS
Concordia Dental - 1-888-320-3321 (State Workers)
Delta Dental - 1-800-932-0783 (Non-State Workers)
VISION PLANS
NVA / National Vision Administrators
1-800-672-7723
Public Employee Press (ISSN 0190-4957)
Published bi-monthly Jan./Feb., Mar./Apr., May/Jun., Jul./Aug., Sep./Oct., Nov./Dec.,
by Council 13, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees,
AFL-CIO, 4031 Executive Park Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17111-1507.
David R. Fillman
Executive Director
AFSCME Council 13
Clarification: In the Jan/Feb issue of PEP an old job title,
Weight Enforcement Officers, was inadvertently used in the At
the Capitol Watch List report. The correct job title is Motor
Carrier Enforcement Officers. Our apologies for the error.
Second Class postage paid at Harrisburg, PA and additional mailing office.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: “Public Employee Press,” AFSCME Council
13, 4031 Executive Park Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17111-1507.
Vol. 38, No. 2 March/April 2009
Todd Singer, President
David R. Fillman, Executive Director
Phyllis Wingate, Secretary
Patricia Bauer, Editor and
Alan Redding, Treasurer
Director of Public Relations

Henderson
Appointed Director
of District Council 85
Rolling Furloughs
Avoided for State
Employees
Dave Henderson, District Council 85 Director
At a board meeting on Friday, March 27, 2009, the Executive
Board of AFSCME DC85 voted unanimously to appoint David
Henderson, DC84 Staff Representative, to the position of
Director effective April 1, 2009. Current Council Director, David
Bielski, will retire May 31 after nearly 40 years of service to AFSCME.
“Dave Henderson is AFSCME through and through.” said
Executive Director Fillman. “His dedication to his members, his
family and to AFSCME is exceptional.”
“I’m honored to be named Director of District Council 85,”
said Henderson. “My thanks go out to Mr. Fillman and Mr. Bielski
for their confidence in me; and to the Executive Board for their
overwhelming support.” Henderson signed an AFSCME
membership card his first day on the job at Woodville State
Hospital in 1979. After holding nearly every office in his local, he
became a Staff Representative for DC84 in 1998. Henderson’s
mother, father and grandfather were all union activists. “I look
forward to working with the membership as we continue to move
the AFSCME agenda forward for all working men and women.”
Howard Thompson, Pres. of DC85 Executive Board said, “All
of us on the board are looking forward to working with Dave. He
brings a lot to the table. An excellent choice.”
Henderson will replace David Bielski, who became Council
Director in 1999. “My wife dragged me kicking and screaming to
my first AFSCME meeting and the rest is history. Without
AFSCME, I never would have realized how much people can do for
one another,” said Bielski. “It’s been an honor to give so many
deserving working folks a voice — to turn lives around not just for
members, but for their entire families.”
“Dave will do a fine job,” said Bielski. “He’s been committed
to AFSCME for a long time, working his way up through the ranks
with devoted determination. A real class act.”
New AFSCME Website
AFSCME Council 13’s website has been totally
“remodeled.” Check it out at
www.afscme13.org. Then be sure to “Contact
us” with comments or suggestions.
And speaking of websites…LaborWeb has recently
been set up for Council 13 and we will begin the
training and testing phase after convention. LaborWeb
is a tool designed by AFL-CIO and AFSCME
International that will allow locals to easily create and
maintain professional looking websites. It does not
require any technical skills – and it’s free.
Initially 2 or 3 interested locals will be chosen by
C13 to test for any tweaks, questions, or problems.
The tool will then be available for all locals who have
expressed an interest in the program. LaborWeb
training will be offered online through AFL-CIO and at
your District Council fall conferences.
For more information, visit www.afscme.org/laborweb.
After weeks of negotiations, AFSCME
Council 13 Exec. Dir. David R.
Fillman, along with SEIU and
UFCW leaders, reached a tentative agreement
with the Governor’s Office late into the night
on April 1. The agreement will avoid rolling
furloughs for state employees.
Per the tentative agreement, the
Commonwealth’s health care benefit
contribution rate will be temporarily reduced
by 20%. The agreement requires maintaining
a minimum reserve of 1 month’s worth of
health care payments. In addition, the
Commonwealth is contractually committed
to pay back the fund in monthly installments
starting as early as September 2010 -- and no
later than December 2010. The reduced
employer contributions will take effect April
2009 through June 2010 with:
– NO wage or benefit concessions.
– NO other changes in the contract.
– NO reduction in the level of benefits
provided by the PEBTF.
– NO additional employee contributions.
– NO rolling furloughs
In addition, employees will continue to have
the option to cut their contribution in half by
participating in PEBTF’s Get Healthy Program.
“The current PEBTF surplus is a direct
result of the fund running efficiently with
help from all employees long before this crisis
came about,” said Fillman. “It was imperative
to prevent these rolling furloughs and it was
imperative not to open the contract for
concessions – this deferred payment method
gave us the alternative we needed.”
“Due to the time element, and since this
isn’t a Statewide Negotiating Committee
issue, we are going directly to the
membership for ratification,” said Fillman.
This will be a simple ‘reject’ or ‘accept’ vote
with no strike vote alternative.
“However,”Fillman warned, “a rejection
would mean 2 rolling furlough days a month
for a total of 30 rolling furlough days.”
30 “rolling furlough” days would result in
loss of pay; loss of earned vacation and sick
leave; loss of 30 days for pension credit; and loss
of ability to collect unemployment
compensation. All totaled the cost to members
would be a 13% salary cut, or $200 million lost.
Added Fillman, “And once again ‘essential’ and
‘non-essential’ would rear its ugly head.”
Fillman outlined details of the agreement
with state Local Presidents during an Executive
Update conference call on April 3, 2009.
Cut-off date for ratification vote is April
24, 2009.
Ongoing cost-saving discussions will
continue. Bargaining unit members are
encouraged to continue to visit
www.AFSCME13.org for updates and to
‘contact us’ with any questions or comments.
“This is a great solution. I’m
just glad I can keep working
without any cut in wages or
benefits.” Edith Perez, L2162.
“I hope this agreement gets
ratified,” said Ted Stubljar,
L2162. “After what some other
states are going through, we
need to count our blessings.”
“Thank you, AFSCME, for not
opening our contract for
wage concessions. It’s good
to know our contract really is
‘signed, sealed and sacred.’ –
Brenda Schartzer, L2545.
“Let’s get this ratified and
move on. I couldn’t be
happier with the outcome.”
Paul Ferrari, L2545
www.afscme13.org 3

Record-Setting ‘09
Women’s Conference
The 17th biennial Women’s Conference held March 13-15 in Hershey, PA
had the biggest attendance ever with over 475 attendees. Friday
night’s Charity Auction raised the most money ever - $9,232 for the PA
Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV). And the committee received the
highest number of nominations ever for the “Well-Rounded Woman” award.
“Yes, We Can!” was the theme as delegates showed up with hundreds of auction
item donations. “The outpouring of donated items from locals and members was
overwhelming! Never, in this economic downturn did the committee expect to raise
over $9,000. Thank you all,” said Liz Long, C13 Education Director.
During Saturday’s general session, Cheryl Reynolds, Committee Chair, L2360, Lock
Haven University; noted the many recent achievements for women with the passing of
the Lilly Ledbetter Act; Hillary Clinton as Sec. of State, and Hilda Solis, Sec. of Labor.
C13 Exec. Dir. David R. Fillman acknowledged the leadership of women in the
labor movement. “AFSCME has grown to become one of the most respected and
progressive unions in the nation,” said Fillman. “This was accomplished by women
who refused to sit in the back of the bus. Women who demanded respect and
equality as union leaders, just as they demand it for the workers they represent.”
Robin Gerber, author of 2 books about Eleanor Roosevelt, spoke about Roosevelt’s
wit, determination and hardships. One of the most important lessons came from a
particularly difficult event in Eleanor’s life involving a portrait that confirmed her
husband’s infidelity and her daughter’s deceit. “Send the portraits back,” said Gerber.
“Let it go and move on.” Gerber also taught a leadership workshop.
The committee voted unanimously to give Tamika Nared, L1439,
Northwestern Human Services, the “Well-Rounded Woman” award. Nared, an
LPN, full-time student, and mother of 2; serves as Exec. Board Sec. for L1439,
lead shop steward for the drug and alcohol service line, co-chair for community
action, and more. “I love my AFSCME family,” said Nared. “I thank them for
the role they played in nurturing me to become the woman I am today.”
Please visit www.afscme13.org for a slideshow from the event.
Peg Dierkers (center), Exec. Dir. PCADV, receives Charity Auction check from
committee members.
Anita Lahr, committee Vice-Chair, L2326, Clarion University,
presents Exec. Dir. Fillman with a present from western
Pennsylvania.
Hundreds of delegates line up and sign up. Workshops focused on leadership, finances, health and change.
It was standing room only at Saturday’s Opening
Session.
Tamika Nared (R), L1439, Northwestern Human Services,
received the 2009 Well-Rounded Woman award.
Committee member, Susan Emswiler (L), L2540, Thaddeus
Steven School of Technology presented the award.
Aldine Owens, L2421, Millersville University, received a
portrait of “A Seat at the Table” commemorating a
family’s loss. Owens, who spoke at the last Women’s
Conference, lost her sister to domestic violence.
4 Public Employee Press March/April 2009

Members At Work
We Make Safe Water Happen!
Like hundreds of plants across the Commonwealth, the Hanover Wastewater
Treatment Plant, Local 2624, Hanover Borough in York County, takes in toxic
wastewater from homes, industries, schools and businesses and puts it through
a series of treatments before introducing the water back into the environment. During
the process continuous analysis takes place to ensure Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) standards are being met. “We take water samples through a myriad of daily and
weekly tests,” said Jack Hetrick, Lab Technician. “It really is amazing - to see what
comes in and what goes out.”
Sewer pipes bring ‘what comes in’ through bar screens at the plant. Water easily
passes through the bars, but heavier debris does not. This screened wastewater then
goes to the primary clarifier tank for more screening.
From there, the water goes to 18 ft. oxidation ditches where large amounts of air
accelerate Mother Nature’s helpful microorganisms that consume harmful organic
matter. This natural process further breaks down the waste. Scrapers collect the
‘sludge’ that remains and skimmers collect scum floating on the surface. Methane gas
produced by clarifying tanks is used to heat all the buildings at the plant.
After running through an additional clarifier tank, the water is then pumped into a sand
filter. Again, Mother Nature knows best. This enclosed area if full of aquatic insects called
midge flies. Goldfish were introduced to this area to keep the insect population down.
“We’re happy, the midges are happy and the goldfish are happy,” said Alan Redding, Waste
Water Operator. “And if the fish start getting sick, we’re alerted that something’s wrong.”
The water is then sent to chlorine tanks to kill any remaining bacteria. And, finally,
sulfur dioxide tanks remove the chlorine before releasing the water to a nearby stream. After
testing for land application, leftover sludge is hauled away for farms to be used as fertilizer.
Confined space, atmospheric and chemical hazards, water born disease, drowning,
and hepatitis B are all risks of the job. “Someone has to be here every day - every
holiday - to make sure permit items are in compliance with EPA standards,” said
Redding. “I spent many a Christmas morning here while my daughter was sleeping.”
What are some of the stranger items carried up from the sewers? “We find jewelry,
sometimes money- usually from drug busts,” said Redding, who often takes local school
kids on tours of the plant. “But, like I tell the kids, don’t flush hair. It doesn’t dissolve.”
Jack Hetrick, Lab Tech. L2624, makes sure water meets EPA standards at the
Hanover Lab.
Alan Redding, Waste Water Operator, checks water level in one of the clarifying tanks.
Did You Know: Each person in the U.S. contributes approximately 50-100 gallons of wastewater per day. Adding industrial and commercial water uses, the per
person usage is as high as 150 gallons per day!
Charlie...A Union Hero
Whether you call him “Hep”. Whether you call him “Charlie”. Or
whether you call him “Pop”. The one thing we all call Charlie
Hepler is ‘union’.
If you’ve ever been to a C13 convention or conference, you’ve probably
purchased a few things at Charlie’s table. AFSCME t-shirts; pins; bags; bumper
stickers; sweat suits; pens – you name it, Charlie has it. He also raffles off
prizes. And all the proceeds go to C13’s PAL (political and legislative) program.
If you’re heading to Hershey for AFSCME C13’s convention this year, you
might want to stop by Charlie’s table and say “Happy Birthday.” Charlie is
celebrating a landmark 75th birthday on
April 19. And that’s not all. This month he
was also featured in a book written by Paul
F. Clark, Professor of Labor Studies and
Industrial Relations at Pennsylvania State
University, entitled Building More Effective
(L to R) Alicia Craig and Kimberly
Davanzo, L2902, Lawrence Co.,
helping out at Charlie’s Table.
Unions. Clark entitled Charlie’s section, A
Charlie poses by his AFSCME table at a recent educational conference in Pittsburgh.
Union Hero: Putting AFSCME First. “When you
think of union heroes,” writes Clark, “think Mother Jones, John L. Lewis, Norma Rae, and Charlie Hepler.” That about sums it up.
Turning 75 and getting published all in one month? That’s no big deal for Charlie. “It’s nice. But, I don’t go for all that
hullaballoo,” he said. “John L. Lewis? Those are some pretty big boots to fill.”
Charlie loves his job, but he’s quick to say he “couldn’t do it without his girls. They’re like my kids.” His “girls” are Kimberly
Davanzo and Alicia Craig, L2902, Lawrence County. And Charlie runs a tight ship. “If breakfast is at 7; I want my girls there at
6,” he said. “Sometimes they complain, but they’re there at 6!” He also gives a lot of credit to DC89 Staff Rep, Guy Weiderhold,
and all the other staff who occasionally help out at the table.
“I thought I would quit at 75,” said Charlie. “But, now I think I’ll do it as long as I can.” We hope so, Pop.
www.afscme13.org 5

C13 Organizing
Department
On a Roll
Victory! Sue
McCormick wins
Lewisburg School
District, DC86, Union County, by 1 vote! 100% of the eligible people
voted and the vote was 18-17, adding 35 more members to our ranks.
Welcome to the AFSCME family!
Victory! Tara VanFleet wins court-appointed, professional employees
in DC87, Carbon County. 14 of the 15 total employees voted and the
count was 14-0. Welcome to the AFSCME family!
Victory! Bob Cason blocks a decert attempt of our blue-collar
employees in Lower Dauphin School District, DC90, L1086, Dauphin
County. Congratulations!
Victory! Tara VanFleet wins DC88, Perkasie Borough. This election adds
13 blue-collar workers to AFSCME’s ranks. Welcome to the AFSCME family!
2009 LEADERSHIP
INSTITUTE
Application Deadline: Friday, June 15, 2009
Council 13's biennial Leadership Institute will be held August 17 - 21, 2009
at the "Penn Stater" Conference Center Hotel, 215 Innovation Park, State
College, PA. A full five days of intensive training in union leadership skills
will be given to 76 of AFSCME's activists from across the Commonwealth.
ALL PARTICIPANTS must share a double room with another participant; space
is limited and guests are not permitted. ALL instruction, lodging, group meals,
and round-trip mileage will be provided by Council 13; no cost to local union.
NON-STATE EMPLOYEES selected to attend will be reimbursed for up to three
(3) days to attend; for the remaining two (2) days you use your own leave time.
STATE EMPLOYEES will receive up to three (3) days of paid administrative
leave; for the remaining two (2) days you use your own leave time.
PA Association of Public
Employee Retirement Systems
5 t h Annual Forum
May 4-5, 2009
Holiday Inn Harrisburg-Hershey
Grantville, PA
An educational and networking opportunity for anyone
involved with public pension funds – staff, trustees,
investment managers/consultants, service providers
Agenda, hotel and registration
information at www.pa-pers.org OR call
717-921-1957 OR e-mail:
douglas.b@verizon.net
CIRCLE YOUR AFSCME DISTRICT COUNCIL #: 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
YOUR LOCAL #: ____________________________________________ CHECK ONE: STATE MEMBER ( ) NON-STATE MEMBER ( )
PRINT NAME: _____________________________________________ SOCIAL SECURITY #:_____ _____________________________________
– –
MAILING ADDRESS: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________ ZIP CODE: _________________________
WORK or CELL PHONE # ( )___________________________________________ EXTENSION # __________________________________
NORMAL WORK SHIFT ___________________________________________ CLASSIFICATION _____________________________________
EMAIL ADDRESS: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
AFSCME OFFICE(S) YOU HOLD OR HAVE HELD ______________________________________________________________________________
EMPLOYER’S ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
AGENCY/DEPARTMENT/BUREAU _________________________________________________________________________________________
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR ________________________________________ SUPERVISOR’S TITLE _______________________________________
IMPORTANT! CIRCLE BELOW - PREFERENCES WILL BE USED TO PAIR ROOMMATES.
CIRCLE ONE: I AM A: SMOKER NON-SMOKER
I PREFER TO ROOM WITH: SMOKER NON-SMOKER
I PREFER TO ROOM WITH: NIGHT OWL EARLY BIRD
PHYSICAL CHALLENGES/SPECIAL NEEDS: _________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE RETURN THIS APPLICATION TO: EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
AFSCME COUNCIL 13
4031 Executive Park Drive
Harrisburg, PA 17111-1507
Fax: 717-564-7491
ALL SELECTIONS WILL BE MADE BY THE DISTRICT COUNCIL DIRECTORS.
THANKS FOR APPLYING! HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE.
6 Public Employee Press March/April 2009

Workers Memorial Day –
April 28
Loaned Labor
Leaders Honored
at Capitol
C13 Exec. Dir. Fillman
presents Alyce Hobson,
L2586, DPW Alden Dist.,
with her certificate.
AFSCME Loaned Labor Leaders
applaud as Exec. Dir. Fillman asks, “Is
AFSCME in the house?”certificate.
Decades of struggle by workers and their unions have led to much safer
working conditions. However, eight years of neglect and inaction by the
Bush administration have eroded many of these safety and health
protections. Now with a new administration that is on our side, we can change the
direction of the country and chart a new course. It is time to organize for change:
• Protection under the Occupational Safety and Health Act for millions of
workers, including public sector workers and flight attendants, who are not
covered by the job safety law.
• Stronger penalties for employers who put workers in serious danger and
repeatedly break job safety laws.
• New safeguards for long recognized hazards, such as silica and emerging
hazards, including the threat of pandemic flu.
• Measures to protect workers from ergonomic hazards that still cripple and
injure more workers than any other workplace hazards.
• Increased attention to the safety and health of immigrant workers who are
being killed on the job in record numbers.
• Stronger protection for miners, including tighter standards for coal dust to protect
against Black Lung Disease.
• The right of workers to have a voice on the job and to freely choose to join a
union and bargain without employer interference or intimidation.
What you can do on
Workers Memorial Day
• Hold a candlelight vigil, memorial service or moment of silence to
remember those who have died on the job and to highlight job safety and
health problems in your community and at your workplace.
• Organize a rally in your community or at your workplace to highlight job safety
and health problems and how the union is fighting to improve protections.
• Create a memorial at a workplace or in a community where workers
have been killed on the job.
• Distribute workplace fliers and organize a call-in to members of
Congress. Tell your members of Congress to support Public Employee
OSHA in Pennsylvania and to pass the Employee Free Choice Act to restore
workers’ freedom to join unions and bargain.
• Hold a public meeting with members of Congress in their home districts.
Bring injured workers and family members who can talk firsthand about
the need for stronger safety and health protections and the right to join a
union. Invite local religious leaders and other allies to participate.
To order materials for your meeting and/or event,
please visit www.afscme.org/health
On April 8
sixteen
AFSCME
members received
awards for recognition
and appreciation as 2008
Loaned Labor Leaders
for State Employee
Combined Appeal
(SECA). The 2008 goal
was exceeded with over
$4 million raised! “I’m
proud of our members,”
said Exec. Dir. Fillman.
“Members who give
their skills; their energy;
and their most precious
commodity – time – to
this program.” Allen
Biehler, Sec. of Transportation and ’08 SECA Capital Region
Chair said. “This is phenomenal. To get so many pledge cards
during tough economic times really shows where your heart’s at.
You folks made it happen.” Anthony Ross, Statewide SECA
Manager and United Way of PA President, noted that 60-70% of
funds received are from labor. “This is the 3rd consecutive year
this campaign has grown. An exceptional achievement.” SECA
volunteers spend weeks visiting state employees to ask for
donations for over 1,400 charities.
Visit afscme13.org for more photos from the event!
Great American
Cleanup
April 25-May 9 are
Pick It Up PA Days;
a statewide effort to
remove litter from roadways,
parks, forests, riverbanks,
neighborhoods and open
spaces. Last year volunteers
collected 10,570,620 pounds
of trash! This would be a
great community service event
for your Local! To register or
join an event in your area,
visit www.greatpacleanup.org
2008 AFSCME Loaned
Labor Leaders:
Debra Christian, DC86, L1977, Revenue
Lorena Cutshall, DC90, L2523, DEP
Kimberly George, DC83, L2047, DPW
Tom Holsinger, DC83, L2609, DOT
Michelle Lee, DC90, L3130, State
Heidi Lozano, DC86, L2604, DOT
Robert Lucas, DC83, L2247, DOT
Mark Szitas, DC85. L1975, Revenue
Tom Turney, DC84, L2612, DOT
Michael Vitale, DC85, L 2353, DPW
Chanice Harcum, DC88, L2586, DPW
Alyce Hobson, DC88, L2586, DPW
Christina Yukenavage, DC87, L2585, L&I
Tony Camplese, DC89, L2163, DOT
Laura Mullen, DC90, L2534, DOT
Geraldine Coffey, DC88, L2061, DPW
www.afscme13.org 7

AFSCME Council 13 – Looking out for your legal interests!
Legal
Question?
FREE and discounted legal services available
through AFSCME and Willig, Williams & Davidson
When you’d like to talk to a lawyer about a personal matter, your union benefits
makes it easy, affordable–and often FREE!
- FREE Will Preparation
- Up to 30 minutes FREE Consultation
- Reduced Legal Fees
- Workers’ Comp Hotline
- FREE Referrals to Attorneys in your Area
AFSCME Counci 13 Labor Lawyers (L to R): Elizabeth Farry; Amy Rosenberger;
John Bielski; Alaine Williams
AFSCME Counci 13 Workers’ Comp Lawyers (L to R): Marianne Henry;
John O’Donnell; Jennifer Kaufman; Mike Dryden (seated).
For more information:
1-888-782-1323
Memberservices@afscme13.org