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The Urgencyof NowIn 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke aboutthe “fierce urgency of now,” adding, “there issuch a thing as being too late.” That guides ustoday as we face urgent needs on many fronts.We are marching on Capitol Hill and in citiesacross the country, demanding comprehensiveimmigration reform (p. 18). We must ensure ourcountry’s economic recovery is no longer undercutby businesses dodging their tax responsibilitiesand exploiting voiceless immigrant labor.We are fighting privatization (p. 24), undauntedby corporations with far deeper pockets than ourown seeking to buy public services and line theirown pockets. It’s our responsibility to help protecttaxpayers’ interests – our interests.During an organizing home visit, Pres. Lee Saunders talks withMemphis school custodian Darreon Hamer (Local 1733) aboutthe importance of union solidarity.With workers organizing from California (p. 8) to Vermont (p. 12) to Memphis (p. 31), volunteer memberorganizers and our leaders are hitting the doors and talking about the value of AFSCME as a voice for allworking people.And we are fearless in the face of urgency. When bombs detonated during the Boston Marathon, we ranwith our sisters and brothers in public service toward danger. We rescued victims, cleared debris and comfortedthe wounded and frightened. (Back page) We were there for the ensuing manhunt, keeping streetsclear and citizens safe.The urgency of now doesn’t shake us. We rise to meet every challenge, every day, in every city and state.INSIDECOVER STORY:ORGANIZE!Growing ourunion is urgentbusiness. Thetime to organizeis RIGHT NOW.p12IMMIGRATION REFORMIt’s about fairpay and a strongeconomy – so thatwe all win. p18RESOURCESCheck out greatdiscounts oninsurance,mortgageassistance andeven pet supplies.p21WE ARE FAMILYHer union sisteris her mother.Solidarity startsat their dinnertable. p22PRISON PRIVATIZATIONBarbed wire isn’tstrong enough tocontain corporategreed. p24PRESIDENTLee SaundersSECRETARY-TREASURERLaura ReyesINTERNATIONALVICE PRESIDENTSKen AllenPORTLAND, OREGONHenry BayerCHICAGO, ILLINOISKen Deitz, RNSAN DIMAS, CALIFORNIAGreg DevereuxOLYMPIA, WASHINGTONDanny DonohueALBANY, NEW YORKDavid FillmanHARRISBURG,PENNSYLVANIAMichael FoxHARRISBURG,PENNSYLVANIAKathleen GarrisonLATHAM, NEW YORKRaglan George Jr.NEW YORK, NEW YORKMattie HarrellWILLIAMSTOWN, NEWJERSEYJohanna Puno HesterSAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIADanny HomanDES MOINES, IOWASalvatore LucianoNEW BRITAIN,CONNECTICUTJohn LyallWORTHINGTON, OHIOKathryn LybargerOAKLAND, CALIFORNIARoberta LynchCHICAGO, ILLINOISChristopher MabeWESTERVILLE, OHIOGlenard Middleton Sr.BALTIMORE, MARYLANDRalph MillerLOS ANGELES,CALIFORNIAGary MitchellMADISON, WISCONSINDouglas Moore Jr.SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIAFrank MoroneyBOSTON,MASSACHUSETTSHenry NicholasPHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIARandy PerreiraHONOLULU, HAWAIIGreg PowellAUSTIN, TEXASLillian RobertsNEW YORK, NEW YORKEddie RodriguezNEW YORK, NEW YORKLawrence RoehrigLANSING, MICHIGANJoseph RugolaCOLUMBUS, OHIOEliot SeideSOUTH ST. PAUL,MINNESOTAMary SullivanALBANY, NEW YORKBraulio TorresSAN JUAN, PUERTO RICODave WarrickINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANAJeanette WynnTALLAHASSEE, FLORIDAGary Tavormina, ChairRetiree CouncilWOODBOURNE,NEW YORK2 AFSCME WORKS SPRING 2013 PHOTO: JOHN FOCHT