September 2015.pdf

talkingUnion
with Local 146 Members
September/2015
AFSCME Strong: Our Plan for Power
We have a plan and the power to protect the
jobs, financial security and future of AFSCME
members. That plan is AFSCME Strong. We know
that in order to survive we need to be strong. We
need to be AFSCME Strong.
It’s Our Turn.
For too many years, public service workers (and
actually most Americans) have seen their job
security, wages and benefits, and retirement
security erode — even though for the top 1
percent things have been great. Now, when it’s
our turn to make things better for our families,
they’re trying to cripple our Union. We’re not
going to let that happen.
Bold Vision.
AFSCME Strong is a bold vision of building a
strong union of committed members.
A Union that connects all public
workers.
A Union that has power on the shop
floor, at the bargaining table and at the
state legislature.
It’s building a Union that 100% of our
members will be loyal to.
Big Goals.
Last year we responded to a similar Supreme
Court threat by adding 133,000 new AFSCME
members in our 50,000 Stronger campaign. We
will build on that.
Step 1: Organizing Member to Member.
AFSCME Strong makes organizing job one. In the
next year, 5 percent of AFSCME members will
receive in-depth training on how to reach and
connect with coworkers. These AFSCME Strong
member activists will be the engine that drives
our effort to engage 80 percent of our members,
one conversation at a time.
AFSCME Veterans and Student Debt groups,
p.2
and Weingarten Rights
AFSCME Strong (Con’t) and 2015
p.3 Membership Summit
p.6
Notices and AFSCME Members Around Town
p.4 p.8
p.5 Upcoming Events for AFSCME Members p.9
Step 2: PEOPLE Power.
Many of the corporate politicians that are hell
bent on wiping out the labor movement won
during the last election. We need to do more and
do better when it comes to advocating in the
political process for candidates that care about
the middle class. PEOPLE is a major priority. We
will make PEOPLE promotion a central issue at
every union event and we will increase
participation in the program nationwide. Our
goal is to have 10 percent of members signed up
as PEOPLE MVPs.
Tina Rees, from our sister Local in Elk Grove, is
featured in our AFSCME Strong video.
Step 3. Support and Accountability.
We are all in this together. AFSCME Strong is
structured to help Locals, Councils and the
national Union share resources, best practices –
and information. We’re setting up a campaign
tracker for affiliate and International Union staff
so we can see each others’ progress recruiting
and training volunteers and talking to members.
Mark Your Calendars
This story continues on page 6
Local 146 Leadership Contact Information, SHRA
p.7 Maintenance Win and AFSCME Advantage
Local 146 Election Information
Local 146 Election Information
Below: Scan the QR code with
your smart phone app (available
for free in app stores) and go
directly to our website to watch
the videos.
Website:
AFSCMELocal146.org
Email:
AFSCMELocal146@gmail.com
Motto:
Educate. Motivate. Participate.

Are you a Veteran?
More than 20 million Americans are. Our veterans, who share common experiences and unique
needs, deserve our attention, gratitude and a place of honor in our union and our nation.
We are working to identify which of our leaders and members are veterans of U.S. military service
so we may communicate with you about getting involved in issues that matter to veterans.
Please take a few moments and let us know if you are a veteran. If you know of any other AFSCME
veterans, please give us their names so that they can also be included.
You can email Business Agent Karmen Lee Ortloff at Karmen.orgtloff@ca.afscme57.org and we will send you a link to the AFSCME
Veteran’s sign up page and get you plugged into an in important group of AFSCME peers.
Student Debt Resources
America is suffering from a student debt crisis. The cost of college increased tenfold since
the 1970s. Meanwhile, the top 1% graduate debt-free and politicians continue to choose
corporate tax breaks over funding for higher education. Having college debt could mean
having to put off saving for your own child's college because you're still paying for your own
college debt. Or maybe you are having trouble paying your monthly bills because of a high
monthly student loan payment.
The resources below can help you decrease the burden of student debt by giving you the information you need to find debt-relief and
flexible repayment options.
Forgive My Student Debt If you work in the public service, this little-known government program called “Public Service Loan
Forgiveness” could allow you to clear your student debt years sooner and at significant discount to other borrowers.
http://forgivemystudentdebt.org
Student Loan Borrower Assistance A comprehensive resource for borrowers, their families, and advocates representing student loan
borrowers. http://www.studentloanborrowerassistance.org/
Student Loan Questions: Get Answers A FAQ about the different types of student loans, terms and conditions, repayment options,
default and delinquency, cancellations, and bankruptcy. http://www.studentloanborrowerassistance.org/start-here/get-answers/
Questions and Comments About Student Debt How is student debt affecting you? You can email Business Agent Karmen Lee Ortloff at
Karmen.orgtloff@ca.afscme57.org and we will send you a link to the AFSCME Student Debt action group’s sign up page and get you
plugged into an in important group of AFSCME peers.
You can also share your story with the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau by sending them an email.

AFSCME Strong (Con’t from page 1)
That site will also have resources and campaign updates. We’ll
also be sharing campaign news through regular email updates.
AFSCME Local 146 had four leaders recently go through the
AFSCME Strong Coaches training in San Jose and those leaders will
be training worksite activists on the program.
“I enjoyed my time at AFSCME Coaches Training, we had an
awesome time together,” said Local 146 Vice President Camille
Tyler (Regional Transit). “Dianna Nash and I worked out training
together and I felt we tagged team nicely. In addition to learning
to train the trainers, I went out on house calls (meeting with
members from San Jose in their homes) with a member from Local
2620 who works in Napa; we signed two fee payers to full
membership. We both had a common reference with going out on
faith-based community outings witnessing to people about the
Good News! It was quite similar we had good news for our
members to hear too.”
For Dianna Nash, a new activist from SETA, the training was an
eye-opener. “My experience in San Jose inoculated me with the
importance of the privilege of being a Union member. I joined with
our Union Brothers and Sisters to share the vision of our Union
with every person through one on one conversations about the
benefits of coming together, such as keeping our rights in the
workplace, better wages, health benefits, fair employment, etc.
Join our Union today. The more people that join AFSCME, the
louder our voices!”
“In the remote past and recent few years, AFSCME has been in the
center of the battle for worker rights and democratic values,” said
Tomas Zavala, Sacramento County VP. “We have not withered in
the face of this all out right assault from former Democratic Mayor
of San Jose, Chuck Reed, who is attempting to turn our defined
benefit pensions in California into a ‘casino game of chance,’
otherwise known as 401(K) funds. We did not back down from
Republican party presidential candidate, Scott Walker, when he
successfully stripped public sector workers, our AFSCME brothers
and sisters in Wisconsin, of their due process rights in the
workplace and collective bargaining rights by using legislative
shenanigans.
“The lesson we learned from Chuck Reed, Scott Walker, the Koch
brothers, and others, is they will not stop until their anti-worker
and pro-corporate agenda destroys or diminishes the voting rights
of the working poor and middle-class, women’s rights to equal pay
and health care, worker safety protections, adequately funding
public education and logical and necessary environmental
protections,” Zavala continued. “Their agenda serves their greed
for more wealth. Their ideology is familiar to us all. Their
methodology is to build an ‘Astroturf’ political organization (i.e.
the opposite of grassroots support) with the funds provided by the
wealthy donors.
PEOPLE, a political action fund that will help you to protect your job
with the protections you already have instead of fighting the battle
in retreat to regain the job and rights you have lost. Do not hesitate
contribute now. Union dues pay for the administration of the
contract and work place rights that you already have. PEOPLE
protects you from the cold hearted folks that are organizing to take
your pension, job and work place rights that you enjoy today away
from you. Your rights were brought to you by co-workers past and
present, in coordination with our Union. We can all be AFSCME
Strong!”
L to R: Tina Rees (from our sister Local 258 in Elk Grove), Belinda Malone
(Local 146 President), Tomas Zavala (Sac County VP), Dianna Nash (SETA
Steward) and Camille Tyler (Local 146 VP).
2015 Fall Membership Summit
featuring AFSCME Strong Training
Formerly known as “Leadership School,” our Fall Membership
Summit is open to all members and will feature these workshops:
Workshop 1: The State of our Union and “AFSCME Strong”
AFSCME Strong is our Union’s plan to reach out to 80% of our
membership to learn what their issues are so we can build power;
we need your help to succeed!
Workshop 2: Know Your Workplace Rights
Want to know your rights when you get to an investigation? What
about FMLA or other leave laws? Submit questions in advance and
we’ll have resources for you.
Workshop 3: How to Make Viral Videos
You’ve seen Local 146 videos on our website and YouTube channel.
Learn how to make your own videos in support of our Union.
2015 Fall Membership Summit
Saturday, Oct. 24
9:00 am—4:00 pm
10060 Goethe Road, Sacramento
The Summit registration and meals are free to all members.
RSVP to karmen.ortloff@ca.afscme57.org or 916.923.1860, ext.
114 to reserve your spot.
“Our challenge is to get ready for the fight that is coming by
building Union power from the grassroots upward by building an
authentic movement,” said Zavala. “We can do this for the cost of
two cups of coffee a month, $8.35, you can contribute to AFSCME

Notices and AFSCME Members Around Town
President Malone Named WLA Mentor
The Women’s Leadership Academy is an exclusive training
program for AFSCME women that takes only a few dozen
women annually from our 1.6 million members. Of that
small number, even fewer are selected based on their
leadership skills to return as mentors. Our Local Union
President, Belinda Malone, is one of the selected mentors.
To make the mentorship even more special, Malone gets to
mentor two women, one of which is also from Council 57.
Bernadine Howell is from Local 257, Oakland Unified School
District and she couldn’t speak highly enough of working
with Malone. “I am so excited for all the hard work that I
have done this summer. Every time that I needed someone
to calm me down, or to guide me or to support me, Belinda
was there for me. She has inspired me to keep going when I
wanted to give up and she encourages me on how to be a
team player to make my Local better. She is wonderful.
Local 146 is lucky to have her!”
AFSCME at the State Fair
AFSMCE Local 146 leaders once again staffed the state fair’s AFL-
CIO booth. This year, with a focus on raising the minimum wage to
$15 in Sacramento and beyond, leaders encouraged people to sign
a petition and get involved in the “Fight for $15” campaign. For
more information visit www.fightfor15.org or our local version at
www.organizesacramento.org/#!
Local 146 congratulates Belinda Malone on her
achievements and efforts!
Top photo L to R:
Shondell Pearson
(SETA), Mike Martz
(SHRA President),
Jessica Rainey (SETA
President)
Bottom photo L to R:
Dianna Nash (SETA),
William Solomon
(Sac County)
AFSCME May Save Your Life
AFSCME is a public service Union and you never know when
the worker next to you may be a Union sister or brother.
That was the case when Local 146 President Belinda
Malone and Bob Silva (SETA) stopped off for lunch. They
chatted with nearby EMS workers, only to learn they are
members of AFSCME Local 4911 (seriously… 4-9-1-1, their
Local number is ready made for emergencies!).

Upcoming Events for AFSCME Members
AFSCME Family Solidarity Movie Night
Sponsored by AFSCME Local 146 Solidarity Committee, join us for a showing
of the hit flick “Home” and arrive early to have your face painted. We believe
that strong Unions build strong communities.
We’ll provide the popcorn and movie, you bring a bottle of water, a sleeping
bag and pillows to camp out and watch the movie “drive-in” style.
Friday, Sept. 18
John J. Still K-8 School
2200 John Still Dr., Sacramento
6:00 pm face painting 6:30 pm movie starts
Family Skating Event
Put on knee pads if you must, but don’t miss out on
your chance to show off your skills in the rink! Don’t
skate? Don’t worry… you won’t be the only person
hugging the wall trying to stay on your feet. See you
there!
AFSCME is offering a
reduced cost to members
of $4/person, which includes
the skate rental, a soda,
nachos and slice of pizza.
Saturday, Oct. 3
1:00-3:30 pm
Foothill Skate
4700 Auburn Ave.
Sacramento
2015 Fall Membership Summit
Formerly known as “Leadership School,” our Fall Membership
Summit is open to all members and will feature these
workshops (see page 3 for more info):
Workshop 1: The State of our Union and “AFSCME Strong”
Workshop 2: Know Your Workplace Rights
Workshop 3: How to Make Viral Videos
2015 Fall Membership Summit
Saturday, Oct. 24
9:00 am—4:00 pm
10060 Goethe Road, Sacramento
The Summit registration and meals
are free to all members.
RSVP to karmen.ortloff@ca.afscme57.org or
916.923.1860, ext. 114 to reserve your spot.
Bring AFSCME with You
Going on a unique
vacation? Bring AFSCME
gear, your Union newsletter
or other AFSCME materials
along to the beach, the top
of the mountain or the
middle of the ocean for a
great photo and submit it to
our Union newsletter and
we may print it!
AFSCMELocal146@gmail.com
Retiring Co-Worker?
Our Union would like to
recognize retirements,
honor Union membership
and give members
information about our
Union Retirees’ program.
Please forward details
(retiree’s name, Chapter,
years of service, etc.) to:
AFSCMELocal146@gmail.com
Keep Up on
Social
Media
Key word:
AFSCME Local
146.

Mark Your Calendars
Upcoming Events TBA:
October
AFSCME Visits
a Pumpkin Patch
November
Brewery Tour
December
Santa Visits
AFSCME
River Cats Video
Watch our video from AFSCME Night at the
River Cats on our website, our YouTube
Channel, key word is “AFSCME Local 146,” or
scan the QR code to link to the video.
Wine Tasting
While you can’t taste through the
screen, check out our video, it’s like
you were there with us! Thanks to
Miner’s Leap. You can watch the
video on our YouTube Channel or
scan the QR code to link to the
video.
Capitol Tour
The history made inside the big
building down town is easier to
imagine when you are inside the
Capitol. Be sure to join us next
year! You can watch the video on
our YouTube Channel or scan the
QR code to link to the video.
Interested in learning how
to make these videos?
Register for our
Membership Summit and
learn how. See page 3.
Newsletter Committee
Are you interested in helping put together our
newsletter each month? We’d love to work with
you. Please call Business Agent Karmen Lee
Ortloff at 916.923.1860, ext. 114 or email her at
Karmen.ortloff@ca.afscme57.org.
Solidarity.

Local 146 Leadership
AFSCMELocal146@gmail.com
Local 146 President
Belinda Malone
divaofdemocacy@gmail.com
Local 146 VP/ RT Clerical President
Camille Tyler
ctyler@sacrt.com
Carmichael Water District President
Clint Lorimer
pcalirose@sbcglobal.net
City of Lodi President
Linda Tremble
Ltremble@lodielectric.com
City of Rocklin President
Tracie Colamartino
Tracie.Colamartino@rocklin.ca.us
NID President Ed Barton
Edbarton357@ymail.com
Sacramento County Chapter President
Hazel Yedey
yedeyh@saccounty.net
SETA Chapter President
Jessica Rainey
jrainey@headstart.seta.net
SHRA Chapter President
Mike Martz
mmartz@shra.org
Regional Transit Supervisor President
Rodney Beverly
RHBeverly@sacrt.com
Yolo COE President
Allynson Camarillo-Harrell
Allynson.Camarillo@ycoe.org
Council 57 Staff
Shante Briley, Administrative Assistant
916.923.1860, ext. 110
shante.briley@ca.afscme57.org
Business Agents:
Nancy Clifford (Yolo COE Chapter)
916.714.6373
nancy.clifford@ca.afscme57.org
Karmen Lee Ortloff (CWD, NID, Sac
County, SETA, SHRA)
916.923.1860, ext. 114
karmen.ortloff@ca.afscme57.org
Nancy Vinson (Cities of Lodi & Rocklin,
Regional Transit)
916.923.1860, ext. 113
nancy.vinson@ca.afscme57.org
AFSCME Council 57 Office
2150 River Plaza Drive, Suite 275
Sacramento, CA 95833-3883
916.923.1860
Fax: 916.923.1877
SHRA Maintenance Wins!
The Sacramento Housing and
Redevelopment Agency recently
requested to create two additional
entry-level classifications. AFSCME
rejected the creation of one of the
classifications and management
withdrew the proposal. The other
classification, which both parties
acknowledge is substantively different
from the current positions, was
necessary and so our Union leaders
started to negotiate. In return for
agreeing to the new position, AFSCME
negotiated the following:
The creation of a promotional
ladder that includes a new
Maintenance Lead classification.
Prior to the agreement, the Lead was
only an assignment, which could
be taken away at any time. Under
the new classification, Lead
positions cannot be taken away
from members.
The 10% premium pay for the new
classification is going towards
members’ pensions. As an
assignment, it was not.
AFSCME leaders, as stakeholders in
the process, were at the table to
create the new job description.
Maintenance Tech employees that
are not Leads cannot be
reclassified into a lower
classification during the duration
of their employment.
Minimum staffing levels were
established so every AMP would
have a Lead with opportunities for
promotions when Leads retire or
leave the agency.
That’s a lot of wins for AFSCME
members. We can stand up and fight
for members and when AFSCME
fights, we win.
Don’t be fooled, negotiations aren’t this easy!
But our Union team did amazing.
L to R: Mike Martz (President), Ken Deam
(VP), Mike Pasquini (Mike Newman not
pictured)
Save Money with
AFSCME Advantage
Being an AFSCME member doesn’t
only provide advantages at the
bargaining table; you can
save on products and services:
Motor Club Savings
Car Buying Services & Rentals
Legal Services
Goodyear Tires & Services Discounts
Scholarships
Bookstore Discounts
Home Mortgages & Assistance Hotline
Credit Counseling
Energy Rebates
Tax Preparation
Retirement Planning
Vacation Tours
Eldercare Services
AT&T Wireless Discounts
Clothing
Checks
Computers
Pet Services
Flowers
Entertainment
Much, much more!
More information is on AFSCME.org,
search “AFSCME Advantage”
Don’t have your Union card? Contact the
membership department at 202.429.8400.

Local 146 Elections Coming in October
Election Step 1: Nominations Deadline
If you are interested in running for an office (see list on next
page), you must have your name placed into nominations.
You can nominate yourself or have someone else nominate
you.
Nominations Period
Tuesday, Sept. 15 to Wednesday, Sept. 30 by 5:00 pm
Only the Election Committee Chair can accept nominations
for Local-wide 146 positions:
Jessica Rainey, poohfourmom@yahoo.com
If there is only one nominee for an office, that member will
automatically be elected and that position will not be listed
on the ballot. If an election must be held, the Elections
Committee will conduct the election, count the ballots, etc.
according to the AFSCME Election Manual (available at
www.AFSCMELocal146.org under “Resources”).
Step 2: Vote by mail (if necessary)
Ballots will be mailed to the last known address of all Union
members and mailed back to the Sacramento Union office.
Our Committee will collect envelopes and bring them to the
ballot counting event. Only Elections Committee members
will open the envelopes and count ballots at the Local 146
General Membership Meeting open to all members, if
necessary.
Voting by Mail (if necessary)
After the nominations deadline, a packet will be mailed to
members at their last known address including:
a ballot
a plain envelope
a stamped envelope
o addressed to the Council 57 Office
o labeled with a “146 Election Ballot” sticker
o a signature line
instructions on how to vote.
Members will be given the following instructions:
mark your ballot
place your ballot in the plain envelope and seal it
put the plain envelope inside the stamped envelope,
sign the outer envelope and mail back to Council 57 so
it is received no later than Monday, October 19, 2015 by
5:00 pm
Local 146
Why do we have to sign the envelope? What about a
"secret ballot?"
Members sign the outside of the stamped envelope so our
Election Committee can check your name off our member
list and ensure that you vote only once.
After your name is checked off the list, the inside envelope
containing the actual ballot will be removed and placed in
the ballot box... no one will know how you voted. Member’s
votes will be secret and the blank envelopes containing
ballots will be mixed in the ballot box and opened after all
the names have been checked off.
If you do not get your ballot by mail, contact Council 57 at
916.923.1860, ext. 114.
Step 3: Counting Ballots (if necessary)
All ballots cast through the mail will be counted at a Local
146 General Membership Meeting open to all members at
5:30 pm on October 21, 2015 at the 1610 Arden Way, 2 nd
floor conference room, Sacramento. All members are
welcome to observe.
Majority Vote Rule for Elections and Run-Offs
AFSCME election rules state that a candidate must have a
majority of all votes cast in order to be declared elected.
(AFSCME does not elect leaders by plurality, meaning the
highest vote-getter, but by majority, meaning more than
half of the votes cast.) Example: 3 candidates for 1 spot:
Candidate A got 10 votes,
Candidate B got 12 votes,
Candidate C got 9 votes,
Under AFSCME rules, Candidate B would NOT be elected
because there was not a majority (i.e. more than 16 votes in
this example).
In this case, the top two vote getters would be in a run-off
election and whomever receives the majority in the run-off
is declared the winner.

Local 146-wide positions
up for election:
Local 146 Officer Job Descriptions:
The Vice President shall:
Assist the President in their
work.
In the absence of the
President, preside at all
meetings and perform all
duties otherwise performed by
the President.
Upon approval by the local
executive board, be authorized
to act as co-signer of checks
drawn on the local funds in
place of either the President or
the Secretary-Treasurer.
The Recording Secretary shall:
Keep record of proceedings of
all membership and Executive
Board meetings.
Carry on the official
correspondence of the local,
except as the Executive Board
may direct otherwise.
Perform such other duties as
the Executive Board may
require.
For all election rules, please see our
AFSCME Election Manual.
Chapter Election Schedule
Carmichael Water District
Per Chapter Constitution, elections to be held.
Nominations and Elections Meeting: TBA
City of Lodi
Per Chapter Constitution, elections are to be held October 2016 for all positions.
City of Rocklin
TBA
Nevada Irrigation District
Per Chapter Constitution, nominations and election for the Vice President shall be
held Wednesday, October 23 rd . 5:30 pm in the East Annex.
Sacramento County
Per Chapter Constitution, elections to be held President, Vice President, Secretary
and an at-Large member of the L146 Exec Board, as well as Stewards..
Nominations and Elections Meeting: Monday, October 5 at 5:30 pm
Location: 2130 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento (park in the back)
Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA)
Per Chapter Constitution, elections to be held for Vice President, Secretary,
Members-at-large to L146 Exec Bd, Stewards & Labor Management Committee.
Nominations and Elections Meeting (all Chapters): Thursday, September 17 at
5:30 pm. Nominate in person or by email to Consuelo.lopez@seta.net.
Location: 925 Del Paso Blvd, Sacramento
Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA)
Per Chapter Constitution, elections are to be held October 2016 for all positions.
Sacramento Regional Transit Authority
Supervisors Unit:
Per Chapter Constitution, elections to be held for President and Secretary. TBA
Administrative Technical Unit:
Per Chapter Constitution, elections are to be held October 2016 for all positions.
Yolo County Office of Education/Head Start
Per Chapter Constitution, elections are to be held October 2016 for all positions.