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Greetings, After a tough contract, suffering through cutbacks on retiree health care, layoffs, and two rounds of pension changes, the Governor has issued an Executive Order on Shutdown Days. Enough is enough! Please see the attached documents for more details. Council 94 will fight the administration's lock out with all the resources at our disposal. Council 94 will: Take the state to court next week in an attempt to get a temporary restraining order to prevent the Governor from implementing the first Shutdown Day on September 4, 2009. File a class action grievance against the State which will cite numerous contract violations including but not limited to the Master Contract Articles on hours of work, wages and the no strike-no lockout sections. Proceed to arbitration causing the Union and the State to spend money that should be used instead on providing state services. All Council 94 State Local Presidents will meet on Monday and
Tuesday (August 31 and September 1) for briefing sessions
so that they in turn can keep all local union members
informed. I have told the state that we have a contract. We plan to live by the terms of our agreement. So should the state. We have made many concessions on health care including higher premium co-payments, worked one day without pay, and sacrificed raises. Our average yearly salary is $35,000 per year, not $53,000 per year as reported by the Providence Journal. We have given enough and it is time for the state to finally stop balancing the budget on our backs. We will live up to the contract that was negotiated and agreed to between Council 94 and the Administration. We hope that the Governor will do the same I ask that in these difficult times that you stay active in your union. We will only win this battle by holding fast and staying strong. In solidarity,
J. Michael Downey, President
1932-2009
On behalf of all Council 94 members I want to express our condolences to Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy and his family on the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. The Senator's death is a great loss to our country and to our union. Senator Kennedy was a consistent and very strong supporter of ASFCME and the interests of working men and women. We mourn his loss and will miss his passionate voice. For additional commentary see AFSCME?s web site at http://www.afscme.org/press/26890.cfm -- JMD |
