AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES LOCAL 2406, AFL-CIO

  AFSCME MAIN

What is AFSCME?

AFSCME stands for the A merican F ederation of S tate, C ounty and M unicipal  Employees.

The A merican F ederation of S tate, C ounty, and M unicipal E mployees (AFSCME), AFL -CIO, is the nation's largest and fastest growing public service employees union, with more than 1.4 million members. AFSCME organizes for social and economic justice in the workplace and through political action and legislative advocacy. (afscme.org)

AFSCME Local 2406 represents employees from the City of Oklahoma City and Community Action Agency.

What can AFSCME do for me?

AFSCME Local 2406 provides representation to employees at the City of Oklahoma City and Community Action Agency. Because of the Collective Bargaining Act other municipalities are able to organize Unions as well. The City of Moore is in the process of joining AFSCME Local 2406.

Why do I need a union?

Simply talking about issues that affect public employees just isn't enough-you have to be heard. All by yourself, it's hard to be heard. You and your co-workers face similar problems and have similar needs. When you organize, you'll gain the strength to make the changes you need by working together. Through AFSCME, employees have a voice-one that is heard-on the job and in the legislatures and city halls.

What is collective bargaining?

Collective bargaining is the process for dealing with management over such things as wages, promotions, job security, transfer rights, career ladders, pensions, and other benefits. Here's how it works: The union's representatives chosen by you-sit down and hammer out an agreement known as a "union contract" with management on every issue of concern to your bargaining unit. They sit at the bargaining table as equals with management. The union bargaining committee represents the united strength of all union members. The more members, the more strength you will have. But before any agreement is accepted by the committee, the majority of members will have to give their approval through a vote.

What is the difference between AFSCME and the AFL-CIO?

AFSCME is one of 87 unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO. The AFL-CIO is simply a federation of those 87 unions. AFSCME's president is a member of the executive council of the AFL-CIO and serves-as a member or in some cases as chair-of several important AFL-CIO committees.

AFSCME is an autonomous and independent union whose decisions are made by AFSCME members.

How can I get my grievances resolved?

If you have a problem with your employer, you need representation-someone to prepare and present your case. AFSCME gives you that representation. AFSCME also makes sure you get a hearing by establishing a grievance procedure to which management must respond promptly and fairly. When you are part of a strong union, representing majority of workers, the employer has to listen to you.

What does the union do on behalf of its women workers who are concerned about pay equity, women's rights, etc?

AFSCME knows that full-time women workers still earn on the average less than two-thirds of what men earn. At least half of this gap is due to the systematic underpayment in jobs that are filled primarily by women. AFSCME is the leader in obtaining pay equity-which means eliminating discrimination in pay for female-dominated jobs.

Thousands of AFSCME members have won hundreds of millions of dollars in pay equity adjustments since 1981.

AFSCME Local 2406 is working to establish a Women's Committee within the Local. This committee will focus on things that effect women in Oklahoma today. Our goal is to increase the interest of women in the Local and provide resources and information that will help them and the community.

How much are union dues?

The amount of Union dues is set by AFSCME International. Dues are deducted on a bi-weekly or monthly basis by the payroll department.

What does AFSCME know about my job situation?

AFSCME negotiates and services more than 3,000 written agreements covering employees of states, cities, counties, towns, colleges and universities, hospitals and other health care facilities, and federal agencies. Employment standards vary from state to state and community to community, but AFSCME is familiar-and experienced-with them all.

At its national headquarters, AFSCME has a data bank with information on pay scales, job descriptions, fringe benefits, and contract language covering public and other service employees represented by AFSCME throughout the nation.

What about the union and the civil service system?

If you are a public employee under civil service, when you join the union, you retain all of your civil service rights. The union will work to protect the civil service system, to make it work and to guarantee it is fairly administered. Where strong civil service systems are effectively and fairly administered, AFSCME fights to retain and improve civil service.

Does the union get involved in politics?

Yes. AFSCME's Constitution points out that: "For unions, the workplace and the polling place are inseparable. . . ." Public employees-more than any other group-know that their well being and the quality of services they perform are strongly affected by who holds public office.

AFSCME members have their own independent political organization called PEOPLE-Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality. PEOPLE Committees of union members at the local, state, and national levels raise funds to work for laws to improve public service and elect politicians responsive to the needs of public employees and health care and social service employees.

What is AFSCME's structure?

As an AFSCME member, you become part of a local union (also called a local) consisting of the coworkers in your office, institution, department or community. AFSCME has more than 3,500 local unions in 46 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico . Each local writes its own constitution, holds regular membership meetings and elects its own officers and stewards.

Why join AFSCME?

As AFSCME members, we have the power to make a difference. By joining together, AFSCME members have clout at the ballot box, in the halts of government and at the bargaining table. AFSCME is one of the nation's most powerful advocates for working families.

As AFSCME members, we have the resources needed to fight for – and win – social and economic justice on the job. AFSCME is equipped with staff, expert negotiators and attorneys. AFSCME negotiates strong contracts, wins wage increases, protects jobs, settles grievances, stops privatization and ensures benefits for members from every field of public service.

Yes. Union workers are more likely than their non-union counterparts to receive health care and pension benefits. Nine out of ten union members are covered by health insurance and have a pension plan — versus three-quarters of those not in a union.

Below is a comparison of raise wages for union members to non-union members:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2003 (afscme.org)

Who runs AFSCME?

We do. AFSCME is run by its members. Every member has a vote in the election of local union officers and board members. We negotiate our contracts, which must be approved by members. Each union has its own constitution and governing documents. Members decide on policies, activities and dues. And as AFSCME members, we are protected by our Members' Bill of Rights.

What is the AFSCME International Union ?

The AFSCME International Union, based in Washington , D.C. , coordinates the union's actions on major national issues such as privatization, health care and work safety. The International carries out certain national functions such as representing us in the U.S. Congress and coordinating political activities for federal elections. It also provides resources and expert help to councils and local unions in areas such as:

•  Collective bargaining and negotiations

•  Communications

•  Health and safety on the job

•  Information systems

•  Leadership education

•  Legal counsel

•  Legislative lobbying

•  Organizing

•  Political action

•  Public relations

•  Research

•  Training

•  Women's rights

Who runs the union?

You do. Every member has a vote in the election of local union officers and board members. Some locals hire staff to provide services to the members. Council and International Union policies are formulated by membership conventions, and every AFSCME member is eligible to serve as a delegate from his or her local union. International Union conventions are held every two years.

Does having a union mean there will be strikes?

No. The national officers and representatives of AFSCME cannot and will not call a strike. That is a decision made locally by you and your fellow workers. There have been cases where AFSCME members have found it necessary to take strike action to achieve dignity on the job, and in every case, the decision was made locally. In most cases, a strong, well-organized local will not have to strike. By representing the overwhelming majority of workers, the union can win at the bargaining table rather than on the streets.

What about public employee associations?

AFSCME began as an employee association, the Wisconsin State Employees Association. Now as a national union, AFSCME has the strength and know-how needed to bargain first-rate contracts, win federal aid for state and local governments, and represent public employees effectively. That's why more than 50 independent public employee associations, with more than 400,000 members, have affiliated with AFSCME. In 1988, for example, the 8,000-member Alaska State Employees Association chose AFSCME as their bargaining agent.

How are Unions organized in Oklahoma ?

AFSCME Local 2406 was established April 1, 1972. Hard working members had to fight to be recognized as a Union . Senate Bill 1529 was signed by Governor Brad Henry in the above photo. This bill created the Oklahoma Municipal Employees Collective Bargaining Act which was to become effective November 1, 2004. This Act has given other municipalities in Oklahoma the opportunity to join AFSCME.

For more information about organizing in Oklahoma check out www.afscmeok.org

IMPORTANT TERMS

Binding arbitration of grievances:  The ruling of a neutral third party designed to settle grievances between the employee or employees and the employer. Final and binding arbitration requires both parties to honor the decision.

Contract : A written agreement spelling out wages, hours, and working conditions that must be followed by both the union and employer.

Grievance:  A procedure to remedy a work-related problem such as the abuse of employee rights or a violation of the contract. Other examples might be a denial of a promotion, an improper transfer, or dismissal without a cause.

Steward:  A co-worker of yours who represents AFSCME in your workplace and helps you solve your problems on the job, in dealing with management.

Authorization Card:  A statement signed by an employee authorizing a union to act as his or her agent in collective bargaining. Authorization cards are normally used to request a secret-ballot vote by which AFSCME gets officially certified as the sole bargaining representative for a unit of employees. Such elections are conducted by a public labor relations board.

Labor Board:  A public agency that oversees collective bargaining, holds union representation elections, and polices unfair labor practices. In addition to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which governs private-sector employers and workers, 22 states have public employment boards, overseeing state and local governments and schools.