Albuquerque Journal covers AFSCME legal win

Sunshine Portal Will Lose Names
Judge orders removal of public record
Copyright © 2012 Albuquerque Journal By Dan Boyd Journal Capitol Bureau

An Albuquerque judge on Monday ordered Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration to remove the names of rankand-file state employees from a state-run online database that includes their salaries, granting a victory to a public employee union that challenged the practice.

A Governor’s Office spokesman said the administration will look into whether the information can be posted on another public website after the ruling by 2nd District Judge Valerie Huling.

“This is public information that is routinely produced and is even available on other websites in New Mexico,” Martinez spokesman Scott Darnell said. “The judge ruled that it cannot be displayed on the Sunshine Portal itself, so we will explore options for making the user-friendly version of this data available on another public website.”

Darnell also said Martinez’s office will push for legislation in 2013 to expand the Sunshine Portal — the state’s online database — to include the names of classified state workers, along with their job titles and salaries. An attempt to pass such legislation failed this year.

Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque, who sponsored the 2010 bill that created the Sunshine Portal, said he will sponsor the legislation to expand the portal.

“It is unfortunate that a judge has rendered a decision to deny the citizens of New Mexico easy access to public information about how their taxpayer dollars are being spent,” Rue said Monday. “This decision is a blow to open and transparent government.”

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 18 filed a lawsuit last month challenging the Martinez administration’s decision to post the names and salaries of all state workers — from janitors to elected officials — on the Sunshine Portal.

Albuquerque attorney Shane Youtz, who represented AFSCME in the case, said the law that created the online portal says that only the job titles, state agency and salary levels of the roughly 18,000 rank-and-file state workers are to be posted on the site — no names.

However, he acknowledged that such information is available under the state’s Inspection of Public Records Act.

“We don’t assert there’s an absolute right to privacy here,” Youtz said Monday. “It’s publicly available information, but if someone wants to know a classified employee’s name and salary, they have to file a (public records) request. That provides for some sort of accountability.”

In addition to salary information, the Sunshine Portal offers a sortable database containing information on state spending, revenue and more.

Previously, the online portal listed both the names and salary information only for certain political appointees, or so-called exempt employees, and elected officials.

Martinez announced in October 2011 that the names and salaries of all workers — including classified employees — would be added to the site, saying at the time that citizens pay the salaries of state workers and should know what they earn.

AFSCME, which represents more than 10,000 public sector employees in New Mexico, sent Martinez a letter in February asking that the names of classified employees be removed. When Martinez’s office did not oblige, the union responded by filing the lawsuit.

AFSCME Interim Executive Director Connie Derr lauded Monday’s ruling, saying, “This is, once again, a demonstration that the governor can’t pick and choose which laws she’s going to abide by.”

Meanwhile, the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government has backed Martinez’s decision to expand the Sunshine Portal, asserting that the names and salaries of state workers is public information.
 

Albuquerque Journal North Covers Cayetano Trujillo Story

Corrections Appealing Ruling
Worker Seeks Reinstatement
By T.S. Last
Journal Staff Writer
The New Mexico Department of Corrections is appealing an arbitrator’s ruling to reinstate a former state prison employee and union representative involved in an investigation into sexual harassment charges that led to the firing of the Penitentiary of New Mexico warden.
The department filed the appeal in 1st Judicial District Court on July 2, one month after an arbitrator ruled that Cayetano Trujillo should be reinstated to his position as a warehouse supervisor at the prison south of Santa Fe.
The department appealed a similar ruling in favor of another former prison employee and union leader, Lee Ortega, in district court in Albuquerque late last year. That appeal is still pending.
Trujillo and Ortega are plaintiffs in a whistle-blower’s lawsuit against the Corrections Department filed in September 2011.
Ortega, who is the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees’ state president for correction workers, was fired in June 2011 for distributing a confidential report to the news media regarding harassment charges against the warden.
Trujillo, who is secretarytreasurer and union steward for AFSCME Local 3422, was fired three months later for giving the same report to an unauthorized person and being untruthful during an investigation.
In their roles as union representatives, Trujillo and Ortega were involved in an investigation into complaints made by three women against former penitentiary warden Lawrence Jaramillo. The women claimed Jaramillo made inappropriate comments toward them, and Jaramillo was later fired for sexual harassment after failing to pass a polygraph test.
Rob Trombley of AFSCME Council 18, who represented both Trujillo and Ortega during arbitration hearings, said both men had unblemished records with the department before they brought their concerns about how the Jaramillo investigation was being handled to Corrections Secretary Lupe Martinez in spring 2011.
Ortega had worked for the department for 16 years, while Trujillo had been employed there for 28 years.
“The state’s employment actions against these two men are, without a doubt, retaliation for their exposing the Department of Corrections’ protection of a serial harasser,” Trombley said.
Jim Brewer, general counsel for Corrections, denied Trujillo’s dismissal was retaliatory.
“Trujillo was not treated differently because he was a union official. Trujillo was held to the same standard of conduct (to) which all employees, including bargaining unit employees, are held,” Brewer said in a written statement. “The New Mexico Corrections Department is appealing the arbitrator’s ruling because it is arbitrary, capricious, not in accordance with law, and not based on substantial evidence.”
According to the arbitrator’s report, the department contended that Trujillo was fired for just cause. The department’s investigation determined that Trujillo had given a copy of a confidential document to an unauthorized person — his union representative — and was uncooperative during the investigation. The department maintained that his conduct was “egregious” and appropriate discipline was imposed.
The arbitrator disagreed, though he indicated Trujillo hadn’t been completely forthcoming during the investigation. The arbitrator, Ira Epstein, wrote in his report that Trujillo was “quibbling” and “overly literal” when he told a department investigator that he did not possess the confidential report when, in fact, it was in his truck. Epstein also found it hard to believe that Trujillo didn’t know the report was confidential since, as a union officer, he had processed grievances related to discipline.
However, Epstein ruled that the department took too strict a line by firing Trujillo. He noted that the department had imposed five-day suspensions against officers who had committed offenses he deemed far more serious, including forgery, theft and filing false reports.
The arbitrator said that a written reprimand would have been the appropriate action.
“While there is evidence of a degree of misconduct, the discipline imposed was extremely excessive in light of the offense,” Epstein wrote.
Epstein’s decision states that Trujillo was fired without just cause, that his termination should be reduced to a written reprimand and his personnel file expunged of his previous suspension and discharge. The department was also directed to “make whole” any wage or benefit loss that resulted from his firing.
While the department claims the arbitrator’s ruling was flawed, Trujillo’s counsel doesn’t think so.
“We don’t believe the arbitrator’s decision was in any way arbitrary or capricious,” Trombley said. “The department’s appeal of Epstein’s decision about Trujillo was solely an attempt to hurt him personally for legal communication between him and his authorized union representative. The appeal was solely for the purpose of suppressing dissent and the exercise of free speech necessary for good government.”
 

In this Update:

• AFSCME Honors The Fallen - National Law Enforcement Week
• AFSCME Local 601, Belen Police Department Takes Major Stand for Community
• Espanola City Council and Taos County Commission Pass Proclamations Honoring Law Enforcement and Public Safety
• [WATCH!] AFSCME Law Enforcement Documentary on the true spirit of law enforcement

National Law Enforcement Week: Honoring Heroes Who’ve Sacrificed

In 2016, 143 officers were killed; the names of more than 20,000 officers are engraved on the wall of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C.

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 National Peace Officers Memorial Day. The purpose was to “express our gratitude for the dedicated service and courageous deeds of law enforcement officers and for the contributions they have made to the security and well-being of all our people.”

Police Week, as it is also known, is a chance not only for officers from across the country to remember their fallen colleagues, but for communities to express thanks for those who protect them. Events during the week include memorial services as well as seminars for families and loved ones coping with loss.

AFSCME Local 601, Belen Police Department Takes Stand for Safety, Vote No Confidence in Deputy Chief

Sergeant Luis Lopez, Local 601 President has mailed a letter on behalf of the majority of Belen Police Department Union Officers to city leaders informing them that the Local officially conducted a Vote of No Confidence on their Deputy Chief.

"The City of Belen deserves quality policing. But that will only be achieved when we have professional leadership who function at a high level in cooperation with the officers." Sergeant Luis Lopez, President Local 601, Belen PD.

By an overwhelming majority, Local 601, Belen PD Officers voted no confidence in their Deputy Chief due to his subversive management style. His pattern of intimidation and unprofessionalism have compromised the mission of the Belen Police Department.

The Officers are demanding a review of his management practices and are asking city leaders to consider demanding his resignation. Read the entire letter here.

Espanola City Council and Taos County Commission Passes Proclamation Honoring Law Enforcement and Public Safety

"For years, morale of the Espanola Police Department has been at rock bottom. The challenges we face as a community are many," said Officer Robert Vigil, President Local 923. "By passing the proclamation at their May 9th, 2017 council meeting, the councilors have demonstrated to Espanola citizens and the surrounding communities that our city intends to back their officers. With our Union and the City working together to get things accomplished, we will improve morale of the officers."

May 16, 2017 Taos Commission passes proclamation honoring Public Safety, Sheriff's Deputies, Adult and Youth Detention Officers, Emergency Medical Services, and Emergency 911 Dispatch

"It feels good to be thanked once in a while," said Taos County Sheriff's Detective Celedon Gallegos, Taos County Local 1193 activist. "In Taos County, we do have the backing of our county commission, our county manager, the sheriff, and of course our union. It's a morale booster."

"Proud To Protect and Serve"

AFSCME Law Enforcement Film

AFSCME New Mexico assisted in production for this January 2016 film honoring the noble work of law enforcement officers and the memory of dedicated Peace Officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

National Law Enforcement Week in May 15-21, 2017

In One Voice: AFSCME Members Fight for the Dignity of Public Safety Careers

AFSCME Council 18 debuts testimonial film, "Dignity and Dedication to Public Safety Careers"

America is as strong as it is today because of what unions did in the past and what we continue to do today. There is much work ahead in the fight to improve lives of working Americans. We are seriously at a dangerous precipice. If AFSCME or any unions buckle one bit, our society goes downhill fast.  

- Connie Der, AFSCME International VP & Council 18 Executive Director

In Unity

In this Update:

• AFSCME Honors The Fallen - National Law Enforcement Week
• AFSCME Local 601, Belen PD Takes Major Stand for Community
• [WATCH!] AFSCME Law Enforcement Documentary on the true spirit of law enforcement

National Law Enforcement Week: Honoring Heroes Who’ve Sacrificed

In 2016, 143 officers were killed; the names of more than 20,000 officers are engraved on the wall of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C.

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 National Peace Officers Memorial Day. The purpose was to “express our gratitude for the dedicated service and courageous deeds of law enforcement officers and for the contributions they have made to the security and well-being of all our people.”

Police Week, as it is also known, is a chance not only for officers from across the country to remember their fallen colleagues, but for communities to express thanks for those who protect them. Events during the week include memorial services as well as seminars for families and loved ones coping with loss.

AFSCME Local 601, Belen PD Takes Stand for Safety, Vote No Confidence in Deputy Chief

Sergeant Luis Lopez, Local 601 President has mailed a letter on behalf of the majority of Belen PD Union Officers to city leaders informing them that the Local officially conducted a Vote of No Confidence on their Deputy Chief.

"The City of Belen deserves quality policing. But that will only be achieved when we have professional leadership who function at a high level in cooperation with the officers." Sergeant Luis Lopez, President Local 601, Belen PD.

By an overwhelming majority, Local 601, Belen PD Officers voted no confidence in their Deputy Chief due to his subversive management style. His pattern of intimidation and unprofessionalism have compromised the mission of the Belen Police Department.

The Officers are demanding a review of his management practices and are asking city leaders to consider demanding his resignation. Read the entire letter here.

"Proud To Protect and Serve"

AFSCME Law Enforcement Film

AFSCME New Mexico assisted in production for the filming and recruitment for this short film honoring the noble work of law enforcement officers and the memory of dedicated Peace Officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

National Law Enforcement Week in May 15-21, 2017

In Unity

In this update:

• Bernalillo County Supervisors Join AFSCME!
• San Miguel County Lieutenants Voting NOW to Join AFSCME!  
• State Corrections "Officers' Voice has Impact!"
• Proposed State Furloughs Strengthens AFSCME Power!

Bernalillo County Blue-Collar Supervisors Go Green!

On May 5, Bernalillo County blue-collar supervisors were officially certified as the latest AFSCME Council 18 local union! The Bernalillo County Labor Board unanimously approved recognition of the unit after an agreement was reached between the county and AFSCME Council 18 for the 24 supervisors.

"The majority of us have dedicated our careers to this county," said Brad Zellner (pictured), heavy equipment shift supervisor and one of the lead members of the organizing committee. "While we give 100% to the public service we provide, our work needs to be respected. Standing as AFSCME, our voice will now be heard."

Council 18's newest local, AFSCME Local 3908 joins five other AFSCME local unions in Bernalillo County -- Metropolitan Detention Center Officers Local 2499, Bernalillo County Juvenille Detention Officers Local 1536, Bernalillo County Blue Collar Workers' Local 1461, Bernalillo County White Collar / Technical Employees' Local 2260, Bernalillo County Court Security Officers' Local 1661.

San Miguel County Detention Lieutenants Voting NOW to Join AFSCME!

Following a majority of union cards being signed and submitted to the New Mexico Labor Relations Board, a mail ballot election is currently underway to determine if San Miguel County Detention Center Lieutenants wish to join AFSCME.   If the majority of the lieutenants vote "YES!", they will join their fellow Detention Center employees in AFSCME Local 3103.

San Miguel County fought to prevent the officers from joining the union, arguing that the Lieutenants were excluded from the right to collective bargaining because of their job classification. A hearing on the matter was held on March 21 by Public Employee Labor Relations Board Hearing Officer Tom Griego. Based on the evidence presented, the hearing officer ruled that the officers job description did not make them "managers" or "supervisors", as defined by the state Public Employee Bargaining Act; and therefore, the officers are eligible to organize.

Election ballots have been mailed to each eligible officer by the PELRB and must be returned (postmarked) to the PELRB by May 22, 2017. Ballots will be counted on May 26, 2017.

Shift Issue Engages Statewide Corrections Officers in Local 3422 Facilities, Building Membership

Close to 500 Department of Corrections officers participated in a vote at their respective state prison facility on a heated workplace issue: hours of work. The DOC had proposed a plan to move all security staff to the 12 hour work day schedule (four days on, three days off), but it was not well-received at all facilities. The DOC agreed to abide by the vote of the membership.

AFSCME Council 18 and the leadership of the facilities held meetings in April and May at the facilities to discuss the pros and cons of the 12 hour shift, with the membership subsequently voting the issue up or down. Central, Southern and Springer correctional facilities voted to remain on the eight (8) hour schedule. Roswell and Western correctional facilities will change to the 12 hour shift.

"We work in the most vital and under-recognized professions. Making sure our officers voice has impact and fighting for our rights defines our union," said Officer Richard Lakey, vice-president of AFSCME Local 3422 Central sub-chapter.

Understanding the benefits of membership, 66 corrections officers joined AFSCME Local 3422 statewide in order to vote!

Governor Martinez Threatens Furloughs; State Employees Strengthen AFSCME

When Governor Martinez stated her intention on April 24 to furlough employee, state employees saw it for what it is: a political "movida." In response, AFSCME leaders began holding statewide worksite meetings, from Albuquerque to Las Cruces, from Santa Fe to Las Vegas, from Silver City to Taos.

"Employees across the state are understandably angry," said Connie Derr, executive director of AFSCME Council 18. "Governor Martinez is once again jeopardizing public services and unnecessarily threatening the financial stability of those who provide the services. The Governer did not take the legislative session seriously or respect the bi-partisan supported budget."

READ State Personnel's Furlough Letter to AFSCME

and

AFSCME response HERE

Statewide and from department to department, the overwhelming top two issues raised by state employees is the high vacancy rate and unreasonable caseloads and/or workloads.

Coupled with the administration's complete lack of understanding and compassion for the citizens of the State of New Mexico, state employees know that their voice through their union, AFSCME, is ever so important!  

Help Your Co-Workers JOIN THE UNION Here.

State employees pack conference rooms statewide to discuss Governor's unnecessary proposed furloughs and issues impacting the delivery of services.

Make your voice heard! If you haven't attended an AFSCME meeting at your workplace, contact your local union president, call 505-266-2505, or email [email protected] to set up your workplace meeting.

Our goal is to have conversations with each and every AFSCME bargaining unit member.

Our Mission:

UNITED, we work to protect our jobs and the services we provide, improve pay, benefits, safety, and fairness at work.
 

An entire week of furloughs will save the state (drop-in-the-bucket) $8.5 million, but it means a significant 20% pay cut per furlough pay-period for us. That means less groceries, less ability to pay bills, and, since we all know the work simply stacks up, causing more stress, and more overtime work in the end.

CLICK HERE:

Ask Governor Martinez to SIGN the bipartisan, compromise budget & revenue package that solves the crisis

CALL 505-476-2200

Ask Governor Martinez to SIGN bipartisan, compromise budget & revenue package that solves the crisis

CALL 505-476-2200

In Solidarity!

APRIL 28 - WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY

"April 28 is a day to remember fellow workers who lost their lives on the job, and give all the support we can to their families. It is also a day to recommit ourselves to our union, and continue our fight for improved health and safety standards and practices on the job." Casey Padilla, President of Council 18 and Albuquerque Local 624

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO A SAFE WORKPLACE!

We all have a right to a safe job. The Occupational Safety and Health Act made that promise to every worker more than 40 years ago. Together in our Union, we will never quit defending that right. It takes all of us to stand up for workplace safety, sensible regulation, good policy, and having the equipment we need to do our work safely.

Go online HERE to download a Workers Memorial Day Poster to post at work.

Workers Memorial Day Ceremony
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Friday, April 28th at 5:30 PM
Workers Memorial Park (Aspen & San Mateo - 2 blocks south
of I-40)

Safe Jobs Save Lives
Make Your Voice Heard!

More than four decades ago, Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Unions and our allies fought hard to win protections that made jobs safer, saved thousands of lives and prevented millions of workplace injuries and illnesses.

BUT OUR WORK IS NOT DONE!

Many job hazards are unregulated and uncontrolled. Some employers cut corners and violate the law, putting workers in serious danger and costing lives. Workers who report job hazards or job injuries are fired or disciplined. Employers contract out dangerous work to try to avoid responsibility. As a result, each year thousands of workers are killed and millions more injured or diseased because of their jobs.

On April 28, AFSCME, unions of the AFL-CIO, and labor organizations across the globe observe Workers Memorial Day to remember those who suffered and died on the job, and to renew the fight for safe workplaces.

We stand for the right of all workers to raise job safety concerns without fear of retaliation, and for the freedom to form unions, speak out, bargain for respect and a better future.

Please join us and make your voice heard! JOIN AFSCME Online here, or if you're already a member, fill out a membership card with your latest contact info and recommit yourself to the fight for justice.

In Solidarity

The New Mexico Court of Appeals issued a decision Wednesday, Aug. 8, in favor of AFSCME and CWA on an important issue affecting wages for both state bargaining units. The decision affirms previous arbitration awards in the unions’ favor which require the state to issue back pay checks to employees in an unknown amount, but which is estimated to be in the $5 - $10 million range.

The dispute arose when the state refused to pay wage increases agreed to by the parties. The unions’ previous contracts with the state required a wage increase for fiscal year 2009. Claiming that the Legislature did not appropriate the necessary money to fund those wage increases, the state paid its union employees a smaller wage increase than what was called for in the collective bargaining agreement.

The unions filed grievances and arbitrated the state’s decision. Arbitrators for AFSCME and CWA separately ruled that the Legislature did appropriate sufficient funds to pay the agreed upon wage increases and ordered the state to retroactively increase the wage rates and back pay all union employees working for the state. The state appealed these decisions in state District Court but lost again. The state appealed again, this time arguing its case before the New Mexico Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals issued its decision Aug. 8 affirming the arbitrators’ awards.

The state of New Mexico has the option to seek review by the New Mexico Supreme Court. Council 18 will continue to follow this important case.
 

READ Furlough-letter exchange between State Personnel and AFSCME online below, or download at bottom of page. 

"Hell no," AFSCME demands an actual proposal and state's evidence justifying furloughs prior to discussing the Governor's reckless, unnecessary and politically motivated plan for cutting state worker pay. Lots of info in this email!

It s all happening in real time. Please click-through to read articles in this email and then...

CALL the Governor at 505-476-2200 to tell her, "No Furloughs! No More Cuts!"

In this update:

• READ April 25, 2017 Latest newspaper articles on Governor's push to cut state worker pay by 20% in May and June
  
• READ April 24, 2017 - State Personnel Director Letter to AFSCME, provides no specifics on proposed statewide furlough plan, says AFSCME has 24 hours to respond or the state will implement their plan.
  
  
• READ April 25, 2017 - AFSCME calls out SPO / Governor on her "cash-flow" bluff, demands evidence justifying furloughs in advance of negotiating with State Personnel
  
  

links:

Unions question need to furlough state workers

April 25, 2017 - Andrew Oxford, Santa Fe New Mexican

Gov. Susana Martinez is taking the next step toward furloughing state employees after warning that New Mexico could run out of cash before the budget year ends in June...read more
 

Read SPO Letter:

SPO Furlough Plan Letter 4-24-17 Scribd
 

AFSCME Response Letter to SPO Furlough

April 25, 2017 AFSCME Response to Furlough  Scribd

Read More: AFSCME guest columns make the case that furloughs are low blows!

ABQ JOURNAL

Commentary: State Furloughs aren't necessary

Requiring five unpaid furlough days means that an average state employee will have $1,000 stripped from his or her pocket over the course of eight weeks. If the bluff is real, then this cut will hit just as summer plans are being made. It also means the work of the state goes into cardiac arrest. There are already 4,300 vacancies on the books across all state executive branch agencies...READ MORE

CALL the Governor at 505-476-2200 to tell her, "No Furloughs! No More Cuts!

In this update:

• KRQE's Larry Barker Blows Lid off NMCD's Staffing Shortages
  
• 2017 AFSCME Public Safety Blue Breakfast is Strongest Gathering Yet
  
• New Mexico Legislature Passes "Corrections and Detention Officer Day at Capitol
• San Miguel County Detention Center Lieutenants Fight to Join AFSCME

Larry Barker Interviews AFSCME Members: Exposes Dangerous Vacancy Levels at NMCD Facilities

CLICK HERE
watch KRQE piece

KRQE's Larry Barker showed up for the 8th Annual AFSCME Public Safety Blue Breakfast and spoke with AFSCME Corrections Officers about the dangerous conditions they face everyday

For years, it has been a central focus of AFSCME Council 18 to pressure Governor Martinez's administration to address unsafe vacancy levels inside our state prisons. Working with our legislative allies, we succeeded in raising the pay for the newer recruits in July 2016, but the experienced career officers continue to be underpaid and overworked. This has led to high turnover and continuous high vacancy levels.

On March 20, KRQE aired a "Larry Barker Investigates" piece on the crisis at the state prisons. The public airing on Governor Martinez's neglect of the system puts more pressure on her administration to find solutions.

The Heart Behind the Badge

2017 AFSCME Public Safety Blue Breakfast is Biggest and Best Yet

Around 100 AFSCME members from across New Mexico attended AFSCME Council 18's Eighth Annual Public Safety Blue Breakfast in Santa Fe, at Garrett's Desert Inn, on February 23, 2017.

Opening Ceremony at AFSCME Council 18's 2017 Public Safety Blue Breakfast. CLICK HERE to see photos from this year's event

AFSCME corrections and detention officers, emergency medical professionals, security officers, police officers, sheriff's deputies, 911 dispatchers, and probation and parole officers met to celebrate their rewarding and difficult careers, learn from one another's experiences, hear the latest information on AFSCME's battles for safety, and take political action on issues affecting public safety jobs.

"We gather here every year to build power and demand a higher level of respect for public safety careers from our Governors and legislators," said Connie Derr, Council 18 Executive Director (pictured). "Life has been tough under the Martinez administration, as well as numerous anti-worker counties throughout the state. We will continuing to organize new members into our union and deliver strong representation. If we are to keep New Mexico communities, families, and ourselves safe, then we have no other choice but to keep up the struggle."

AFSCME members heard from several national experts in the field of public safety. Keynote speaker, Craig Floyd, CEO and founding president for the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund in Washington D.C., gave a moving tribute to public safety personnel. He spoke on the national movement to improve public perception of law enforcement officers. Council 18 and its affiliate Locals raised $5,000 for the memorial fund which was presented to Mr. Floyd during the event.

AFSCME International President, Lee Saunders sent a strong video message [CLICK] to the 8th annual gathering of Public Safety officers. AFSCME International union stands behind New Mexico public safety 100%.

US Attorney, Damon Martinez spoke on how the U.S. Department of Justice makes New Mexico communities safer. Bernalillo County District Attorney, Raul Torrez, spoke on his commitment to relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute crime wherever it exists. Members heard from the Legal Defense Fund administrator, Ed Fishman, on their efforts to strengthen rapid and effective legal representation for AFSCME members.  

Immediately following the morning session, AFSCME members went to lobby their legislators on important legislation affecting our careers. Legislators in both the House and Senate passed Memorials declaring February 23, 2017 as "Correctional Officer and Detention Officer Day."

Read the memorials here: Senate Memorial 89 and House Memorial 69

San Miguel County Detention Center Lieutenants Fight to Join AFSCME

On March 21, The New Mexico public employee labor relations hearing officer conducted a hearing on Council 18's petition to bring collective bargaining rights to the lieutenants at San Miguel County Detention Center.  

A decision on the accretion petition is expected by mid-April. When approved, the Lieutenants will be covered by the existing collective bargaining agreement between the county and Afscme Local 3103 which covers all officers through the position of sergeant.

AFSCME Council 18 Jumps Into the Film

You may be a star! Council 18 is working with New Mexico Union filmmakers to produce short pieces that highlight the amazing work you do everyday. Watch for opportunities to come tell your union story on film.

First under the lights, Daniel Dore , Secretary-Treasurer for Local 2499, Bernalillo Co. Metropolitan Detention Center

Thanks for reading, "Solidarity is how we win!"

After an eight-year struggle, AFSCME has finally made the State follow the collective bargaining agreement. Article 21, Section 5 of the agreement between AFSCME Council 18 and the State of New Mexico provides that "an employee who is assigned to shift work in a twenty-four hour facility and who does not utilize sick leave for a calendar quarter shall receive credit for eight hours of administrative leave...."  

“The State had interpreted that section only to apply to employees in those facilities who are part of a rotating shift to allow 24-hour coverage,” said Connie Derr, AFSCME Council 18 Executive Director, “whereas AFSCME has always believed that it meant what it says: anyone who works a shift at a 24-hour facility is entitled to the benefit.”

AFSCME arbitrated that case on behalf of CO Specialists at the Springer Correctional Center, and won an award in March of 2009. Rather than accept the arbitration award, the State Personnel Office issued regulations in an attempt to undo the arbitrator’s final and binding interpretation of the contract. AFSCME filed suit alleging that the State unconstitutionally impaired the collective bargaining agreement.  

Here is the original step one grievance filed in 2008

After numerous twists and turns, AFSCME has now resolved the dispute with the State. As a result, all current employees who work at 24-hour facilities are entitled to the benefit. Moreover, those employees who earned the leave from March 31, 2010 (the date on which the State tried to undo the arbitration award by issuing the regulation) to October 9, 2014 (the date on which, pursuant to a court order in the case, the State started awarding the benefit required by the CBA) will have their leave accounts credited accordingly.

The State will be sending notification to the more than 2,500 affected bargaining unit employees within the next few weeks.  

Click and complete a safe & secure online membership application using our online system: #UNION-MEMBERS-LIFT-NEW-MEXICO!

Our continuing mission:

To organize, inspire, and empower workers
to take action at work and in their communities
promote democracy and hold government accountable.
UNITED, we fight for dignity and respect
to achieve social and economic justice for ALL!

Only AFSCME members have a voice and a vote in union business matters, are able to play a pivotal role as a local leader, steward. and are eligible for member-only benefits.

In Solidarity!

Budget negotiations are continuing, and we're pressing leaders in both chambers to just say "NO" to pay cuts.  But Gov. Martinez is insisting that YOU give up $1,000-$2,000 of pay every year to make up for her deficit -- Governor Martinez's staff said just today that they intend to either cut pay or furlough workers.  

Well, not if we fight back hard enough!  Keep calls going to Gov. Martinez' office at 505-476-2200 and say "balance the budget WITHOUT pay cuts to public employees!"

See another action call below: STOP Privatization of public sector jobs.

PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATES

ACT NOW TO STOP PRIVATIZATION OF YOUR JOBS!

In Unity!

This weekend, January 6,7, AFSCME members from the South stepped into the ring and completed the intro ELITE Academy Steward class at the Las Cruces Union Hall. Workplace stewards are the cornerstones of our union, able to jump in at a moments notice, and begin addressing grievances on the shop floor.

1/28 WORKSHOP TEACHES LOCAL COMMUNICATION and POLITICAL ACTION!

On Saturday, January 28, AFSCME Council 18 will hold it's annual "Powerful Communication = Political Power" ELITE Level II Workshop. Members are encouraged to contact Local leaders and GET SIGNED UP for this tactics and strategy based training. You'll learn the skills needed to help your Local win issues by engaging with city councils, county commissions, and the NM State legislature.

*It is not necessary to have taken ELITE Level I training in order to attend this political / communications, ELITE Level II, Part I workshop

See complete list of Spring 2017 ELITE Academy Leadership Trainings below.

AFSCME Local Members dig in and take the first step. Training to defending workplace rights by properly wielding the mighty union contract. Las Cruces AFSCME Hall Saturday. (L to R, Jose Garcia - Local 2094, Thad Brown - Local 3320, Rebecca Najera - Local 2094, Jacob Villegas - Local 2516, Lucio Caballero - Local 2061)

Simultaneously this Saturday, AFSCME joined a major Progressive Summit held in Albuquerque that gathered together 300 of New Mexico's finest activists representing Labor, Education, Social Justice, Conservation, Voting Rights, and more progressive organizations.

The work was aimed at forming action-based alliances for the upcoming legislative session and beyond. AFSCME and the New Mexico Federation of Labor presented during a breakout session to help the progressive community understand how winning on our union issues is essential for New Mexico to rise up. The Summit, hosted by ProgressNowNM, was held at the CNM Workforce Training Center.

Standing room only at the Progressive Summit held in Albuquerque, Saturday January 7, 2017.

The upcoming legislative session looks promising for AFSCME members. Because of your hard work, we have elected legislators who are dedicated to fighting to protect workers and strengthen public services.

We need your voice to help make sure laws are passed that help New Mexico fund the essential public services. Sign up for the ELITE class now.

In New Mexico, AFSCME Stewards have been defending and improving work-life since 1971. Become a defender! Be knowledgable and prepared to uphold workplace rights. SIGN UP for trainings in January through Spring.

Winter 2017:

Take the first step to become a steward.

SIGN UP - 505-266-2505

Be a Defender of Workplace Democracy

 

 

 

 

The AFSCME Free College Benefit

Learn more about the AFSCME Free College Benefit. CLICK HERE.It’s AFSCME’s mission to give you every advantage to get ahead. That’s why we’ve partnered with Eastern Gateway Community College. Through the AFSCME Free College benefit, you and your family members can now earn an associate degree completely online–for FREE.

ELITE Level II Part I

Communications, Political Action, Community Building / 1 day
When: Saturday, Jan 28, 2017 from 9AM - 5PM
Where: 1202 Pennsylvania St., NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110

ELITE Level I Part I

Level 1, Part 1 – Basic Steward Training / 2 day
When: Friday and Saturday, February 3, 4, 2017 from 9AM - 5PM
Where: AFSCME Union Hall, 1202 Pennsylvania St. NE, Albuquerque

ELITE Level I Part II

Level I, Part II – Grievance Handling, Disciplinary Actions / 1 day
When: Saturday, February  25, 2017 from 9AM - 5PM
Where: AFSCME Union Hall, 1202 Pennsylvania St. NE, Albuquerque

ELITE Level I Part I

Level 1, Part 1 – Basic Steward Training / 2 day
When: Friday and Saturday, March 17,18, 2017 from 9AM - 5PM
Where: AFSCME Union Hall, 1202 Pennsylvania St. NE, Albuquerque

ELITE Level IV

Level IV – Contract Negotiations Training / 2 day
When: Friday and Saturday, March 31, April 1, 2017 from 9AM - 5PM
Where: AFSCME Union Hall, 1202 Pennsylvania St. NE, Albuquerque

 

Class Schedule Updated HERE

In Unity!

Photo of the day!

Thanks to Eddie Castillo, Steward from AFSCME Southwest State Employees, Local 3973. He sent in this great photograph of NMDOT AFSCME brothers "working with what they have" to hold I-10 together between Deming and Lordsburg.

NMDOT Union highway maintenance workers are giving it all they have, but NM Roads have still suffered during this long period of budget cuts.

Message from AFSCME Council 18 Executive Director

Dear AFSCME Sisters and Brothers:

It has been two weeks since the local and national elections. New Mexico citizens voted in and, in many cases, returned strong labor candidates to office. Our state is now in a position to lift itself from the bottom of nearly every significant list.

At the national level, we can only speculate if candidate rhetoric to roll back worker rights, wages, and health and safety, to name but a few promises, will become reality. All of us hope that candidate talk is just talk. We hope leaders will use their election to better the lives of working families, strengthen communities, and value public services and the workers who dedicate their lives to providing those quality services.  However, post-election activity is signaling that this may not be the case.

Regardless how you cast your votes, AFSCME’s resolve to protect America’s workers, America's future, will not change. AFSCME never quits! AFSCME stands up and will get it on!

Council 18 volunteers turned out in record numbers to work this election: phone banking, door knocking, worksite conversations. It is this activism that made a difference in New Mexico's election and it is the same activism that will keep our union strong and our families protected.

Together we will stand up to any attempt to slash government services, de-fund programs for those in need, reverse regulations that protect the lives of workers, destabilize health programs, weaken jobs. Together we will bring more workers into our powerful union. Together we will mobilize more members on workplace issues. Together we will unite with our brothers and sisters in other unions, community organizations, faith communities, advocacy groups and others to win on the issues that impact us day in and day out. Together we will reverse the negative tone that has compromised our country and bring back civility and respect for one another.

We must not be content to just speak out on facebook, email, and other social media. We must connect face to face with our co-workers, participate in our local union, stand up for what is right, help build the fire lines that we will need to keep New Mexico and our country moving forward. And it is so important that we Involve our families because what affects us, impacts them.

Council 18 will be setting up regional town hall meetings to discuss the national implications and how we, together, will move forward with strength, pride and an unwavering commitment for our union, our voice.  We will succeed on moving our agenda forward for working families.

Are you in?

Email [[email protected]] and we will contact you soon with dates for the town hall meetings, as well as the date, time and location of your local union meetings.

We are in this together, sisters and brothers. This is our future. This is our time to write the history on how we stood tall and fought for our rights.

In solidarity,

Connie Derr
Executive Director, AFSCME Council 18
AFSCME International Vice President

UPDATE 11/15/2016 at 4:30PM

Message from your Union

 

HSD / ISD Employees,

 

OIG has ramped up their investigations relating to the systematic falsification of assets on SNAP applications to avoid late expedites.

 

THIS IS A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION: AFSCME strongly advises all member to CONTACT YOUR UNION REPRESENTATIVE BEFORE participating in any interview.

 

We understand the importance of getting to the bottom of this swamp. It will be unacceptable should frontline workers be scapegoated or held responsible for wrong doing that federal court proceedings revealed was directed from top levels of state government.

 

• AFSCME HALL - 505-266-2505

OIG and the USDA are now individually investigating HSD/ISD employees for criminal and disciplinary misconduct.

 

DON'T GO IT ALONE!

Because of the nature of these investigations it is imperative that you request union representation prior to going into the interview.

 

The notification below is what employees are receiving prior to going into interviews.
 

 

 

HSD Stewards, if you are contacted regarding this matter, please call your union President for direction. For more info call 505-266-2505.

 

Background:

 

AFSCME Members Blow Whistle and Stand Up for the People

KUNM Report on HSD Top Official Pleading Fifth

KUNM Report on How HSD Doctors and Denies Expedited Food Stamp Applications

 

NM Political Report: Falsification Escalates Under Martinez Administration

ABQ Journal: CONTEMPT!

Solidarity!

 

City of Belen Blue Collar Employees VOTE AFSCME

Congratulations to City of Belen blue collar employees who organized and voted overwhelmingly to form a union with AFSCME on July 28, 2016. The secret ballot election was conducted and supervised by Belen’s Labor Management Relations Board at the public library.

 

Despite intimidation tactics employed by upper management, who talked down the union and distributed misleading anti-union “fact” sheets, the organizing committee held strong and maintained good communication with 17+ bargaining unit employees.

Belen blue collar employees, who work in Streets, Water, Wastewater, and Solid Waste departments, will now focus their energy on negotiating a first contract.

City of Belen Union Organizing Committee Members (L to R): Paul Dominguez, Henry Jaramillo, Kenneth Reese, Robert Chavira, Rex Chaney

“We decided it was time to be treated more fairly, to make sure we earn wages that our families can survive on, to speak up, and try to get rid of the politics that are negatively affecting our jobs. So we organized.” - Rex Chaney, organizing committee member and City of Belen Level II Water Operator

 

One issue which drove the organizing effort was the disappearance of a raise approved and funded by city council last year. “Council had approved $87,000 that would’ve allowed for a good raise across the board,” said Joel Villareal, AFSCME Council 18 staff representative and lead negotiator for the Belen blue collar employees. “Somehow that money vanished and everyone received a nickel an hour instead.”

Villareal appeared alongside organizing committee members at the Belen City Council’s October meeting to introduce the union to council members and express the workers’ hopes that high paid management consultants wouldn’t be brought in to complicate negotiations.

The tone of that meeting soured quickly when one councilman spoke out in favor of hiring outside consultants, and indicated he thought Brother Villareal was committing an unfair labor practice by coming forward with an intention to intimidate the council into not hiring a notorious consulting firm.

AFSCME’s position has been consistent that existing city human resources and legal staff have the expertise to negotiate effectively and in good faith without the need to enlist the support of expensive union busting law firms.

"These firms have a disincentive to finish negotiating contracts," said Connie Derr, AFSCME Council 18 Executive Director. "The longer negotiations drag out, the more money these firms stand to rake in. They don’t only aim to bust unions, they end up busting already strained government budgets too.”

Brother Villareal responded to the councilman by insisting that “bringing up a concern is not an unfair labor practice...we find it ironic that city worker’s tax dollars are being used to fight against them.”

Belen currently has a contract with the Holcomb Law Firm out of Albuquerque for management consulting over labor issues. Prior to the organizing effort, they had only billed the city $240 through the middle of 2016. As the organizing effort went into high gear this summer, the consulting fees shot up over 1000% to $3000 for a five month period.

“Labor negotiations will take some time,“ said Villareal. “Holcomb Law just had their contract renewed and will be charging Belen taxpayers $150 to $175 per hour to lead these negotiations. Historically, we get things done more efficiently when dealing directly with City management."

“City staff know the budgets and they know the lay of the land. Using the consultants, Belen is sure to rack up tens of thousands in bills during negotiations. That money could be better used to fund city operations, or pay for those cost-of-living raises which councilors have approved in the past and somehow vanished.”

###

 

Brothers and Sisters,

New Mexico can rise up on November 8th. I don't know about you, but I'm deeply troubled by the continuous and dangerous cuts to public services being pushed by Governor Martinez and her allies.

These cuts are holding New Mexico down.

Please make your plan to be a voter. Our UNION votes can tip the scales and help elect candidates pledged to protect our jobs from outsourcing, our pensions from becoming 401Ks, and our communities from cuts.

See our AFSCME endorsement list below. [DOWNLOAD Here]

We desperately need to elect leaders committed to supporting working families. That means voting for our endorsed candidates from the top to the bottom of the ballot.

These candidates answered the questions correctly. They will have our backs. They stand for unions, and they stand for our families.

VOTE!

In Solidarity,

Connie Derr, Executive Director
AFSCME New Mexico

Your Union endorses these candidates:

###

TWO MORE PUBLIC SAFETY UNITS ORGANIZE WITH AFSCME COUNCIL18

New Public Safety Locals Will Continue to Raise Bar for New Mexico

It has been a busy summer for AFSCME Council 18 organizers and the public safety workers who united to organize under the AFSCME flag, ultimately bringing strong worker rights to more than 106 public safety officers!

In a two-day election on July 25 and 26, Rio Arriba County Detention Center Officers voted 12 to 2 to join AFSCME Council 18, covering 18 detention center officers.  And on August 18, Sandoval County Detention Center officers voted 40 to 4 to join Council 18, covering 56 officers, with an additional 32 officers on probation.          

The Rio Arriba County election was conducted by the New Mexico Public Employee Relations Board (PELRB), which officially certified the election results at their  August 9 board meeting. The Sandoval County election was conducted by the County Clerk’s office, in accordance with the Sandoval County Labor Management Relations Ordinance, and was certified by its Labor Management Relations Board on August 23.      

Sandoval County Detention Officers gather following their victorious union election. (L to R) Anita Apodaca, Dora Castillo, Connie Derr - AFSCME Council 18 Executive Director, and Olga Esquibel

“Both of these elections were overwhelming wins for the officers and for AFSCME.  The results tell you that in order to make a stronger, better–run facility, public safety officers must be at the table and in the discussion.  With the extremely high vacancy rates and, in the case of Sandoval County where one-third of the officers have less than a year of experience on the job, the stability of a union contract will go along way to help with the retention and recruitment problems,” said Connie Derr, Council 18 Executive Director. “We are thrilled to welcome the public safety officers in Rio Arriba and Sandoval counties to the AFSCME family!"

Following these successful elections, AFSCME is gathering input from all of the bargaining unit-eligible officers for the first contract, which lay out all terms and conditions of employment.  

AFSCME Council 18 Senior Staff Representative Rocky Gutierrez, who has bargained more than 25 contracts for Council 18 local unions, will serve as chief spokesman for the AFSCME Rio Arriba County bargaining team.  “While County Manager Tomas Campos has publicly reported the county will spend (at least) $30,000 to fight the workers’ issues in negotiations, tax-payer dollars are better invested in its personnel and facility.”

Rio Arriba County Senior Detention Officer and AFSCME organizing committee member, Guy Jordan said that officers have been working towards this victory for 14 years.

“The County had been very skilled at disrupting our previous organizing efforts,” said Jordan, a 14 year officer for Rio Arriba County. “Commissioners and upper level managers are upset we’ve organized, and have said that our ‘union will cause nothing but problems.’ For the other officers and myself, the years-long problems of denying us overtime pay, failing to provide needed training, or avoiding the need to create vital safety policies, those are the only problems that matter and that we’ll be addressing through our union.”

Another RACDC officer and organizing committee member, Santana Bustamante, pointed to other health and safety concerns to be addressed through the bargaining process. “Staffing issues have caused the county to hold officers over for 24 hour shifts. We need a voice in order to stand up for what is fair.” said Bustamante. AFSCME points to research that says 24-hour shifts are dangerous for officers’ well-being and facility safety. British journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine researchers in Australia and New Zealand report that sleep deprivation can have some of the same hazardous effects as being drunk. Getting less than 6 hours a night can affect coordination, reaction time and judgment, posing “a very serious risk.”

Sandoval County Detention Center officers will also see vast improvements thanks to a collective union voice. Officers have for years expressed their concerns over serious health and safety lapses inside the facility. Exposed electric wires, painted over black mold, a burgeoning rodent population, and even documented brown recluse spider bites hint at the issues which Officers are demanding be addressed.

Officers raising health and safety issues in the past were subjected to disparate treatment or retaliation. AFSCME is investigating the justification for denying detention officers a funded July raise when other county employees received the retroactive raise.

 

 

“Primarily, what we organized for, and what we want is to have a better, safer work environment that is fair for everybody,” said Anita Apodaca, a 12 year detention officer and organizing committee member. “Addressing issues individually has been frowned upon. Now, as a union, our unity has grown stronger, and we hope to negotiate improvements.”

Rob Trombley, who serves as Council 18's public safety coordinator and has also bargained numerous contracts for Council 18 local unions, will serve as chief spokesman for the AFSCME Sandoval County bargaining team.

STATE HSD ATTORNEYS "APPROPRIATE" TO BE IN UNION

On August 5, the PELRB hearing officer issued his Report and Recommended Decision recommending Council 18's Petition for Clarification be granted for attorneys / lawyers in the Child Support Enforcement Division of the Human Services Department.  The council filed the petition on October 22, 2015 for approximately 30 attorneys, after which the State unsuccessfully argued several motions, including whether AFSCME is the exclusive representative and that there has been no change in circumstance. The merits hearing was held on February 18 and May 20.  The State has appealed the final decision and that appeal is heard by the PELRB on September 13.    

The State used the same arguments for Council 18's March 8, 2016 Petition for Clarification for Home Health Aide Supervisors and Psychiatric Tech Supervisors working at the Los Lunas  Community Program for the Department of Health, which the hearing officer has dismissed.  The merits hearing on this petition should be scheduled after the September 13 Board meeting.

###

Union Brothers and Sisters,

Gov. Martinez and the House Republicans tried to balance the budget largely by cutting workers' pay and stealing from the pension fund. Thanks to your calls, emails, and AFSCME being at the Roundhouse throughout the session, our Democratic allies in the House and a bipartisan coalition in the Senate were able to stop pay-cuts, furloughs, layoffs, and pension raids -- for now.

State agencies must now figure out how to handle nearly $190 Million in cuts to this year's operating budgets. The 60 day legislative session beginning in January will be brutal IF WE DON'T TAKE BACK THE HOUSE in November!

This has gone on long enough! Here are three things every Union member needs to do right now:

1. JOIN PEOPLE HERE
2. Register to VOTE HERE
3. Go VOTE EARLY for UNION endorsed candidates

Gov. Martinez and House Republicans have succeeded in hacking public service budgets straight to the bone while coddling the wealthy and large out-of state corporations. Not one solitary tax loophole was closed. The rich and powerful friends of the Governor were held harmless from paying their share during this crisis.

"JOINING as a PEOPLE member allows us to increase the political power for everyday workers and our families.

Step up to the plate if you like your job! For the price of ONE cup of coffee a week, you'll help take back the NM House of Representatives for working New Mexicans."

- Ken Long - President Local 1211, Department of Transportation, Highway Maintainer

WE CAN pass fair taxation laws, and close ridiculous tax giveaways for the rich so that wicked and harmful cuts to public services end.

Gov. Martinez and House Republicans have bankrupted the state over the last few years, turning a healthy $300 million surplus into a $460 million deficit. Those of you working for the state or a university live through those cuts every day.

We must now brace for more cuts in 2017, because Republicans insist on not only keeping all the tax cuts they've given to rich Wall Street gamblers and out-of-state corporations, but they actually just voted to lower corporate tax rates further over the next few years.  

Most agencies will now face cuts of 5.5% to this year’s budgets. University costs are going to go up, and every last bit of reserves and unspent money is gone.

We hate saying that one party or the other is to blame, but every single Republican in both chambers voted to lower corporate tax rates during this crisis as we struggle to keep public services afloat. Democrats voted overwhelmingly to make rich out-of-state corporations pay their fair-share and help solve Gov. Martinez' mess.

Instead of Republicans giving money to rich Wall Street players and big corporations, we should be taking that money and using it to prevent crimes by investing in the work that AFSCME members do, from CYFD to police to corrections to social services to K-12 and higher education.  

To distract voters from the economic disaster Republicans have brought upon our families, Gov. Martinez will try to make this election about the death penalty.

Whether you agree with the death penalty or not, the truth is that New Mexico has only executed one person in the last 30 years and spent over $100 million on death penalty cases. As we attempt to solve this budget crisis, it is a huge distraction from the high crime and terrible economy Gov. Martinez, House Republicans, and Albuquerque Mayor R.J. Berry have created in New Mexico.

"I fight every day to protect and better the lives of New Mexico children whose lives have turned upside-down.

We don't have to take more cuts if we don't want to. We don't have to risk paycuts, cuts to our facility resources, or layoffs in the next fiscal year.

We cannot stand by and watch our state get driven into bankruptcy and high crime.

Join PEOPLE. GO vote on the entire House and Senate this year, and for governor in 2018."

- Ben Chavez, President Local 1536, YPO II, Intake Officer - Bernalillo County Youth Services Center

In Solidarity

The last day to register (or re-register at your new address if you've moved) is Tuesday, October 11th.  You can go to www.sos.state.nm.us to register or re-register, but do it today, and make sure you have a plan to vote on or before November 8th.

 

###

AFSCME Never Quits, and our VOICES count! ***Prepare for ACTION**  We must stand against CUTS, furloughs, or layoffs during Special Session.

AFSCME expects Governor Martinez will continue to hide from her failed policies during the special session to address $200 million budget shortfall. (see Senate Press Release below)

AFSCME knows that Governor Martinez will want everything on the table as far as cuts go, and she'll fight against fair taxes for the very rich or ending harmful tax loopholes for wealthy out-of-state corporations.

We know this could mean a battle against CUTS, Furloughs, or Layoffs. CLICK HERE to join our political action team. AFSCME will be ready to protect our careers and that means YOUR VOICE!

Please step up and be ready for action by signing up HERE. We must be prepared and vocal in our support for legislators support us, like Leader Michael Sanchez, who always advocates for public employees and services we provide.

 

Governor Martinez's failed policies of cutting taxes for the very rich and out of state corporations and not investing in vital public services has driven our state budget off a cliff.  Our State University system is weathering severe cuts. Vital services such has behavioral health and medicaid are being starved out. Public safety is being left behind and threatens to make our state less safe. People struggling with poverty have been systematically oppressed as the Martinez administration conspired to rob them of their food assistance.

 

This isn’t leadership, this is irresponsible and we all deserve better.

July 26, 2016

Contact: Isaac Padilla
Office: 505/986.4819
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Senate Democrats Push Governor to Convene Emergency Special Session of Legislature to Fix State Budget; Caucus Rules Out Any Cuts to K-12 Public Education or Higher Ed

CLICK to read on website

(Santa Fe, NM) – Senate Democrats today called on Governor Susana Martinez to convene the New Mexico Legislature in an emergency special session to fix the quickly expanding budget deficit that has resulted from plummeting state revenues. A new report last week revealed that the State spent between $150 – $200 million more than it had budgeted in the fiscal year that just ended, and the year ahead looks even worse. Senate Democrats also vowed to oppose any proposal to cut public school classroom funds or higher education for universities or colleges in the course of addressing the budget crisis.

“The longer the Governor delays in calling back the Legislature to deal with this pressing crisis, the worse it is going to be for children, families and communities across New Mexico. It is irresponsible to think that we can continue to kick the can down the road. We are already spending money we do not have,” said Democratic Senate Majority Floor Leader, Senator Michael S. Sanchez (D-29-Bernalillo and Valencia).

In response to Senate Democrats’ call last week for convening a special session of the State Legislature, House Republicans denied that the state is slipping into financial crisis, and rejected urgent action. According to a recent article, Republican legislative leaders and the administration have advised taking a deep breath:

‘“We need to be looking at it,” but once final numbers are in for the year just ended,’ likely at the end of August or early September. – Rep. Larry Larrañaga (R-Albuquerque), House Appropriations and Finance Committee Chairman [Albuquerque Journal, July 21st, 2016]

“The longer we wait, the bigger the hole we will have to fill. It appears the Administration and House Republicans are encouraging delay in dealing with the situation. Waiting until August or September will not change the fact that revenue has continued to decline. There isn’t any evidence to suggest that trend suddenly changed in June,” said Democratic Senate Whip, Michael Padilla (D-Bernalillo-14).

In recent days, however, diverse support for a special session of the Legislature to deal with the budget crisis has grown.  New Mexico’s Republican State Land Commissioner, Aubrey Dunn; State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg; Republican State Senator, Steve Neville, and the Albuquerque Journal editorial pages have all indicated that a meeting of the Legislature must occur sooner rather than later.

The state Constitution prohibits deficit spending and many believe both cuts and an increase in revenue will be required to resolve the current financial crisis. Senate Democrats remain committed to taking the necessary steps to balancing the budget but oppose any cuts to education.

“We will not support any cuts to K-12 or higher education,” Sen. Sanchez said. “We refuse to balance the budget on the backs of children and families who want their kids to be educated through high school and college. We ask House Republicans and the Governor to join us in that commitment.”

Falling tax revenues have put the State budget in crisis. Swift action by both the Executive and the Legislature is needed to avoid deficit spending for the continued operation of schools, prisons, public health care, public safety and other essential State services in the current 2017 Fiscal Year, which could see a shortfall of between $300 – $500 million.

###

"If I'm working in the trench, and a valve blows, I know these guys have my back and will pull me out. Paying Union dues is the same thing...we must have each others backs." - Joey Sanchez, AFSCME Local 624 Board Member & Volunteer Member Organizer

AFSCME Member Organizers Build Membership and Local Power

AFSCME Local 624, Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, Utility Techs, (L to R) Joey Sanchez, Robert Ramirez, Michael Brown

Member Organizers Spotlight

Santa Fe County Detention Center, Local 1413 President, Daniel Solis and Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, Local 624 executive board member and activist, Joey Sanchez are the June / July volunteer members organizers of the month. They've gone above and beyond to build their Local membership, keep rank and file members informed, and help them find pathways for taking action to improve union careers.

Daniel Solis, President of Local 1413, Santa Fe County Detention Center, credits his fellow detention center officers for building the kind of solidarity and unified purpose which has led to his Local reaching a 99% membership level.

"Our Local had a rough beginning. We filed (and won) half a dozen labor charges against the county to let them know we were serious," says Solis. "By including membership in the tough decisions, we've set a direction for our Local that helped build solidarity."

Detention center employees voted to have AFSCME be their exclusive bargaining representative over another competing organization in 2014.  Members who were active in the previous organization report that there is unification among the officers that hadn't existed before. Led by President Solis, Local 1413 executive board members and activists recently held a series of actions to build membership.

"We stood at the gates in the morning to meet and speak with members about the issues we face and how we are working to improve things," said Solis. "The organizing drive lasted a week, and we signed up 29 new members."

[NEXT UP for Local 1413: contract negotiations where Pres. Solis and his membership intend to push for a better retirement benefit and improved recruitment efforts by the county to address high vacancy levels.]

Joey Sanchez, Local 624 Executive Board, spent a long time working as a water utility operator before deciding to become active in his union. "I wanted to see more out of our contract negotiations team," says Sanchez. "But how could I blame those guys if I wasn't involved myself?"

Brother Sanchez began attending meetings and earned a spot on the contract negotiations team. That was only the beginning though according to Sanchez. "I began talking about the union at work. I told the guys, 'don't just trust me, trust yourself. Come to the meetings, make sure for yourselves that we're doing our jobs.'"

Brother Sanchez, a married father with two children, is a career water operator of 20 years. He draws a parallel between the dangerous work of maintaining a large water system and union activism. "If I'm working in the trench, and injured after a valve blows, I know these guys have my back and will pull me out. Paying Union dues is the same thing. Whether we're fighting a grievance, or negotiating for important contract language, paying union dues is the way we protect one another and watch each others backs."

Recent organizing efforts by Brother Sanchez signed up 17 new members for Local 624, ABCWUA.

"We've seen a lot of good careers disappear in this country," says Sanchez. "I plan to keep fighting through the union to protect the good jobs that remain. We have to continue the fight for our kids."

[Thanks to a strong membership, Local 624 - ABCWUA negotiations team recently struck an agreement with the employer which includes a 6.5% hourly wage increase over three years]

###

AFSCME Council 18 News

*update May 13, 2016

"It's ALL coming from Santa Fe" That was the testimony that rang out loud and clear from Judge Garza's U.S District Court today in Las Cruces as State Employees, one after another, testified under oath that the Human Services Department is directing people to violate federal law by denying Medicaid and Food Assistance to New Mexico People in need.

97! That is the number times Deputy Secretary of Child Support Laura Galindo, Income Support Division Director Marilynn Martinez, and ISD County Director Emily Floyd invoked the 5th amendment to avoid self incrimination when asked questions regarding several alleged violations of Federal Law around the failure to deliver medicaid and food assitance. 

Full Update Later...

AFSCME Council 18 News
*updated May 12, 2016

Las Cruces, NM - New Mexico's public safety-net systems continue to flounder under the Governor Martinez Administration. Evidence is mounting that deliberate and not accidental neglect by administration officials is to blame.

In an April 8 column New Mexico Behavioral Health Suspension Was 'A Manufactured Crisis,' U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich calls for a Federal investigation into what led to the false accusations of 15 behavioral health service providers.

AFSCME couldn't agree more, the Martinez administration needs higher level oversight at several agencies, and behavioral health is only the tip of the iceberg.

On Friday, May 13, during a U.S. Federal District Court hearing in Las Cruces, the New Mexico Center for Law and Poverty will finish laying out a case that the Human Services Department (HSD) needs a federal monitor. A Federal monitor's oversight will ensure there is no funny business taking place when hungry people apply for medical or food assistance.

AFSCME Income Support Division employees have stepped forward to blow the whistle and testify to ongoing and inappropriate practices that violate federal law and are resulting in people being wrongly kicked-off the roles for Medicaid or denied expedited food assistance.

The testimony is being heard as part of a federal case requesting the appointment of an expert to oversee certain divisions of HSD to ensure the State of New Mexico is exercising due diligence in its efforts to abide by the 1991 Federal Court order to bring basic processing of medical and food assistance benefits into compliance with federal law.

The allegations, which are arising from every corner of the state, say that high-level administration officials are directing lower level management to falsify application information to make New Mexico's numbers look favorable to avoid Federal scrutiny.

"There is a lot of fear and intimidation discouraging employees to testify about the questionable inner workings of New Mexico's Medicaid and food assistance programs," said Chris Armijo, AFSCME staff representative. "But that hasn't stopped all of our Family Assistance Analysts (FAAs) from doing the righteous thing by stepping forward and testifying in Federal Court."

On the heels of the April 28, 2016, Court hearing, the Human Services Department announced their own Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation. AFSCME had concerns over the OIG investigation, believing it would only lead to further intimidation. In fact, the inspector general has been conducting unbiased and fair interviews with HSD employees. In addition to the Inspector General's investigation, the State Auditor Keller also announced his office would conduct a separate and independent investigation into the allegations.

On April 28, 2016, five Human Service Department / Income Support Division employees testified in United States District Court to the truth about what is happening inside the SNAP and Medicaid application process.

What came out in testimony? (see below for more details)

• ISD employees are directed by high level Martinez administration officials to falsify assets of people applying for expedited food stamps.

• Hearing ends after High level Martinez administration deputy director goes to consult attorney on whether or not to invoke 5th Amendment against self-incrimination
  

Even though these five brave AFSCME state employees -- including a line-manager -- are under federal subpoena and have whistleblower protection, AFSCME has serious concerns about retaliation.

That is why AFSCME sought more ISD employees to stand up and testify following the April 28 hearing. Earlier in April, AFSCME sent a letter to the USDA that oversees the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) asking them to investigate what was happening in New Mexico.

Read AFSCME Letter to USDA asking for an investigation of ISD HERE

An email response from Bill Ludwig, Regional Administrator of the USDA Southwest Region confirmed that they were aware of the issues and the court case and the USDA has planned in the near future management evaluations of the program.

Recent Media Coverage:

KOB-TV Ch4 Whistleblower speaks out about food stamp fraud

NM Political Report Employees say HSD asked them to falsify SNAP applications

Santa Fe New Mexican State workers admit fudging numbers to deny food aid to poor

AFSCME is encouraging ISD workers to speak out, either through the Court under federal whistleblower protections,with the HSD inspector general, or the State Auditor's investigation. By standing up together, and now, AFSCME believes whistleblowers are better protected from retaliation, and the people of New Mexico who desperately need food and medical assistance benefits will be better taken care of and respected.

Sworn testimony detailed the following practices are occurring at income support division field offices across the state:

A. Intentional Manipulation of client assets during the ASPEN income support application process with express intent to affect the expedite certification approval system,

B. Management at several levels of authority are directing employees, either verbally or in writing, to manipulate client assets in order to make application processing appear timely

Much more came out in testimony detailing how the State practices and policy are in violation of Federal law. These practices are robbing poor, senior, and low income working people of SNAP and medicaid benefits.

*AFSCME will update this story with details from the May 13, 2016 Court hearing.

New Mexico may continue to lose experienced Correctional Officers because of the State Personnel Office’s (SPO) flawed implementation of the Corrections department compensation overhaul plan.

 

The Corrections Department deserves a hearty pat on the back for accomplishing the miracle of improving pay for new recruits and more recent hires during a disastrous budget year. Retaining those newer hires must be a top priority for healing NM Corrections.

However, if security is the number one priority, then SPO has failed in part to abide by the intent of language in the state budget by not also raising the pay of New Mexico’s dedicated career correctional officers.

 

Specifically looking at page 10 of the 3/31/16 Corrections Occupational Pay Line, the plan identifies a cost of $3.5 million to bring 557 Corrections Officers up to the new minimum pay of 34K/yr.

 

$400K has been allocated to improve salaries for higher level management. AFSCME members are expressing their opinion that those positions are not truly hard to recruit or retain and not an appropriate use of the department’s limited budget resources.

 

Nowhere in the plan does it address the remaining 489 COs currently on the job who are theoretically making above minimum, but possibly well below the new midpoint.

 

During his presentation at the May 11, 2016 Legislative Finance Committee meeting in Santa Fe, Justin Najaka, Director of State Personnel Office, acknowledged that wage compaction between newer COs and career COs is an issue that his office would be addressing with future budget requests for the fiscal year 2018 budget.

Senator Carlos R. Cisneros (D-Questa) applauded the action by SPO to raise the compensation for the lowest paid at corrections, but also cautioned that the plan will result in some negative consequences due to mid-level paid employees who will see no raise whatsoever.

Pg 126, Line 5 of the state budget [HERE: FY2017 Budget HB2] specifically addresses the purpose of the moneys to improve retention among custody staff. Lines 4 and 5 make it abundantly clear that a top priority of the $4.5 million was to reduce compaction. The reality of SPOs plan will see compaction made worse this year.

 

 

 

 

New Mexico Corrections Department officials told AFSCME today that their intention is to return to the legislature and request further funding to raise up career employees left behind by this first phase implementation.

 

In many cases, this newly launched plan will lift newer employees to a pay level equal to far more experienced officers who they're working alongside.

 

It appears that SPO may be about to miss the mark once again in a move that will cause divisiveness and another crisis in morale as New Mexico’s most senior experienced officers are passed over for a pay adjustment that reflects their experience.
 

 

Here’s the entire 13 page NMCD compensation plan from SPO. [download PDF: SPO CORRECTION Compensation Overhaul]

It is 100% true that SPO and NMCD garnered union support and advocacy for the compensation overhaul plan at NMCD by expressly informing the union that more senior corrections officers would realize a pay increase as a component of the overhaul plan.

 

CO’s who lobbied hardest for the funding for raises are the very one who will be left out under this current plan.
 

 

“These are the same officers who were tasked to do more with less in recent years,” said Rob Trombley, AFSCME Public Safety Coordinator. “The same officers who went above an beyond and kept the prisons safe during a time when chronic vacancies exposed the officers to a greater threat of violence, escapes, and risk of harm to themselves, the public, and inmates.”

Cabinet Secretary Gregg Marcantel appeared before the legislature in early 2016 to lobby for the increased funding for NMCD. The Secretary said at the time, “...for the love of god” he needed this funding to avoid a catastrophic failure within the system.

AFSCME appreciates the essential task to raise wages for our newest and incoming Correctional Officers immediately. However, SPOs choice to include upper level management in the plan to boost salaries and avoid altogether long serving COs below midpoint is negligent.

The specter of leaving 489 dedicated COs behind, who deserve and have earned a competitive pay raise, should scare the hell out of anyone who has been paying attention to the realities within our crowded, understaffed, and under-maintained prisons.

###

 

AFSCME New Mexico Public Safety members helped to produce this documentary about the true spirit of law enforcement in America.

 

Local 601 President Adam Keck and Local 923 President Sammy Marquez assisted in production for the New Mexico filming, recruited community members to appear in the filming, and appear in the final production.

Proud To Protect and Serve

AFSCME Law Enforcement Documentary

AFSCME Council 18 is glad to share this film with you today in honor of National Police Week, and in memory of dedicated Peace Officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Peace Officers Memorial Day is May 15th.

In Unity

 

New Mexico may continue to lose experienced Correctional Officers because of the State Personnel Office’s (SPO) flawed implementation of the Corrections department compensation overhaul plan.
 

 

The Corrections Department deserves a hearty pat on the back for accomplishing the miracle of improving pay for new recruits and more recent hires during a disastrous budget year. Retaining those newer hires must be a top priority for healing NM Corrections.

However, if security is the number one priority, then SPO has failed in part to abide by the intent of language in the state budget by not also raising the pay of New Mexico’s dedicated career correctional officers.

 

Specifically looking at page 10 of the 3/31/16 Corrections Occupational Pay Line, the plan identifies a cost of $3.5 million to bring 557 Corrections Officers up to the new minimum pay of 34K/yr.
 

 

$400K has been allocated to improve salaries for higher level management. AFSCME members are expressing their opinion that those positions are not truly hard to recruit or retain and not an appropriate use of the department’s limited budget resources.
 

 

Nowhere in the plan does it address the remaining 489 COs currently on the job who are theoretically making above minimum, but possibly well below the new midpoint.

 

CO’s who lobbied hardest for the funding for raises are the very one who will be left out under this current plan.

“These are the same officers who were tasked to do more with less in recent years,” said Rob Trombley, AFSCME Public Safety Coordinator. “The same officers who went above an beyond and kept the prisons safe during a time when chronic vacancies exposed the officers to a greater threat of violence, escapes, and risk of harm to themselves, the public, and inmates.”

 

During his presentation at the May 11, 2016 Legislative Finance Committee meeting in Santa Fe, Justin Najaka, Director of State Personnel Office, acknowledged that wage compaction between newer COs and career COs is an issue that his office would be addressing with future requests for the fiscal year 2018 budget.

 

Senator Carlos R. Cisneros (D-Questa) applauded the action by SPO to raise the compensation for the lowest paid at corrections, but also cautioned that the plan will result in some negative consequences due to mid-level paid employees who will see no raise whatsoever.
 

Pg 126, Line 5 of the state budget [HERE: FY2017 Budget HB2] specifically addresses the purpose of the moneys to improve retention among custody staff. Lines 4 and 5 make it abundantly clear that a top priority of the $4.5 million was to reduce compaction. The reality of SPOs plan will see compaction made worse this year.

 

 

 

 

New Mexico Corrections Department officials told AFSCME today that their intention is to return to the legislature and request further funding to raise up career employees left behind by this first phase implementation.

 

In many cases, this newly launched plan will lift newer employees to a pay level equal to far more experienced officers who they're working alongside.

 

It appears that SPO may be about to miss the mark once again in a move that will cause divisiveness and another crisis in morale as New Mexico’s most senior experienced officers are passed over for a pay adjustment that reflects their experience.
 

 

Here’s the entire 13 page NMCD compensation plan from SPO. [download PDF: SPO CORRECTION Compensation Overhaul]

It is 100% true that SPO and NMCD garnered union support and advocacy for the compensation overhaul plan at NMCD by expressly informing the union that more senior corrections officers would realize a pay increase as a component of the overhaul plan.

 

 

 

Cabinet Secretary Gregg Marcantel appeared before the legislature in early 2016 to lobby for the increased funding for NMCD. The Secretary said at the time, “...for the love of god” he needed this funding to avoid a catastrophic failure within the system.

AFSCME appreciates the essential task to raise wages for our newest and incoming Correctional Officers immediately. However, SPOs choice to include upper level management in the plan to boost salaries and avoid altogether long serving COs below midpoint is negligent.

The specter of leaving 489 dedicated COs behind, who deserve and have earned a competitive pay raise, should scare the hell out of anyone who has been paying attention to the realities within our crowded, understaffed, and under-maintained prisons.

###

We know that the road has been long, that change has come too slow, and that Income Support Division (ISD) staff are under unacceptable pressures to do their jobs in the face of systematic ambush.

AFSCME has send this letter to the USDA requesting they investigate the systemic failures that have gone unaddressed by the Martinez administration for too long.

CLICK to DOWNLOAD the AFSCME letter (PDF).

CLICK here to READ about the April 28 Court case where New Mexico Center for Law and Poverty is requesting a Federal Monitor to oversee ISD. AFSCME members and ISD staff are under federal subpeona to reveal the truth of what is happening within the system.

Watch this page for updates following the Federal Court hearing.

April 11, 2016
For immediate release
contact Miles Conway
505-455-2853

 

New Mexico Labor Celebrates Obama Designation of New National Monument

Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument was Birth Site of 19th Amendment - Women's Right to Vote

40 New Mexico leading women send letter of thanks to President Obama for historic action

The New Mexico Federation of Labor, AFSCME New Mexico, and AFT New Mexico are joining leaders from across New Mexico and the nation in celebration of President Obama’s announcement to establish the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument as a unit of the National Park Service.

The Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument was the site from which Alice Paul, one of the greatest women’s rights advocates and political strategists in American history, led the National Woman’s Party in securing the right for women to vote through the passage and ratification of the 19th amendment in 1919-1920.  

As a National Monument, the site will ensure future generations can explore the important contributions women had in shaping equal rights in our country. The building currently is home to the most extensive collection of suffrage and equal rights movement artifacts in America, including historic documents, banners, sashes, and newsletters.

“The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 18, say ‘thank you’ to President Obama and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. This [National Monument] designation forever bestows a proper recognition upon a pivotal chapter in American history,” said Connie Derr, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 18 in New Mexico. “Every union woman across our nation who continues the struggle for women’s equality will know the history and enduring lessons which the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument can deliver. Its establishment within the National Park Service system ensures that future generations of young women leaders will know of the sacrifice and bravery which our suffragist sisters demonstrated in order to bring about the 19th amendment and set the roots for an American Civil Rights Movement.”

"Generations of working women have benefited from the rights granted to women as a direct result of the advocacy of Alice Paul and countless others who took a stand for equity, fairness, and justice. We, as working women, and in particular union women, have an obligation to continue the struggles that have been on-going for so many years.  Our work is not yet complete, but we commit to continue the fight on behalf of all women and future generations to come. The designation of the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument is an important reminder of this on-going work," said Stephanie Ly, President, American Federation of Teachers New Mexico.

“The Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument is a living symbol which reminds today’s generation that we build upon the victories of our predecessors. Today’s fight for equity, through the Paycheck Fairness Act, grew out of yesterday’s effort to win the Equal Rights Amendment and prior to that, the battle for ratification of the 19th amendment. They’re all connected,” said Maxine Velasquez, Secretary Treasurer of the New Mexico Federation of Labor.

Other New Mexicans joining in celebration of the new National Monument include 40 leading women in public service and business who sent a letter to President Obama today thanking him for taking this historic action.

The President used his authority under the Antiquities Act to add Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument to our National Park System as a National Monument. Since its passage in 1906, this bipartisan law has been used by sixteen U.S. Presidents, eight Republicans and eight Democrats, to declare 146 national monuments (prior to today). More information about today’s announcement is available from the U.S. Department of Interior.

###

 

 

  

In this update:

• Luna County Public Safety Employees ORGANIZING with AFSCME; County violates workers’ rights
• AFSCME members fight for competitive pay funding during Legislative Session
• AFSCME fights and wins for New Mexico's corrections, detention, and law enforcement officers to continue PERA accrual credit when injured on job (HB43)
• Belen Police Officers’ Union Local 601 engages with city leaders, Chief resigns
• Doña Ana County Detention Officers’ Union Local 1529 adopt Legal Defense Plan

 

Luna County Public Safety Employees Want to Join AFSCME!

Luna County public safety employees are organizing with AFSCME! Elections will be conducted by the New Mexico Public Employee Labor Relations Board in the very near future. Unfortunately, in response to the employees’ effort to have a voice in the workplace, the county is wasting tax-payer dollars to hire help to fight the workers. But, the anti-worker tactics by Luna County administration is having the opposite effect. The employees, who protect the citizens’ of the county day in and day out, are not  caving in to the threatening tactics and are standing tall.  Keep an eye on the www.afscme18.org  website for updates and what you can do to help.

NMCD: TAKING ACTION Makes the Difference in Disastrous Budget Year

Help is on the way for public safety officers with the NM Corrections and CYFD. On February, 29 2016 the Governor signed the budget containing raises for some of our state's most difficult to recruit and retain jobs, including corrections officers and child welfare inspectors.

A sliding scale wage increase is expected in July.

 

Beginning with the 7th annual Blue Breakfast and Lobby Day on January 21, and continuing with the 1st Annual Red & Green Lobby Day on February (which brought the two powerful unions of AFSCME and CWA together for one strong voice), and lobbying efforts through the end of the legislative session,  AFSCME public safety members made their voices heard this legislative session!

(pictured right to left,  Local 3422 President Lee Ortega, Local 3422 Secretary-Treasurer Charles Navarro, and Council 18 Executive Director Connie Derr, prior to an AFSCME press conference on February 10  at the Roundhouse.)

AFSCME Public Safety members called attention to major safety concerns by delivering to legislators nearly 1,000 petition signatures, written testimonials from COs and their families, held press conferences, wrote letters and visited legislators in the effort to galvanize political will for including corrections raises in a stripped down 2017 budget.  

Listen to Dateline New Mexico radio segment - AFSCME Public Safety Press Conference, Click HERE 

PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY WORKERS 

House Bill 43 (Rep. Rehm, R-Albuquerque) represented quality bipartisan legislating at its best. Our corrections officers, both at the state and county level, as well as AFSCME police members, will be able to continue to accrue PERA service credit and to continue health coverage if injured in the line of duty. AFSCME is proud to have supported this legislation over the last few years, and we look forward to expanding the number of job classifications covered by this law in years ahead.

 

22 year Albuquerque City Security Officer and Local 1888 Member, Patrick Gutierrez

Another bill, House Bill 142, which was sponsored by AFSCME friend Rep. Doreen Gallegos (D-Las Cruces), would have enhanced penalties for assaulting CYFD employees.  AFSCME vigorously supported CYFD's Department Secretary to push this bill through the House and through all its Senate committees, but it failed to receive an up-or-down vote in classic cross-chamber, cross-party crossfire on the last morning of the session. We intend to work with several departments to bring the bill up in 2017, and will work to include additional job classifications.

Belen Police  Officers’ Union Local 601 Calls on City Council to Address Issues, Chief Resigns

The Belen Police Officers’ Union Local 601 membership, led by President Adam Keck, recently called on Belen City Council and city leaders to create and execute a strategic plan of action to improve conditions within the Belen Police Department. Union members determined that they weren't getting satisfactory responses from the chief and that significant changes were necessary in order to improve quality of life in Belen.

The membership, by a unanimous vote at a March 2016 meeting, chose to send a list of concerns and suggestions for improving conditions at the Belen Police Department (BPD) which would allow officers to better patrol the community of Belen, cause jobs to be safer, and confront the unacceptable, and rising issues of violent crime and drug abuse within the city.

City Council members met Monday to consider the local's call for action. On Monday evening word reached Local 601 leadership that the Chief had resigned.

Local 601 looks forward to working more closely with the next Chief to improve  policies and address deficiencies for more effective law enforcement in Belen.

Doña Ana County Detention Officers ’ Union Local 1529  Vote to Join Legal Defense Fund

Dona Ana County Detention Officers’ Union Local 1529 voted in early February by overwhelming majority to join the PORAC Legal Defense Fund. The program provides legal representation for any civil or criminal charge against a member for an act within their scope of employment, which is defined as anything the officer is hired to do, trained to do, or paid to do. The majority of AFSCME Council 18’s public safety locals already provide this AFSCME members-only benefit.

In Unity!

 

AFSCME members bow their heads this week and send our thoughts and prayers to the families, and for the two souls whose lives were tragically cut short on March 14th.

CLICK HERE to view obituary and memorial info

May their loved ones find strength and some comfort in the closeness of family during this very sad time of grief.

Fellow workers of the fallen men, District 4-Roy Maintenance Patrol 44-57, will gather for their critical stress debrief on Thursday. Anyone touched by this tragid loss is encouraged to phone the NM Department of Transportation or AFSCME Union at 505-266-2505.

With shared tears, and in solidarity,

AFSCME Council 18 Executive Board and Staff

2 New Mexico Highway Workers Struck, Killed by Motorist
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ROY, N.M. — Mar 14, 2016, 9:30 PM ET

Authorities say two state transportation worker are dead after being struck by a motorist while working in northeastern New Mexico.

State police say the workers were repairing potholes along State Road 120 in Harding County when they were hit Monday.

The investigation is ongoing. State police didn't release any further details or say whether the driver would face charges.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation identified the workers as Anthony Rivera of Rainsville and David Eggert of Wagon Mound. Both were stationed with the department's Roy patrol.

Transportation Secretary Tom Church says the men were hard workers and will be missed. He offered the department's sympathies and prayers to the men's families.
Church says the tragedy is a reminder that transportation workers have difficult jobs and are at risk each day.

###

 

TWO MEETINGS!

AFSCME Local 3999 Union Mtg: Tuesday 3/29 at 5:30PM, *NEW* AFSCME Hall: 1420 Cerrillos Rd - Let's WORK together to protect our JOBS!

AFSCME Local 3999 PRESS Conference: Wednesday 3/30 at 6:15pm outside City Council Chambers: Advocating for Long Term Protections of City Services

City council is poised to consider new tax measures that would help us deliver city services. These measures are IMPORTANT for us and we need to take action and support sensible measures increasing revenue.

City leaders are reluctant to pass tax increases because they face a lot of organized opposition. On the other hand, unless UNION MEMBERS speak up, councilors can be highly motivated to balance budgets on the backs of workers or cut services.

Only by speaking up, and telling city leaders what we do for our city, can budget cuts prove less painful for our families! SIGN PETITION below:

AFSCME members have launched a petition calling on city leaders to:

• ensure cuts to vacant positions and services do not adversely affect the health and safety of residents and workers, and are equitably distributed among each sector of public services to include non-union, Management, Fire, Police, and the AFSCME bargaining units
   
• Negotiate in good faith with ALL unions representing Santa Fe City Employees to identify which vacancies will be eliminated in order to minimize disruption of public services
   
• Abandon plans calling for well-paying public careers and services to be outsourced

Please sign in support of City of Santa Fe AFSCME Local 3999 Union employees. CLICK HERE

SCROLL to bottom to download paper versions of petitions and INFO sheet.

We are concerned that budget-cutting decisions being considered by City leaders and City Council members will have negative impacts on quality of services provided and public service jobs which city employees count on to sustain their families in and around the City of Santa Fe.

Looking solely at full-time equivalents (FTEs) leads to an incomplete and inaccurate assessment of the city’s efficiency, perpetuating the myth that city government is bloated.

According to data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, total costs of compensation for state and local workers account for about 44 percent of state and local spending. The Chamber of Commerce reported that Santa Fe spends about a third of its budget on wages and benefits, which is certainly not out of line with the national average.

If we actually compare apples to apples, Santa Fe is in line with other similar cities.

READ 2/17 SF New Mexican Article "City budget shortfall grows to $18M"

READ most recent ABQ Journal Article dispelling SF myth that Santa Fe has too many workers, CLICK

The city hires more Parks and Recreation FTEs per 1,000 residents than other similarly-sized cities. But if we look Parks and Recreation staff per park acre, the city is in line with its peers.

DOWNLOAD this Report (PDF 140K)

A number of cities in the chamber’s report don’t operate their own utilities. The services might be provided by another government entity or a private operator. This skews the total FTE comparison.

If we look solely at cities that do operate the same utilities as Santa Fe (water, wastewater, and solid waste), the average is 2.7 public utility FTEs per 1,000 residents. Santa Fe is comparable with 3.0 public utility FTEs per 1,000 residents. If we take all the vacancies into account, the city is actually operating with less than average utility FTEs.

READ Friday ABQ Journal Coverage: reveals much of SF Chamber Report is Sham

Note also that most utility positions and other positions related to the city’s bustiness-type activities, are positions that can be self-sustained with service charges and fees.

Transportation FTE figures are not comparable. Most of the other cities in the chamber’s report does do not employee airport transport workers or parking attendants. And it is unclear how many parking facilities each city operates, if any.

Service quality and availability as well as the services’ value to the community needs to be considered.

For example, the city hires more library staff than other similarly-sized cities. But Santa Fe libraries are more heavily used than other city libraries.The city offers on average, 10 more hours of service a week. On average, Santa Fe sees 11.4 library visits per resident each year, compared to only 5 visits for other peer cities. It is clear that the city has an exceptional library system.

Arts and Culture FTEs are higher than average due to heavy investment in tourism and preserving the city’s heritage. Santa Fe is the state capital and tourism is the primary driver of the local economy, which is not the case for most of the other peer cities.

Some of the cities included aren’t even of “similar size.” Lubbock and Des Moines both have over 200,000 residents; Colorado Springs has over 400,000 residents; and Omaha has over 500,000.

Addressing the Structural Deficit: We Need Balanced Solutions

AFSCME is committed to continue collaborating with city stakeholders to identify balanced solutions for closing the structural deficit.

AFSCME is in agreement with several of the chamber’s recommendations.

It is undeniable that cutting staff means cutting services. However, AFSCME advocates not filling vacancies when it is not disruptive to providing important services.

The city is expecting savings over the next several years due to efficiencies created through improved software and other technology. AFSCME advocates for the investment in staff training to maximize efficiencies.

In particular, the city should consider not filling management vacancies in order to flatten hierarchies. Many state and local governments have looked into increasing efficiency by decreasing the number of managers. For example in 2011, Phoenix adjusted its span of control, from a supervisor to employee ratio of 1 to 5.3 to a ratio of 1 to 8.1.The union supports efforts to incentivize early retirement and voluntary exits. There are currently 36 workers who have been with the city since at least 1990. Their retirements would save the city about 2 million.

As the Chamber recommended, AFSCME is looking forward to working with the city to identify opportunities to save on contracted services and to potentially insource certain operations. The current total cost of contracted services amounts to 20 million.

• AFSCME agrees that overtime for noncritical operations should be limited.
  
• AFSCME agrees strongly that improved debt management can bring in significant savings (about 2 to 3 million).
  
• AFSMCE supports many of the Chamber’s recommendations to generate more revenue:
  
• Capture GRT revenue on high-dollar retail sales that are purchased in person and then shipped out of state
  
• Stronger enforcement of short-term rentals licensingMore aggressive collection of unpaid fees
  
• Examine opportunities to increase fees

While the transfer of funds from the city’s enterprise funds has been controversial, the city’s business-type activities have generated surpluses and accumulated significant reserves over the years. This resource should be utilized while the city undergoes the institutional changes necessary to close the structural deficit.

The Chamber points to the water enterprises “operating losses.” However, after accounting for intergovernmental revenue (state shared grants and taxes) and transfers to other funds, the waste water management fund generated a 1.1 million surplus and the water management fund generated 2 million surplus before transfers. Together these two funds hold over 100 million in cash and cash equivalents as of the end of FY2014.

The Chamber describes Solid Waste operations a “marginally profitable.” After accounting for intergovernmental revenues and transfers, the fund generated a surplus of 1.6 million in FY2014.

March 2016 Public Safety News

In this update:

• Corrections wins funding for competitive pay at legislature
• HB43 PASSES! NM Corrections, Detention, and Law Enforcement Officers will now continue to accrue PERA credit when injured on job 
• Local 601 Belen PD engages with city leaders, Chief resigns
• Doña Ana County votes for legal defense plan

NMCD: TAKING ACTION Makes the Difference in Disastrous Budget Year

Help is on the way for NM Corrections and CYFD. AFSCME Public Safety members can take heart today as Governor Martinez signed the budget containing raises for some of our state's most difficult to recruit and retain jobs, including corrections officers and child welfare inspectors.

A sliding scale wage increase is expected in July.

Beginning with the 7th annual Blue Breakfast and Lobby Day, and culminating with the 1st Annual Red & Green Lobby Day, AFSCME public safety members made their voices heard this legislative session.

AFSCME Public Safety members called attention to major safety concerns by delivering to legislators nearly 1,000 petition signatures and written testimonials from COs and their families, held press conferences, wrote letters and visited legislators in the effort to galvanize political will for including corrections raises in a stripped down 2017 budget.  

See the Save New Mexico Corrections Petitions that helped win July 2016 Raises, CLICK HERE

Listen to Dateline New Mexico radio segment - AFSCME Public Safety PressConference, click HERE 

PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY WORKERS

House Bill 43 (Rep. Rehm, R-Albuquerque) represented quality bipartisan legislating at its best. Our corrections officers, both at the state and county level, as well as AFSCME police members, will be able to continue to accrue PERA service credit and to continue health coverage if injured in the line of duty. AFSCME is proud to have supported this legislation over the last few years, and we look forward to expanding the number of job classifications covered by this law in years ahead.

Another bill, House Bill 142, which was sponsored by AFSCME friend Rep. Doreen Gallegos (D-Las Cruces), would have enhanced penalties for assaulting CYFD employees. We were proud to partner with CYFD's Secretary to push this bill through the House and through all its Senate committees, but it failed to receive an up-or-down vote in classic cross-chamber, cross-party crossfire on the last morning of the session. We intend to work with several departments to bring the bill up in 2017, and will work to include additional job classifications.

Belen Police Department, AFSCME Local 601 Calls on City Council to Address Issues, Chief Resigns

Local 601 membership, led by President Adam Keck, recently called on Belen City Council and city leaders to create and execute a strategic plan of action to improve conditions within the Belen Police Department. Union members felt that they weren't getting satisfactory response from the chief and that significant changes were necessary in order to improve quality of life in Belen.

The membership, by a unanimous vote at a March 2016 meeting, chose to send a list of our concerns and suggestions for improving conditions at the Belen Police Department (BPD) which would allow officers to better patrol the community of Belen, cause jobs to be safer, and confront the unacceptable, and rising issues of violent crime and drug abuse within our city.

City Council members met Monday to consider the Local's call for action. On Monday evening, word reached Local 601 leadership that the Chief had resigned. 

The Local looks forward to working more closely with the next Chief to improve policy and the effectiveness of law enforcement in Belen.

Doña Ana County Detention Officers Vote to Join Legal Defense Fund

Detention Officers at Doña Ana County voted by overwhelming majority to join the PORAC Legal Defense Fund. The program provides legal representation for any civil or criminal charge against a member for an act within their scope of employment, which is defined as anything the officer is hired to do, trained to do, or paid to do. The majority of AFSCME Council 18’s public safety locals already provide this AFSCME members-only benefit.

In Unity!

AFSCME members and retirees are breathing a sigh of relief after surviving another series of attacks by Republican Governor Susana Martinez and the Republican controlled House of Representatives in Santa Fe.

 

During the session, New Mexico Labor mobilized thousands of calls, letters, emails, and personal visits to key legislators to ensure that collective bargaining was protected. 

AFSCME members joined CWA members for the first annual  Red & Green Rally at the Roundhouse, on Saturday, February 6. Council 18 President Casey Padilla (pictured below) kicked-off the mid-morning rally by reminding the more than 200 members that “when union members are active, positive change happens!” 

 

Please send a quick word of thanks to our legislators in the House and the Senate who stood with working families this session! Sign a Thank You Petition here!

Labor leaders and legislators from around the state addressed the rowdy crowd. Every single speaker emphasized the importance of the 2016 elections. Jon Hendry, president of the New Mexico Federation of Labor, reminded the crowd that “the health of our communities, the rights of public employees, and the progress of the State of New Mexico depends on labor getting out the vote to support those who support New Mexicans.”

NMFL President Jon Hendry stressing the importance of the 2016 elections.

AFSCME members listen to speakers at the Red & Green Rally

Our New Mexico Legislative champions spent time visiting and listening to AFSCME membership concerns around delivery of public services during and after the rally.

Representative Moe Maestas (D - Albuquerque), who has always been a steadfast supporter of public employees, speaking with union members.

Representative Bill McCamley (D - Las Cruces) delivered a passionate speech calling for a return to reason at the legislature.

“We must improve the compensation system for state employees and employees in higher education,” said AFSCME Council 18 Executive Director Connie Derr, “but the special interests of this Governor and those who support her agenda is not moving New Mexico forward. Their actions will have consequences in the fall elections!”

AFSCME Council 18 Executive Director Connie Derr calling out the State Personnel Office for lack of transparency on a recruitment and retention plan.

Following the rally, the members sought out their elected leaders offices and called on them to invest in the people and services that make New Mexico run. Members highlighted the direct impact that state workers have on the wellbeing of New Mexico communities.

AFSCME members getting ready to lobby their elected leaders in the Roundhouse.

SUMMARY of 52nd Legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - Second Session 2016

There were dozens of bills, big and small, introduced that affected workers in the 2016 session. Given the sharp divide between Democratic, pro-worker Senate and the corporate GOP House and virulently anti-worker GOP Governor, the session predictably ended mostly in stalemate.

Please send a quick word of thanks to our legislators in the House and the Senate who stood with working families this session! Sign a Thank You Petition here!

Key takeaway: while workers were mostly protected this year, and even made some small gains, anti-worker forces are gearing up for a full Republican takeover of the legislature in 2016, meaning virtually all worker protections, benefits, pay, and even job security would be at risk beginning as soon as January 2017.

This session was a clear a wake-up call that without massive member and retiree mobilization in the summer and fall of 2016, workers stand to lose decades worth of victories. WITH member participation, we stand to enter into a new era of progress and can begin to make up for 6 years of neglect and abuse under the Martinez administration.

SO-CALLED "RIGHT TO WORK"

Most importantly, for the second year in a row the Democratic-controlled Senate killed so-called "right to work" legislation on a party line vote in the Senate Public Affairs Committee, with dozens of AFSCME members joining about 75 other union members in the committee room.

PENSION ATTACKS

Two bad bills aimed to undermine the health of our pensions. One which would have reinstated double dipping for law enforcement and another which would have seized pensions from any public employee committing certain violations, each died with AFSCME's help.

THANK legislators who stood with us to protect our GREAT retirement system! Sign a Thank You here!

House Bill 171 (Rep. Larranaga, R-Albuquerque) sadly made it through the House, with many Republicans who had formerly been supportive of PERA deciding to curry political favor with Albuquerque's GOP Mayor R.J. Berry by supporting double dipping.

Virtually all Dems stood with AFSCME and our allies in the Albuquerque Police Officers Association in opposing the bill. Fortunately, we had a few Republican senators ready to join all the Dems in the Senate Public Affairs Committee to kill it, so the sponsors decided not to show up to present the bill. AFSCME testified in every committee in the House and rounded up nearly unanimous Democratic support on the House floor, and also testified in SPAC.

We were able to kill a second bad pension-related bill, House Bill 278 (Rep. Cook, R-Ruidoso). This bill had some merit, in that it would have stopped pension payments for elected officials convicted of crimes of corruption in the course of fulfilling their elected duties. However, it was far too broad as finally presented to the House floor, and would have imposed a massively disproportionate financial penalty to rank and file public employees for even one mistake.

BUDGET

As oil and gas prices plummeted, the once-promising surplus turned into a potentially devastating deficit. New Mexico would have been much better positioned to absorb a downturn in energy prices had Gov. Martinez and her conservative allies in the legislature not given hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate welfare tax breaks over the last few sessions.

We were able to successfully protect legislative proposals in House Bill 2 (the budget bill) to increase public safety pay, including for Corrections, and to increase CYFD and Corrections staffing, but when the Governor and House Republicans start with a pay freeze for all other state employees even when there was a projected surplus, there was no chance of across-the-board raises once the surplus vanished.

Key take away: elections matter! Over the last four fiscal years, even when significant surpluses were projected, Republican legislators and Republican Governor Susana Martinez pushed for pay cuts or pay freezes for most all state and university employees. Elections matter, and have direct impacts on the wallets of AFSCME members!

MINIMUM WAGE, SICK LEAVE, AND OTHER WORKER PROTECTIONS

Republican control of the governor's office and House ensured that there would be no discussion of a minimum wage increase for a sixth straight year. AFSCME and our community allies successfully blocked a terrible "pre-emption" bill (House Bill 211) that would have given a drastic pay cut to every worker earning minimum wage in those cities which have raised the minimum. The bill would have also prohibited cities and counties from passing rules requiring paid sick or vacation days, or enacting any other regulation to help workers.

Likewise, AFSCME joined with our sisters and brothers in the building trades to defeat a repeal of existing prevailing wage legislation (House Bill 200). HB200, or the “Paycheck Reduction Act” would’ve resulted in a 30% pay cut for our brothers and sisters in the construction trade.

In Unity!

For Immediate Release
Miles Conway 505-455-2853

Saturday’s Violent Incident Inside Prison Underscores Need for Legislature to Address Crisis of Vacancies at NM Corrections

NMCD in a catch-22: shutting down prison posts that enable safe family visits allows understaffed correctional officers to get needed rest, but has created a more violent prison population

Santa Fe, NM - On Saturday, February 6, just as nearly 100 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) members were rallying at the state capitol building in support of increased funding to address dangerous understaffing inside New Mexico’s correctional facilities, a dangerous situation was developing at one of the state-run facilities.

Inmates became violent Saturday afternoon, and caused a critical incident, nearly causing officers to deploy gas and lethal force in order to regain order inside the prison.

AFSCME, who represents NM state correctional officers (COs) and support staff, understands fully the intent of the newly launched New Mexico Corrections Department program, “Operation Recovery and Staff Wellness,” aimed at giving COs much needed recovery time, but the reality is that the program has backfired in its first week.

Correctional officers’ primary goal is to keep conditions inside the prison system safe and calm. Elements of the new program, launched last week, involve shuttering special rehabilitation program posts and family visits one week per month so that officers can rest, and remain focused on critical security.

Current high vacancy rates are addressed by requiring officers work 72 hour work weeks, making adequate recovery time impossible. AFSCME believes that the new program is well intended, but represents a bandaid for a wound that can only be healed by hiring more officers across the state and increasing pay significantly to help stem the high rate of attrition plaguing the department.

AFSCME sees a direct link between Saturday’s incident and Governor Martinez’s policies affecting state employment. Officers are concerned that conditions will worsen if the GOP’s “feel good” bills become law, locking up more people up in prison without giving the department resources necessary to carry out these mandates.

“With money for corrections included in the current proposed budget, we are finally at the point where we can begin to address the issue with low pay and high turnover,” said AFSCME Council 18 Political Coordinator Josh Anderson. “Unfortunately, the Governor’s focus on increasing criminal penalties before addressing the challenges we face in corrections is putting the cart before the horse and could have us, once again, asking our COs to do more with less.”

Senator Michael Sanchez and Senator John Arthur Smith have taken what AFSCME believes is a responsible and reasonable approach to balance the budget, invest on public safety, and pass laws that will help New Mexicans, not grab headlines and play ‘cops and robbers’ politics with New Mexico public safety.

“These posts being shut down caused the prison population to become more agitated, as officers expected. It was a well intended effort to rest the officers, but resulted in the violent incident we saw Saturday,” said Rob Trombley, AFSCME New Mexico public safety coordinator. “On Saturday afternoon we witnessed inmates improvising armor and masks in preparation for combat with officers. It was a close call, and we have serious concerns moving forward, because conditions in the prison are ripe for trouble.”

At approximately 2 pm on Saturday, one officer was inside a prison area serving food to inmates. Inmates were already agitated due to recent notice that posts allowing them to have visitation with family and other programs were being shut down. Inmates begin hurling food trays. A call for assistance went out from the control room as the Officer serving lunch quickly retreated the area and a security door was locked.

A team of six officers responded and commanded the inmates to return to their cells and close their doors. It became necessary for officers to follow a protocol informing inmates that if they did not comply, gas and lethal force would be deployed.

The entire incident lasted only five minutes and nobody was injured. However, upon entering the inmate area, the response team found multiple doors unsecured and video later confirmed inmates were preparing to fight with officers by improvising masks and armor.

AFSCME has learned that there was another similar incident around the same time in another area of the prison, and had things gotten out of control between inmates and the first response team, that staffing was too thin inside the facility that day to allow quick deployment of a backup response team.

Short staffing is the root of the problem, and hiring more officers is badly needed in order to run the programs which actually rehabilitate the prisoners, and create as safe an environment as possible to protect the officers, inmates, and the public.

AFSCME members delivered over 900 petition signatures on Saturday with hundreds of testimonials from officers detailing the challenges they’re facing everyday.

The petition / comments are available online: https://www.scribd.com/doc/298325934/Save-New-Mexico-Corrections

AFSCME Blog Post on Saturday Rally http://afscme18.org/index.cfm?action=article&articleID=5BCF8643-F1EE-4C52-98BF-87C6AEED7B99

SCROLL down to read comments from NM Corrections Officers and the families they rarely see...

New Mexico's State Corrections system is teetering on the edge of crisis. Corrections employees need decisive action NOW from the Governor and Legislature to foster a safer, well-run system. It's mission critical for our state government.

To: Governor Martinez Administration and NM Legislature

Corrections Officers have one of the toughest jobs out there, and scientific studies back up that fact.
New Mexico's State Corrections system is teetering on the edge of crisis. Corrections employees need decisive action NOW from the Governor and Legislature to foster a safer, well-run system. It's mission critical for our state government.

The NM Corrections system currently languishes under severe vacancy levels, with several facilities operating with 40% vacancy rates. A result, Corrections Officers are working maximum level (72) hours of mandatory overtime, weekly, at some facilities. This work schedule prevents officers from having adequate time for recovery, self care, or their families.

Resulting fatigue, stress, and break-down of well-being, commonly referred to as “corrections fatigue” is a major factor increasing the dangers of accidents or incidents at work.

NM Corrections Officer pay remains uncompetitive and below the median income level for corrections officers (nationally and regionally). Low pay is a major factor preventing the department from recruiting and retaining men and women into the career. The domino effects created by heavy workloads and high vacancies are undermining the department’s mission.

Through its Labor Management Committee, the New Mexico Corrections Department and AFSCME have recognize all these life and death realities and agreed that addressing them need to be an urgent priority.

AFSCME strongly calls upon Governor Martinez, her administration, and the NM Legislature to tackle the issue of corrections fatigue by working with the union, and one another to develop and implement concrete strategies and solutions addressing the crisis.

  Save New Mexico Corrections by Miles Dylan Conway

AFSCME Statement Regarding Taos County "Runaway Shop" / PPC 120-12 before the PELRB

     Dedicated union employees working for Emergency Medical Services, Adult and Juvenile Detention Facilities in Taos County are experiencing what we refer to in the labor movement as a "runaway shop". A runaway shop is characterized as a workplace where quality of management has been corrupted and managers have fallen into a cycle where unwarranted discipline is dispensed rampantly; where management engages in systematic retaliation against employees who are perceived as questioning compromised management style.

    Often, at times like these, management points the finger at the workers' union for playing a role in making things worse. AFSCME Council 18 condemns any assertion along these lines in the strongest terms possible. Local leaders have filed a number of grievances in an attempt to mitigate a hostile work environment and protect employees' rights at EMS, JDC and ADC. In the midst of a runaway shop, union leaders are compelled to use EVERY tool at their disposal to protect employees rights, livelihood and quite frankly, their safety.

     Outspoken employees are being targeted by management and as a result, employees have closed ranks standing in support of these leaders. In one especially egregious attack by management, where the deepest level of an employee's character was brought into question, an overwhelming majority of the employees in that division spoke up in support of their fellow worker.

      Taos News has reported on the rash of top level county government firings that have occurred over the past months. What does not make the news are the front line employees who have also been fired, quit, or transferred.

     The PPC which AFSCME Council 18 filed specifically addresses the County's move ignoring shift bidding practices protected by collective bargaining agreements. Without these rules being adhered to, employees are seeing schedules and work assignments changed arbitrarily without sufficient notice or in compliance with contract language. Management has used the opportunity to avoid paying overtime, splitting shifts, and reassign employees to far flung work areas as a form of punishment.

     AFSCME Council 18 is responding due to great concern that unprofessional alliances between elected leaders and county employees have set in motion the abuse of civic responsibility, with front line employees, Taos County citizens, and public safety bearing the brunt of the consequences.

Community Demands Sheriff Dan Houston Apologize to Women & Resign

Tue, Oct-16-2012

New Mexican women stand in solidarity and demand the resignation of Sheriff Houston for his disparaging remarks and illegal actions against women

      AFSCME Members working under Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston have a list of grievances a mile long. Well aware of a disdain for the labor movement, AFSCME members mount active resistance to his clandestine efforts to diminish worker’s’ rights and voices on the job. It was not a surprise when Albuquerque Journal broke a story October 11, detailing Houston’s disparaging remarks directed at women working in his department.

      Houston admits calling women working for him. "A couple of whores." He told the Albuquerque Journal that he called another Hispanic woman a "fat slob," said a breast cancer victim couldn't have had cancer because "her breasts are too small," and another woman couldn't have been sexually harassed because she's too plain. When a Hispanic female employee blew the whistle, he fired her.

     Bernalillo County Court Specialists filed a discrimination lawsuit againsty the Sheriff and department which has been transferred to Federal Magistrate Court. Pending sexual harrasment charges against Houston’s chief deputy, EEOC charges from early 2012, and another Houston top Leutenant on a “performance improvement plan” for stalking allegations, paint a clear picture that Houston’s regime is in need of serious overhaul.

     On Friday, October 12th a group of concerned women and community members held a press conference outside of the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office and demanded the resignation of Sheriff Dan Houston. This group not only aimed to hold Sheriff Houston accountable for the remarks he has made against women, but delivered letters from community members demanding his resignation. Speakers included Dr. Martha Burk, former Chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations who led the effort to open the Augusta National Golf Club to women, and Micaela Cadena of Young Women United.

     Community members displayed a three-foot poster of Sheriff Dan Houston and the remarks he made against women and held smaller posters and signs calling for his resignation.

     "In New Mexico, we will not stand for this type of sexist and bigoted behavior by anyone, let alone our elected officials," said Marsha Garcia, Hispano Media Director with ProgressNow New Mexico. "Not only were the comments and actions made by Sheriff Dan Houston completely unacceptable, but he did this against the very people he was elected to serve and protect. We will not allow this behavior to go on one more day. We demand the resignation of Sheriff Dan Houston, Bernalillo County deserves better!"

     Considering the laundry list of grievances on Sheriff Houston’s watch, AFSCME members agree that a change in leadership in Bernalillo County Public Safety is right on target.

Background: http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2012/10/11/news/sheriff-sued-over-firing.html and http://www.progressnownm.org/blog/2012/10/a-couple-of-whores.html
 

Congressman Lujan Attends Dedication of AFSCME Hall to Speaker Ben Lujan and Carmen Lujan

Fri, Sep-28-2012

"Those are the lessons we learn from labor, when there's someone in need, we step forward." Congressman Lujan shared these words while accepting an award on behalf of his father, Speaker Lujan, for his lifetime of work fighting for working people.

The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 18 honored long time Speaker of the House Ben Lujan and his highly respected wife, Carmen Lujan in a dedication ceremony on Saturday, Sept 22nd. AFSCME’s main meeting hall at 1202 Pennsylvania NE, Albuquerque was be dedicated with a plaque and named “Lujan Union Hall” after the venerable couple.

The ceremony will ran from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., followed by the Lujan family and union members canvassing and phone-banking on behalf of candidates who want to carry on the Speaker's work as he retires from the legislature.

The Speaker and Mrs. Lujan’s son, Congressman Ben Ray Lujan, attended to represent the family. AFSCME members and several NM State Representatives paid tribute with personal stories of how the Speaker has made a real, tangible difference in union members' lives.

Speaker and Carmen Lujan and have long been revered as champions for working families throughout New Mexico, and are held in high esteem by AFSCME and the state’s labor movement. Speaker Lujan himself was a union iron worker at the Los Alamos Laboratory early in his career.

“He not only believes in the missions that union workers--and all workers--carry out every day, but he believes deeply in giving those workers a path to America's great middle class,” said Carter Bundy, political and legislative director for AFSCME in New Mexico.

Speaker Lujan announced his three year fight against lung cancer in January at the start of the Legislative session and did not run for reelection. He believes his cancer is a direct result of years of exposure to asbestos while working at the lab.

The Speakers legacy includes work strengthening laws protecting building trades, manufacturing, educational, and public sector employees. “His battles have been our battles, and our battles have been his battles. He hasn't just been a political leader, he has been a leader in the movement for basic human rights, civil rights, and social and economic justice,” concluded Bundy.

ABQ Journal Publishes AFSCME Op-Ed by Secretary-Treasurer Saunders
Economic Justice Key Part of Dream

Tue, Jan-17-2012

By Lee A. Saunders / Secretary-Treasurer, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO on Mon, Jan 16, 2012

Thousands of New Mexicans will join their fellow citizens across America today in honoring Martin Luther King Jr., who still stands as our greatest symbol of progress, and whose courage transformed our nation. While New Mexico and the rest of the country claw out of the worst recession since the Great Depression, Dr. King’s legacy has the power to inspire a new generation to fight for justice and ensure New Mexico and the rest of the country thrive and grow.

On what would have been Dr. King’s 83rd birthday, his words continue to ring true for America and many here in New Mexico. During the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, he spoke of Americans living “in a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity.”

That same problem remains today. Middle- and lower-income Americans have been hit especially hard in the downturn, and thousand of working families, including many here in New Mexico, continue to lose their homes because of high unemployment rates.

As New Mexicans turn out for parades or events in Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Santa Fe, they will remember a leader who not only championed civil rights but also economic justice. Both were essential parts of his Dream for America. That is why he fought so strongly for the right of American workers to organize and bargain collectively. He was a longtime supporter of unions and understood the role of organized labor in creating the middle class. As he said in a 1961 speech to the delegates at the AFL-CIO Convention: “Our needs are identical with labor’s needs.”

AFSCME, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, had an especially close bond with Dr. King. On three occasions in 1968 he traveled to Memphis to stand with the sanitation workers of AFSCME Local 1733 – 1,300 men who went on strike to secure their right to collective bargaining. They were public employees earning poverty wages, working long days in backbreaking labor. When the workers went on strike they were risking everything. But the signs they carried, “I AM A MAN,” made it clear: Their action was about much more than wages. It was also about dignity.

Dr. King understood. “All labor has dignity,” he told the AFSCME members in Memphis. “You are reminding the nation that it is a crime for people to live in this rich nation and receive starvation wages.” Dr. King recognized that civil rights and workers’ rights are intertwined. If workers do not have a voice in the workplace or the right to stand up for themselves to negotiate at the bargaining table, then the voices of some people – those with wealth and power – matter more than others.

Dr. King would be gratified today that New Mexicans and their fellow citizens share his commitment to justice. Moreover, they are mobilizing in numbers that have been rarely seen since the 1960s. Throughout the country we see the beginnings of a social justice movement that will reinvigorate and revive Dr. King’s hope for a community where all Americans work together for the common good.

This movement has brought together working families, civil rights organizations, church groups, students, environmentalists, the LGBT community and others to counter the efforts of those who have tried to turn back the clock to a time when only the powerful had a voice and a future. As we commemorate Dr. King on his birthday, we need to remember the challenge he posed to all of us: to create a nation that provides every citizen with the opportunity to stand with dignity. We need to be involved in this struggle and to do everything in our power to revive the dream for which Dr. King gave his life.

Lee A. Saunders is the secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, a labor union that represents 1.6 million workers across the United States, including 13,000 public employees and health care workers in New Mexico.

Lots of News Coverage for Our Recent Clean Water Jobs Coalition Press Conference!

Tue, Dec-13-2011
 Coalition Pushes NM Lawmakers To Support Jobs Act -- KOAT

http://www.koat.com/news/29980477/detail.html

Coalition Pushing for N.M. Congressional Members To Support Jobs Bill -- ABQ Journal via AP

http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2011/12/12/abqnewsseeker/coalition-pushing-for-n-m-congressional-members-to-support-jobs-act.html

Coalition pushes NM lawmakers to support jobs act -- KOB

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S2410166.shtml?cat=504

Coalition pushes lawmakers to support jobs act -- KRQE

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/politics/coalition-pushes-lawmakers-to-support-jobs-act?utm_source=feedburner

Santa Fe Reporter Article About State Contract Bargaining

http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/article-6457-tense-talks.html
Thu, Dec-8-2011

Tense Talks: Organized labor accuses the state of subtle union busting
By Joey Peters

To the three public employee unions currently negotiating new state contracts, the state’s offers are nothing more than the governor’s latest sneer toward organized labor.

Though they’ve been at the table since the summer, both sides “haven’t even begun to address 75 percent of the contract” for Communications Workers of America members, according to Robin Gould, a lead negotiator for CWA. The Fraternal Order of Police and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees have similar perspectives.

“We haven’t gotten to the major issues yet,” David Heshley, executive director of the FOP’s state lodge, tells SFR. “I’m not expecting anything to get done [this month], and we’ve been going since July.”

Every three years, each union collectively bargains for new contracts with the state. Altogether, they represent just over 10,000 employees, although CWA political coordinator Miles Conway says past contracts have affected as many as 26,000 state employees.

The three unions’ current contracts expire Dec. 31, although an “evergreen” rule allows them to extend beyond the expiration date while negotiations continue.

This time, though, the state’s proposals are more far-reaching, prompting lengthy negotiations. They include eliminating requirements for employee breaks, ending employees’ abilities to use sick time to care for family members and cutting the unions’ power to contest negative performance evaluations, among others.

One proposal calls for eliminating all contract rules that overlap with State Personnel Office rules, Jakob Schiller, an AFSCME spokesman, says. Employee sick time accrual rates, for example, are spelled out both in the current AFSCME contract and Personnel Office rules.

Schiller argues that keeping Personnel Office rules in union-negotiated contracts serves a purpose: They bind the state to enforcing them. He fears that the Personnel Office could change its own rules at any point, putting employee benefits at the agency’s mercy.

Schiller also laments the state’s proposal to strike the words “fairness” and “equitable” from the new contract. 
“They’re arguing those are suggestive terms,” he tells SFR. “We’re saying, ‘Who wouldn’t want “fair” and “equitable” in any contract?’”

Gould blames a state strategy to “start from scratch,” rather than build off of current contracts.

“We were quite shocked,” Gould tells SFR. “The proposal from the state eliminated half of the contract.”

But Gene Moser, director of the State Personnel Office, says building completely off of past contracts is unfair to taxpayers because the state is subject to giving union employees perks that nonunion employees don’t have. Some union employees, he says, are paid to do union work on the state’s dime.

The state built off of prior contracts during the last two negotiations, held under former Gov. Bill Richardson in 2006 and 2009. In neither case did the state request givebacks (cuts from previously won benefits). Robert Tinnin, an Albuquerque lawyer who consulted with the state during both contract negotiations, says the decision not to ask for givebacks was a “huge concession to the unions.”

Though Gould says her union wasn’t expecting anything different this time around, the sluggish economy may be affecting the state’s proposals.

“It’s probably partly because of the economic situation, and everyone is feeling that impact,” Heshley says.

Miles Conway, a political coordinator for CWA, suggests a more sinister motive coming from Management Associates, the Albuquerque firm hired by the state to help negotiate the new contracts.

“They are the go-to union-busting firm in New Mexico,” Conway says.

Although Gould says previous, separate negotiations she undertook with Management Associates went well, Schiller says current discussions over four Albuquerque city contracts involving AFSCME and Management Associates are officially in impasse. That means both sides must weigh in on a randomly chosen arbitrator, who in turn picks one side’s proposal over the other.

The state’s contract with Management Associates, which Moser says it won through a standard bidding process, is worth up to $250,000 over fiscal years 2012 and 2013. The firm, which works jointly with SPO, charges the state $125 an hour for professional labor services and $150 an hour for legal services, public money that comes from gross receipts taxes.

The firm’s lawyers refused to discuss the current negotiations with SFR.

Moser estimates his side is meeting with the three unions at least three times a month. Hiring a private contractor to help with negotiations—a point of contention from the union side—is nothing new, he says, dismissing any criticism as the unions “blowing smoke.”

Before this year, the state contracted with Tinnin’s law firm to negotiate union contracts, although he didn’t play a direct role in negotiations for the previous two contracts.

“I was aware of what was going on,” Tinnin says about the previous two negotiations. “I was consulted, but was not at the table.”

Tinnin’s behind-the-scenes role cemented as the relationship between the unions and the state “matured,” he says. Before, Gov. Gary Johnson refused to renew the collective bargaining law, which had expired in 1999. In 2003, Richardson and the state Legislature reaffirmed it.

Now, the unions are accusing Martinez of attempting to take away as much power as possible from the unions, albeit in more subtle ways than the governors of Wisconsin and Ohio.

“Martinez doesn’t control the [state] Senate or the House, so it’s a long shot for her to strip collective bargaining legislatively,” Conway says. “But we do bargain with the executive branch.”

As protests over collective bargaining rights exploded in Wisconsin in February, Martinez fired every member of the state Public Employee Labor Relations Board, to the detriment of local unions. In April, the state Supreme Court found her firing of two board members unconstitutional.

This summer, CWA Local 7076 President Michelle Lewis was laid off from her position in the Public Education Department. (She was later offered another department job at lower pay.) By fall, Expo New Mexico had cut Maxine Velasquez, the secretary-treasurer of New Mexico Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. Martinez’ office has stated that the cuts had nothing to do with employees’ roles in organized labor.

Allthough previous negotiations took less time—roughly three to six months—Moser says the current discussions are still far from impasse. In the meantime, though, talks are slow going.

“Each side feels they’re correct in their positions,” Moser says. “It’s tedious right now.”
 

Council 18 Speaks Out Against Gov's Decision to Cut Flex Time

AFSCME Council 18 is speaking out against Governor Martinez's vindictive decision to cut flex time for state employees. Both the Albuquerque Journal and Channel 13 covered the story.

Pasted below is the Journal story and a link to the story on their website.

Gov. Tells Agencies To Halt Flex Schedules

By Dan Boyd / Journal Staff Writer on Thu, Oct 27, 2011

http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2011/10/27/news/gov-tells-agencies-to-hal...

SANTA FE – It’s back to the old “8 to 5″ for more state workers.
Two more New Mexico state agencies have done away with alternative work schedules for employees, prompted by Gov. Susana Martinez’s directive to boost government efficiency.

The Martinez administration has questioned whether the alternative, “flex” schedules compromise service to taxpayers and customers.

Greg Blair, a spokesman for the first-term Republican governor, said Martinez has directed cabinet secretaries to make their own decisions about what’s the most effective and efficient work schedules for their agencies.

“The governor believes each agency must be accessible to the people they serve, and having adequate staffing in the office during normal business hours is one way to ensure that New Mexicans are able to receive the services that their tax dollars fund,” Blair said.

Public employee unions are challenging the move away from flex-time schedules, claiming there is no evidence a stricter policy on employee schedules will save the state money.

“It’s a vindictive, anti-worker move on (the governor’s) part,” said Carter Bundy, the New Mexico political director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union. “The state will lose workers because of this policy.”

The Children, Youth and Families Department rescinded alternative work schedules for most employees on Oct. 15, meaning employees have to work prescribed shifts – not four 10-hour days or schedules that otherwise deviate from normal work hours.

The change won’t take effect for the agency’s juvenile probation officers until Saturday, and a department spokesman said agency officials are considering allowing certain employees to keep their current schedules, depending on client needs.

About 200 of the agency’s 2,000 employees have submitted requests to continue working flex schedules, according to the department.

CYFD Secretary Yolanda Deines said all schedules will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

“We need to make sure the needs of CYFD clients are a priority and that we are operating as efficiently as possible,” Deines said in a statement. “We want to accommodate staff needs and be flexible when possible, but we must place the needs of CYFD clients first and be accountable to New Mexico taxpayers.”

However, one affected CYFD employee said no warning was given prior to the flex time announcement and predicted the move would ultimately hurt productivity.

Flex schedules allow employees to work modified shifts – such as coming into work one hour early in order to leave early – so they can attend to family obligations or for other reasons.

In addition to CYFD, the Department of Health is also rescinding flex schedules for an unspecified number of employees, Blair said.

That comes after the Taxation and Revenue Department and the Regulation and Licensing Department made similar policy changes earlier this year.

The state’s current collective bargaining contract allows union employees to apply for alternative schedules. State government cannot “unreasonably” deny or rescind such a schedule, according to the contract.

“There is no reason someone shouldn’t be able to drop off their kids and come to work 15 minutes early and then leave work 15 minutes early to pick them up,” Bundy said.

While some state workers have been working alternative schedules for years, the changes enacted by the Martinez administration effectively run contrary to a policy implemented by first-term Republican governor’s predecessor, Democrat Bill Richardson.

Three years ago, Richardson directed the State Personnel Office to look into four-day work weeks featuring extended hours in an effort to cut down on state vehicle use and rush-hour congestion on state roadways.
— This article appeared on page A1 of the Albuquerque Journal

Fri, Oct-14-2011
Locations for Saturday's statewide protests

These rallies areimportant to show politicians and the world that many of us understand that our problems have been created by Wall Street gambling and a lack of regulation, not by the hard working families of New Mexico and America--who are the ones suffering the most right now. If you're sick of the giant multinational corporate ownership of politics, this is just the start of how we fight back.

These protests against politicians and corporations who put millionaires and billionaires above the needs of 99% of America (teachers, construction workers, police officers, the middle class, students, seniors, anyone with a job not on Wall Street, the unemployed) are for all of us, regardless of party, age, or any other category that is used to divide us.

Be heard on Saturday, October 15, all over New Mexico.

Santa Fe: Come to the Roundhouse, starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 15. It will go all day, so come by whenever you can, and if you can bring water, snacks, soda, or other food, please do!

Albuquerque: In Albuquerque, protesters will meet from noon until 2 p.m. at the Nob Hill Wells Fargo on the SW corner of Central and Richmond SE.

Las Cruces: Possibly 2 events planned, one possible at Aggie tailgate, other at banks, please visit the Occupy Las Cruces facebook site for details.

Other locations: please visit Occupy New Mexico's facebook page for details, or see if your town has its own page.

Sun, Oct-2-2011
Gov’s Team Demands End to 25 Years of Gains for State Employees!

Don’t Let This Happen to Your Public Workers.

In the first bargaining sessions with the State, its negotiators told New Mexico’s public employee unions— the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the Communications Workers of America (CWA), and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)—to rip up all but a couple of the pages in their contracts.

State workers were told that their rights and protections don’t need to be in writing anymore.

We Are: 
•  Corrections Officers  •  Disability Workers 
•  Healthcare Workers  •  Personal Homecare Aids 
•  Highway Workers  •  Construction Laborers 
•  Law Enforcement Officers  •  Social Workers 
•  Income Support Workers  •  Building Inspectors 
•  Probation and Parole Officers  •  Protective Services

And hundreds of other positions across the state. 

We provide quality services that New Mexico citizens deserve. Don’t let the State of New Mexico step on workers’ rights!

Call Gov. Susana Martinez Today and Tell Her To “Negotiate a Fair Contract With State Workers!”

Gov. Martinez’s Office: 505-476-2200 
 

Fri, Sep-16-2011

POLITiCAL UPDATE
LEGISLATIVE SPECIAL SESSION

It's been a very busy September already: AFSCME is fighting for jobs at the Roundhouse, supporting an in-state preference bill that Governor Martinez vetoed last year. We need to give New Mexicans a chance to work on New Mexico projects, and all our neighboring states give their own companies and workers an in-state preference. Fortunately, it looks like it may get signed if it can get passed, but distractions such as drivers' licenses and other issues may get in the way. We're lobbying to ensure that politics stays out of what should be an easy win for New Mexico workers.

Likewise, we're supporting capital outlay, which was also killed by Governor Martinez and some of her allies who filibustered in the Senate last year. This means thousands of New Mexico jobs, which helps state and local budgets. The more the private sector can get to work, including our sisters and brothers in the building trades, the better off public employees are.

The biggest fight we have at the Roundhouse is Governor Martinez' attempt to steal $130 million from reserves and the general fund to protect a business tax break on unemployment insurance. Unemployment insurance is a payroll-based fund. Not only did Governor Martinez cut unemployment benefits last year, but she tried to line-item veto the necessary payroll contributions to keep the fund solvent.

Legislators took her to court, but while we wait for a decision, the governor is now trying to raid money that is meant to be used for basic public programs like K-12 education, universities, public safety, and roads, and to give us a cushion in case revenues don't rebound. On top of that, the governor's movida might possibly extend public employee paycuts of 1.75% for yet another year. This is an added insult on top of her attempts in negotiations to strip state employees of almost every gain we've made over the last 20 years (she even wants to prohibit parents using sick leave to care for a sick child--unbelievable, but true). Governor Martinez' raid on reserves and the general fund is fiscally irresponsible, reckless, and an attack on state workers, educational employees, and basic state services that citizens need.

Call Governor Martinez' office and ask her to fund unemployment thorugh payroll, not from reserves and the general fund. Her number is 505-476-2200.

ALBUQUERQUE ELECTIONS

The city council elections are less than a month away. The Central Labor Council, AFSCME, and other unions have endorsed Bill Tallman in district 4. We have a real chance to win this seat, but not unless we get to work soon. We have to get a pro-worker voice in that seat, or our Albuquerque members will continue to take pay cuts and watch as politicians' pet projects get funded instead of core city services.

We will be holding union member-to-member walks out of the AFSCME hall starting this Saturday, the dates are (but not limited to)

Saturday September 17, 10am
Saturday September 24, 10am
Saturday October 1, 10am
Sunday October 2, 3pm

We will have free food and drink and $30 gas stipend for all AFSCME members and immediate family members over the age of 16. For more information, please call Council 18 Political Coordinator Josh Anderson at 505-350-2200.

Please spread the word. See you this Saturday!

SANTA FE RALLY

Fed up with the governor attacking state employees and raiding state funds for political gain? Come to our workers' "Where are the Jobs, Susana" rally at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 17 on the East side of the Roundhouse. The more workers and friends we have, the more the rest of the state will realize how wrong the governor's priorities are.

June 28, 2011

Help the Los Alamos Fire Victims!

The people in these communities have had to evacuate and move to shelters.The Northern New Mexico Central Labor Council is joining with labor and community organizations to ask the community of greater Santa Fe to assist our neighbors in SSanta Fe, Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Taos, San Miguel, Mora, and Colfax Counties!

You can send food and other items in the list below to:  

The Food Depot
122 Slier Road
Santa Fe, NM
(505) 471-1633

• Bottled water
• Handheld snacks such as granola, breakfast bars, trail mix, nuts, dried fruit, etc.
• Protein items such as peanut butter, beef jerky, etc.
• Meal supplies such as dried beans, rice, pasta, etc.
• Personal care items such as deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, hand wipes, etc.
• Paper products such as toilet tissue, napkins, cups, plates, towels, plastic cutlery, etc.

Please DO NOT SEND clothing or household items.

Labor unions and other socially active organizations may also donate money to help purchase some of these items.

Items should be delivered on Tuesday afternoons (1:00 PM to 4:00 PM), on Wednesday mornings (9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon) , Wednesday afternoons (1:00 PM to 4:00 PM), and Thursday, if necessary. 
 
Thanks To All Who Can Lend A Hand.

June 27, 2011

AFSCME Members Stand in Solidarity with Nurses at St. Vincent

AFSCME members from across New Mexico joined their brothers and sisters at CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center during a rally on June 24th in Santa Fe.

CSV and the nurses are currently in contract negotiations and CSV is proposing to get rid of basic safety enforcement standards, even though our nurses our so committed to safety that they're willing to give up millions of dollars in the next contract to ensure that staffing levels are safe. There are a number of other issues where CSV is, frankly, putting the entire Northern New Mexico community at risk:

CSV continues to understaff the ER (ER waits are up to 24 hours long not because of a shortage of beds, but because CSV is too cheap to staff the ER properly), but magically they were able to raise CEO pay from $257,872 to over HALF a MILLION DOLLARS. A year. For one guy.

They won't staff at safe levels, but to avoid hiring New Mexico union nurses, they hire traveling nurses from Texas and California at twice the price. All while New Mexicans are begging for jobs.