AFGE District 7 Oct 2014 Newsletter
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Transcript of AFGE District 7 Oct 2014 Newsletter
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Affi l iated with the American Federation of Government Employees
The Solid Seventh District
THE PUBLICATION OF ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN, AND WISCONSIN FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
AFGE members
in IL, WI , and MI
are phone
banking,
canvassing and
fundraising to
flex political
muscle ahead
of November
4th Mid-Term
Elections.
Who supports Unions?
AFGE Endorsements for 7th
District
Page 4
Get Out the Vote
Federal Workers mobil ize to
defeat anti-union politicians.
PAGE 3
News & Updates
Happenings across the Solid
Seventh.
Page 6 and 7
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Do Not Distribute on Federal Property
AFGE locals
and leaders
have been
doing ice bucket
challenges to
fundraise for
ALS research.
Local 778 did
an ice bucket
challenge as
President
Vaughn Glenn
and Bobby
Newsome
raised $300 for
the AFGE PAC.
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American Federation of Government Employees 'Proud to Make America Work'
We are Federal Employees of I l l inois, Michigan, Wisconsin
DOROTHY JAMES
National Vice President
CRYSTAL STOKES
National Representative
KAYLA MACK
National Representative
JOE DOLAN
National Representative
DON EVANS
District Organizer
MATT MUCHOWSKI
Office Manager / Editor
ALBERT THOMAS
Retiree Representative
VISIT US AT
www.afgedistrict7.org
www.afge.org
www.fl ickr.com/photos/afgedistrict7
www.facebook.com/afgedistrict7
AFGE District 7 Office:
320 S. Ashland Ave. , First Floor
Chicago, IL 60607
201 3 Fair Use / Public Domain
American Federation of Government
Employees, AFL-CIO
2 October / November 201 4 | Solid Seventh
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Dorothy James, National Vice President AFGE District 7
In Apri l , 1 607,
English settlers in
Jamestown held their first
election, however voting
was restricted to white male
land owners. The civi l
rights movement has fought
to overcome voter
disenfranchisement tactics
l ike the poll tax, the
Grandfather clause, and
l iteracy tests, but politicians
are seeking to rol l back the
clock to reflect that era.
Augusta Thomas,
the Director of AFGE's
Womens and Fair Practice
Department, can hold an
audiences captive when
she describes her
experience with voter
suppression. In Georgia,
she rode with her father to
the polls in their horse and
buggy to vote, only to find
out that before he would be
allowed to vote, he would
need to give the correct
answer for the amount of
beans in a jar.
In June of
201 3 the
Supreme Court
dismantled many
of the voting
safeguards in the
1 965 Voting
Rights Act and many Red
states rushed to capital ize
on the changes. State
Houses eliminated or
reduced early voting days,
mail-in voting, and same
day registration. They
caused extraordinari ly long
l ines as they began to
require ID, reduced voting
sites, and moved some
sites without notice.
These changes were
supposedly made to stop
an epidemic of voter fraud,
but there is no evidence of
such an epidemic. In North
Carolina there was 1 case
of voter impersonation out
of 7.8 mil l ion votes.
However, voter
disenfranchisement is
creating a backlash, as it
increases the resolve of
voters. In Ohio in 201 2,
despite new restrictions,
there was a higher voter
turnout among targeted
groups.
Each election cycle
we say that this is the most
important election. Each
time we are correct. No
election is without threat of
significant legislative
losses. We are on the
threshold of losing dues
deduction and official time if
our supported candidates
are defeated. I f this
happens, AFGE won't be
able to effectively represent
and advocate for you.
VOTE ON
NOVEMBER 4th.
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3 October / November 201 4 | Solid Seventh
Follow this Example:
All four members of the AFGE Local 0003 Executive
Board are contributors to AFGE PAC. Let's give them
a big thanks and encourage other locals to set an
example to our members by doing the same!
Wayne Lauton
Acting President
Michele McHenry
Acting Executive Vice President
Calen McHenry
Acting Vice President
Jul ie Kohlhepp
Secretary-Treasurer
The November 4 elections are motivating AFGE
members to canvass, phone bank, attend political events,
send letters, and fundraise to get union members to vote
for pro-union candidates.
Jane Gabler, a member of AFGE Local 1 658 in
Warren, Michigan talked about phonebanking: "I t was
great to talk to members of our community about the
issues that affect us al l , l ike jobs, safety and union rights.
Thats why now is the time to get out and elect union-
endorsed candidates. I f we dont, wel l be talking about
budget cuts, unemployment and attacks on unions."
AFGE President J. David Cox attended a cavass in
Detroit, MI , while several AFGE members and staff are
working ful l time on Senate races in states l ike Iowa and
Michigan.
Ways to Volunteer:
Questions? Contact Legislative and Political Organizer Sara Kuntzler at [email protected]
AFGE local 778 President Vaughn Glenn
and his wife in Detroit working a
phonebank call ing AFGE members and
reminding them to vote.
Phone Bank
Weds. Oct. 29, 6pm
AFGE District 7 office,
320 S. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL
Political Action App
Download the PAC App at
www.afge.org/mypac
$1 0 a month from each
member goes a long way.
Letter to Local Members
Will increase voter turnout
by 2% - which is important
in many of the close races.
Ken Jones from local 375 and
IL Senator Dick Durbin at an
event supporting IL
Congresswoman Robin Kelly.
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4 October / November 201 4 | Solid Seventh
Richard Durbin SENATOR DEMOCRAT
Pat Quinn GOVERNORDEMOCRAT
Bobby Rush HOUSE 1 DEMOCRAT
Robin Kelly HOUSE 2 DEMOCRAT
Daniel Lipinski HOUSE 3 DEMOCRAT
Luis Gutierrez HOUSE 4 DEMOCRAT
Mike Quigley HOUSE 5 DEMOCRAT
Danny Davis HOUSE 7 DEMOCRAT
Tammy Duckworth HOUSE 8 DEMOCRAT
Jan Schakowsky HOUSE 9 DEMOCRAT
Brad Schneider HOUSE 1 0 DEMOCRAT
Bil l Foster HOUSE 11 DEMOCRAT
Bil l Enyart HOUSE 1 2 DEMOCRAT
Ann Call is HOUSE 1 3 DEMOCRAT
Cheri Bustos HOUSE 1 7 DEMOCRAT
Mary Burke GOVERNORDEMOCRAT
Rob Zerban HOUSE 1 DEMOCRAT
Mark Pocan HOUSE 2 DEMOCRAT
Ron Kind HOUSE 3 DEMOCRAT
Gwen Moore HOUSE 4 DEMOCRAT
Gary Peters SENATOR DEMOCRAT
Mark Schauer GOVERNORDEMOCRAT
Jerry Cannon HOUSE 1 DEMOCRAT
Dan Kildee HOUSE 5 DEMOCRAT
Pam Byrnes HOUSE 7 DEMOCRAT
Sander Levin HOUSE 9 DEMOCRAT
Bobby McKenzie HOUSE 11 DEMOCRAT
John Dingell HOUSE 1 2 DEMOCRAT
John Conyers HOUSE 1 3 DEMOCRAT
Rudy Hobbs HOUSE 1 4 DEMOCRAT
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5 October / November 201 4 | Solid Seventh
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Germaine Clarno President of Local
781 , Hines VA Medical Center, in the suburbs
of Chicago, found herself in the eye of the
storm. When she heard the revelations of
fraudulent waiting l ists for VA patients that
endagered veterans, Clarno did not hesitate
to come forward and denounce Hines'
unethical practices.
Clarno appeared on several news
outlets to discuss the wait l ists, provided
testimony to the Inspector General and
lobbyed congressional representatives.
Clarno has also been coordinating and
working with veterans groups. As the result
of her and other AFGE leadership speaking
out, the Veterans Administration became
embroiled in a nationwide scandal and a bi-
partisan bil l was passed that makes it easier
to remove senior VA officials.
As Clarno said, "We do a lot of good
things at the VA. I m proud to work there. I m
proud to serve our nations heroes. Weve
just got to make some changes,"
Indeed, heads are rol l ing at the
Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA
recently announced that they were firing four
senior officials for cover ups and fraud. Joan
Ricard, the Director of Hines VA Hospital, and
Jeffery Murawsky, Director of Integrated
Services at Hines are retiring amid serious
allegations of fraudulent wait l ists.
With organizing and solidarity, AFGE
members wil l continue to be on the frontl ines
for quality healthcare for veterans.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka visited
Detroit for a dinner fundraiser for the
Detroit Metro AFL-CIO. Pictured from left
to right: Karla Swift, President of the MI
AFL-CIO; Darold Hubbard, Local 2077;
Richard Trumka; Jane Gabler, Local 1 658;
Michael Guerriero, Local 3239; Bobby
Newsome, Local 778.
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These released AFGE staffers are working to get
out the vote.
Deborah Dodd
Local 3239, SSA, Detroit, Michigan
Dannette Mitchell
Local 3239, SSA, Detroit, Michgan
Rosendo Rocha
Local 3272, SSA, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Shana Hoak
Local 3272, SSA, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Joe Dolan
District Staffer, Macomb County, Michigan
Albert Thomas
District Retiree Rep. , Des Moines Iowa
Earl Tucker
Local 1 395, SSA, Des Moines, Iowa
Lois Ames
Local 1 882, Wisconsin
Rosita Tipton
Local 3272, Michigan
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6 October / November 201 4 | Solid Seventh
AFGE National President J. David Cox presented
Local 933 President Benjamin Mahan with a
recognition award at a PAC event hosted by Local
933 in Detroit. The event was a big success and
over 50 AFGE members come out to canvass
voters the next day. Pictured left to right: Local
933 President Benjamin Mahan, District 7
President Dorothy James, and National President
J. David Cox.
AFGE members joined the Chicago
Federation of Labor's Labor Day
luncheon in September, and had the
opportunity to network with other
labor leaders. Pictured Karen
Barnes from local 375 met with
Chicago Teachers Union president
Karen Lewis.
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High Five to Bridgett
Griffore from AFGE
Local 1 629, Veterans
Affairs workers! She
signed 26 new
members up to the
union and became a
top recruiter! She
said, "By talking to VA
workers about the
work that they do, and
how important it is to
have a union that
supports them, they
understood how
necessary it was for
them to join and pay
dues."
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Realizing that it would be wasting its money, for the last
two weeks before the November 4th election, the Republican
Party wil l not air TV ads in Michigan. This is due to the hard work
that the Michigan unions and AFGE especial ly are doing to help
the candidates they support get elected.
Locals started by selecting Legislative and Political
Coordinators and having them attend the Legislative and Political
Training Institute in Chicago. LPCs played a major role in
energizing their local officials to get involved in al l aspects of the
AFGE political program. Learn more at afge.org/LPCdashboard.
AFGE is often cited for having the largest amount of
volunteers. The polls reflected their enthusiasm and have shifted
to show support for union endorsed candidates. Those AFGE
activists who made the commitment and sacrifice to work the
legislative program wil l see their efforts pay off on election day.
Special thanks to the fol lowing Michigan locals for their
pol itical participation: VAMC Local 933, TSA Local 778, DOD
Local 1 626, DOD Local 1 658, DOD Local 2077, SSA Local 3239,
SSA Local 3272, EPA Local 3907, VA Local 1 629 and BOP Local
1 741 .
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7 October / November 201 4 | Solid Seventh
Please welcome Matt Muchowski as the new District
Office Manager for AFGE
District 7. Matt has
worked for the labor
movement for years,
doing everything from new
organizing and contract
campaigns, to political
elections, communications
and data management.
"I 'm excited to work here.
AFGE stands on the
frontl ines, not only for worker's rights, but for
government services that assist everyone in America."
Matt hopes to help locals develop their websites and
communications efforts. "I f the general public knows
about what AFGE members do everyday, then they
wil l support us. We need to build support with
community groups and organize, organize, organize!"
Please welcome Anna Chapman as a temporary
National Representative to the Distirct 7 team! Anna
is an attorney who comes to AFGE with a background
in employment law, concentrating her practice in
workplace discrimination. Before coming to AFGE,
Anna owned her own law firm on the northwest side
of Chicago. She has
previously worked for
a number of Chicago
law firms and for the
City of Chicago. Law
is a second career for
Anna, who began her
professional l ife as a
writer and editor. Her
employers in publishing included Thomson Media, a
former division of what is now Thomson Reuters,
Dominican University and the I l l inois State Medical
Society. Anna obtained a masters in English from
DePaul University, where she also attended law
school. Anna enjoys spending time with her husband
Dale and her dog Woody, playing tennis and trivia
games and gardening. She and her husband recently
auditioned to be contestants on the trivia game show,
The Chase.
Welcome National Representative
Kayla M. Mack back from
Maternity leave. Pictured are her
two sets of twins - 2 year old Jimi
and Jack and Hall ie and Lula
were born on July 1 .
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We mourn the passing of former
AFGE Local 0003 Preisdent
Roberta Marie Scharbutt who left
us on June 3 after fighting throat
cancer. Roberta led Local 0003 in
Milwaukee for 11 years, and
worked at the Clement J. Zablocki
VA Medical Center for 21 years.
She remained local President
while she fought cancer. Her local
represented over 2,000 federal
employees and as a National
Trainer for AFGE, she helped
mentor many union leaders,
including her best friend Jul ie
Kohlhepp and current Local 0003
President Wayne Lauton. She
loved her family, the Green Bay
Packers, and gardening. She wil l
be missed by the AFGE
community, her husband, two
children and three grandchildren.
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A F G E D i s t r i c t 7
3 2 0 S . A S h l a n d A v e n u e
C h i c a g o , I L 6 0 6 0 7
w w w . a f g e d i s t r i c t 7 . o r g
3 1 2 - 4 2 1 - 6 2 4 5
D o N o t D i s t r i b u t e o n F e d e r a l P r o p e r t y
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For List of Endorsed Candidates see page 4
1 . When:
Election Day
Tuesday, Nov. 4th
at ________ am/pm
Early Voting
Vote by Mail
2. Where:
My poll ing place is:
_______________
_______________
_______________
Check with your Secretary
of State's Office.
3. Why:
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________