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The Missouri State Worker Summer 2014

Communications Workers of America Local 6355, AFL-CIO Vol. 25 No. 2 Summer 2014

T H E M I S S O U R I

STATE WORKER

T he 2014 legislative session featured some of the most intense attacks against CWA’s state worker members in our history. Because of the active leadership of CWA members, many

top priority bills for the anti-worker faction’s leaders in the Missouri legislature were stopped. Speaker of the House, Tim Jones, announced at the beginning of the legislative session that passage of anti-labor legislation, including the so called “right to work” and “paycheck protection” laws were among his primary goals for the legislative session. House Budget Committee Chair Rick Stream said that he wanted to see staff cut at every state agency by 5-10 percent. Senate Budget Chair Kurt Schaefer told the press at the beginning of the legislative session that Governor Nixon’s spending recommendations, including salary increases for CWA members, were unrealistic and had to be stopped. The most disappointing news from the legislative session for CWA’ers was that billionaire Wall Street financier Rex Sinquefield’s crazy tax cut scheme passed by a margin of one vote in the House of Representatives. There’s a lot more detail on the likely impact of that bill elsewhere in the newsletter. CWA member activism blocked Speaker Tim Jones’ latest attempt to crush the labor movement in Missouri by passing “right to work” and “paycheck deception” laws. Despite all of the Speaker’s muscle and huge spending by anti-labor front groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), paycheck deception actually got less votes in the House of Representatives than it did last year. The paycheck bill was killed by a Senate filibuster effort led by Senators Gina Walsh, Jason Holsman, Paul LeVota, Jamilah Nasheed and Kiki Curls. “Right to work” failed to garner the constitutionally required majority vote of the House of Representatives even to be sent to the Senate.

Continued on Page 2...

Workers Hold the Line Against Legislative Attacks

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The Missouri State Worker Summer 2014

On pay and benefits, CWA members saved an increase in funding of $4,000,000 for a career ladder for Children’s Division employees. CWA has been pushing the administration and legislature for a very long time to take steps to reward longevity with the state in an effort to combat the turn over and staffing crises in state government. The CD career ladder is a positive first step. However, unless union members are engaged and active, we know that first steps often remain inadequate and get turned into systems for favoritism. We also know that every DSS and DHSS worker deserves better pay. The Governor proposed a 3% increase for all state employees. The legislature, more interested in helping “poor billionaires” than front line state employees, cut that down to 1%, starting in January. The Governor had also proposed a $75/month match to state worker contributions to deferred compensation retirement accounts. The legislature cut that to $25/month, also starting in January. The final budget also contains enough money for the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan that the Governor’s budget director estimates will mean no premium increases for state employees will be needed. The only way Missouri’s working families are going to see the changes we need from the state legislature is through our own organization and activism. Every non-member is essentially voting for the status quo. It’s up to us in CWA to bring our friends and colleagues into the fight.

Legislative Attacks (continued from page 1)

Pictures from Lobby Day 2014: Clockwise from top: Local 6355 President Bradley Harmon spoke about beating back attempts to take away workers’ rights.; Member and Representative Ed Schieffer rallied the crowd at the capitol.; Kansas City activists thanked Representative Brandon Ellington for his continued support on public employee issues.; Members from the southwest area met with Representative Charlie Norr to discuss the cuts public employees are facing.

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The Missouri State Worker Summer 2014

O n March 22, 2014 The Jobs with Justice Worker’s Rights Board held a hearing to investigate the ongoing disaster that is Alyson Campbell’s “reorganization” of the Family Support

Division. Representatives from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Paraquad, the Missouri Association for Social Welfare, as well as FSD clients and CWA activists and leaders offered powerful testimony before the panel of seven. After hearing testimony and asking several questions, panelist Jerry Hochsztein remarked that he saw in the reorganization “evidence of a deliberate effort to make it difficult to apply and obtain assistance that people need”. “It seems as though the people at the top don’t have a clue about what is going on with the people at the bottom,” offered Marilyn Brown, a client of FSD. Testimony much like this went on for about an hour, with every speaker relating similar stories of clients getting lost in the system, caseworkers grossly overburdened, and a system that is collapsing under the weight of record-high caseloads. DSS declined invitations to offer testimony or otherwise comment on the issue. The Board was comprised of faith and community leaders, labor leaders and other concerned citizens, and issued the following findings and recommendations for immediate action:

The Family Support Division must cease all staff cuts until the reorganization is openly and intentionally reviewed and the new software system is truly operational

The Family Support Division must maintain face-to-face interviews as a viable option for clients to request

The contents of so-called drop boxes must be secured with assurances that materials are passed on to the proper Family Support Division employees

The Family Support Division should reformat any form letters in order to make changes and the process of appealing benefits clear to families

The state must look into the real reason that caseloads are dramatically dropping in Missouri in contrast to other states

The Family Support Division should host public events, in multiple locations around the state, in order to discuss the reorganization and allow stakeholders an opportunity to provide real input

CWA activists will keep organiz ing ins ide of our workplaces and with allies in the community to stand up for decent j o b s a n d q u a l i t y p u b l i c services. We are prepared, with our allies, to let our elected officials know that we will organize and fight to hold them accountable to make Missouri live up to its motto that "the welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.”

Worker Rights Board of Missouri Jobs with Justice Exposes FSD Reorganization Disaster

Left: The St. Louis Worker’s Rights Board listens to testimony regarding the FSD reorganization.; Top: Activist Holly Roe spoke about how the changes were affecting FSD and the clients at her office.

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The Missouri State Worker Summer 2014

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R egular readers of the union newsletter will remember Rex Sinquefield. Rex is Missouri’s resident billionaire anti-government, anti-union ideologue. His biggest goals, by his own

admission, are to end public education, break public employee union power and eliminate the Missouri income tax. Since 2006, according to the Center for Media and Democracy, Rex has spent more than $31,500,000 on Missouri elections. Rex Sinquefield’s $31.5 million in campaign cash finally paid off for him in the 2014 legislative session. The General Assembly overrode Governor Nixon’s veto of SB509, a bill that will save wealthy guys like Rex Sinquefield hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in state income taxes, but cuts the average Missouri workers’ taxes by less than a dollar a week. SB509, if fully enacted, is a huge threat to state financing for public schools. According to Missouri Budget Project Director Amy Blouin, Missouri currently spends approximately $500 less than required by the school foundation formula for every public school student in the state. The General Assembly’s commitment to funding public schools is already $440 to $600 million short of what state law says it is supposed to be. When SB509 is fully phased in, it will decrease the school funding gap by an extra $800 million every year. That will shortchange Missouri public school students by almost $1500 per year. What does that mean for Parkway Schools, where CWA members work? Parkway has 17,405 students. A cut in state support of $1500 per student means Parkway stands to lose $26.1 million per year in state support. In other words, so that billionaire Rex Sinquefield gets a tax cut worth a few hundred thousand dollars a year, the average CWA member gets a tax cut of less than $60 per year and has state support for any of their kids in public school cut by $1500 per student. As if his tax cut bills had not done enough to undermine public education, Rex Sinquefield’s lobbying money also got another one of his school killing priorities accomplished. SB493, a bill sold to legislators as an attempt to address problems in extremely low income, low performing school districts in St. Louis creates a system of public education money being diverted into vouchers for private schools. Advocates for public education have long warned that private school vouchers are the first nail in the coffin of public schools. SB493 does move Missouri in the direction of privatized education. Unfortunately, our sisters and brothers in the Missouri National Education Association and the Missouri Federation of Teachers say that it won’t help kids in poor school districts. The one bright spot is that CWA members get a chance to tell the legislature how we think they’re doing in November. We will be using these votes in evaluating candidates for a recommendation this fall.

Biggest Threat to Public Education in Missouri Ever?

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The Missouri State Worker Summer 2014

CWA Local 6355 Monthly Membership Meetings

St. Louis: First Thursday of the month at 6:00 pm

CWA Union office 5585 Pershing Ave; St. Louis, MO 63112

Kansas City:

Fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:00 pm CWA Union office

6320 Manchester; Kansas City, MO 64133

If you are interested in setting up a meeting in your area,

contact (800)575-6355.

O n Thursday, June 12th, Local 6355 officially began its next round of contract negotiations. We will seek to improve upon the current contract and hope to have all bargaining

wrapped up by September or October. An able team of members has stepped up to answer what will be a very challenging, time-consuming process. If you work with any of these folks, please take a moment to thank them for their work on this.

Probably the best way you can thank your bargaining committee is by participating in office mobilization activities to show your solidarity during bargaining sessions. Offices from every part of the state will be participating in actions to increase visibility and show solidarity with our bargaining committee members. These actions may include wearing red on bargaining days, holding lunchtime rallies at your office, and educating your coworkers about what’s happening in bargaining from day-to-day. Local 6355 Lead Organizer Mark Esters will be coordinating these events, contact him right away at mesters@cwa-mswu.org to get your office involved and showing power, pride and solidarity. You can also reach Mark at the St. Louis office at (800)575-6355. Mobilizing at your office is the best way to support your bargaining committee. An active membership invests a great deal of power in the bargaining team and will be central to getting the strongest contract that we can get. Let’s roll the Union on!

Marcia Gant, FSD-CSE Bradley Harmon, CD Mike Madonna, DHSS Jacqueline Martinez-Stevens, CD Mark Pfeifer, FSD-IM Natashia Pickens, FSD-IM

Beth Pitney, FSD-IM Janice Ramsey, DYS Jamie Reed, DYS Adam Seehaver, CWA Uyama Umana, DHSS

DSS-DHSS Bargaining Opened June 12th

Parkway Rep Retirement

CWA Local 6355 would like to congratulate former Parkway Area Representative Jimmy Long on his retirement and thank him for all his hard work and dedication. Jimmy leaves big shoes to fill at Parkway.

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The Missouri State Worker Summer 2014

I n our union, we believe in democracy. We want a democratic organization that is

accountable to us and we want a government that is accountable to working people. CWA public workers serve Missouri’s people and almost all of the people we serve come from working families. Too often, in non-presidential election years, too many working people can’t find the time to make it to the polls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. When voter turnout among working Missourians is low, we pay the p r i c e a s p u b l i c employees. Politicians who cater to the narrowest of interests win important seats and use those to attack our rights and starve our agencies of resources. That’s why our organization took a leading role in collecting 300,000 signatures to bring early voting to Missouri. More than 30 other states have some form of early voting. Missouri doesn’t. Natashia Pickens, CWA Local 6355 Election Mobilization Coordinator and FSD Eligibility Specialist from the Page office took a lead role in our signature gathering effort. “I took a personal interest because I feel like expanding opportunities for people to vote is good for our democracy and good for our jobs as public employees. We fought too hard for everyone to have the right to vote. We should be making it easier for people to exercise their rights and early voting will do that - especially for low income working people. When more working people vote, I think it will be easier to elect candidates who support public employees and the services we provide.”

The leading role that activists like Natashia took got attention from our coalition allies in Missouri and labor leaders across the country. Shannon Duffy, United Media Guild/St Louis Area Jobs with Justice Labor Co-Chair said: “CWA Local 6355 member activists consistently inspired their sisters and brothers in the St Louis Jobs with Justice Coalition in the

effort and enthusiasm they displayed in our early voting signature campaign. This coalition work to expand democracy is what we need to make government in Missouri more responsive to the needs of working people.” Larry Cohen the national leader of our union had high praise: “The work that CWA Local 6355 is doing to expand democracy in Missouri is a beacon of hope for all of us in CWA and the labor movement during some of the most challenging times in our history. The best defense against corporate control over

our government is to go on the offense to expand democratic rights.” Beth Pitney, Local 6355 Vice President and FSD Eligibility Specialist from Moberly made sure that the effort wasn’t confined to our big cities. “I made sure everyone in my household signed the early voting petition. We have to do everything we can to get as many ordinary, working people to the polls as possible if we want to change things for the better for Missouri state workers.”

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CWA Leads to the Fight for Democracy and Expanded Voting Rights in Missouri

James Raines and Bradley Harmon helped gather signatures at the Library Center in Springfield. CWA activists also gathered signatures in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas.

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The Missouri State Worker Summer 2014

THE MISSOURI

STATE WORKER Published monthly by: CWA Local 6355 5585 Pershing Ave, Ste 150 St. Louis, MO 63112

Office Hours: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Monday—Friday Phone: (314)454-1688 or toll free (800)575-6355 Email: mail@cwa-mswu.org

CWA LOCAL 6355 EXECUTIVE BOARD

PRESIDENT: BRADLEY HARMON VICE PRESIDENT: BETH PITNEY SECRETARY-TREASURER: CATIE SHINN REPRESENTATIVES: JANET DELANA JOE HACHMEISTER CLARISSA MARTIN TRACEY MILLER JAMIE REED CARMEN WARD CAROLYN WELLS

CWA LOCAL 6355 STAFF

ORGANIZING DIRECTOR: ADAM SEEHAVER ORGANIZERS: JAMSETTA DAVIS MARK ESTERS JAMES RAINES OFFICE MANAGER: RACHEL ZARON

**Reprint Permission Granted to All Union Publications**

C WA Local 6355 nominations and elections for President, Vice

President, Secretary-Treasurer and Area Representatives will be held from August through October of this year. Any member needing a detailed copy of the rules for nominations can contact CWA Local 6355 elections committee member, Rachel Zaron to request a copy. Rachel can be reached by mail or phone at the CWA Local 6355 St Louis office or by email at mail@cwa-mswu.org. A copy of the rules including the address to mail nominations will also be available online at www.cwa6355.org and at the CWA Local 6355 Facebook group no later than August 15, 2014, when nominations may be mailed. Any questions, please contact the office at (800)575-6355.

Local Union Elections Notice:

The early voting drive frightened the leaders of the anti-worker agenda in the Missouri legislature. At the very end of the session, they drafted a sham early voting measure to go to the ballot in an effort to sink our petition. The anti-democracy leaders of this initiative were so afraid of our early voting drive that they agreed to drop their efforts to pass paycheck deception and other anti-voting measures in the Missouri Senate—measures which had already passed the Missouri House—if CWA’s friends in the Senate agreed to drop their opposition to the sham early voting initiative. One way to know that your tactics are working is when you opponents start negotiating with you to change them. Joe Hachmeister, Parkway Area Representative and custodian at Craig Elementary School was one activist who encountered obstacles in our expanding democracy campaign. He commented, “President Bradley Harmon and I got chased away from the Pageant trying to collect signatures. When I think of what others who came before me had to go through to expand voting rights, it was more than worth it. I’m proud of the work that our union is doing to defend democracy and I know that when more working people vote, government works better for working people.” The Missouri Secretary of State is currently certifying the petitions and we have every expectation that this fall, we will have to mobilize and engage voters about passing true early voting reform. But CWA activists are undaunted. Natashia Pickens said, “ I froze my tail off in the wind and rain with fellow democracy activists to get this measure on the ballot and I can’t wait to help make it pass in November.”

Early Voting (continued from page 6)

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The Missouri State Worker Summer 2014

Communications Workers of America Local 6355 APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

NAME: __________________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS: _______________________________________________________________________________

CITY/STATE/ZIP: ________________________________________________________________________

PHONE (HOME): ________________________________PHONE (WORK): ________________________

JOB CLASSIFICATION: _________________________DIVISION: _______________________________

WORK LOCATION (ADDRESS): __________________________ COUNTY: ______________________

EMAIL: _________________________________________________________________________________

AUTHORIZATION FOR EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION DEDUCTION

I hereby, voluntarily, authorize and direct the State of Missouri, to deduct from my pay each month, beginning with the receipt of this authorization, regular monthly dues as certified by the Secretary Treasurer of the Communications Workers of America, equaling 2 hours pay

per month (equivalent to 1.15% of base pay). I further direct the State to forward all sums deducted to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Communications Workers of America. It is understood that the State assumes no responsibility in connection with this authorization except that of forwarding monies to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Union. Withdrawals will be processed once a year on December 15th. DATED:_____________, 20___ SIGNATURE OF EMPLOYEE_______________________________________

_______________________ SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

_______________________ DATE OF HIRE

_______________________ NAME OF CO-WORKER WHO ASKED YOU TO JOIN

Phone: In St. Louis: (314)454-1688 Toll Free: (800)575-6355 Fax: (314)454-5740

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