This month AFGE Local 2578 received special funding from the AFGE national office to support a Lunch and Learn initiative. Local President Vernon Early and Principal Representative Greg LaMotta are spearheading this initiative. The Lunch and Learn sessions will be a series of targeted meetings with NARA bargaining unit employees to discuss the role of the Union at NARA and to promote membership. The benefits of membership will be stressed, along with the role dues-paying Union members can play in shaping national policy.

This initiative is in keeping with AFGE Council 260 President Peter Jeffrey’s goal to convince a greater proportion of bargaining unit employees to become AFGE dues-paying members and support the continuing work of AFGE Council 260 and its affiliated Locals. Briefly, President Jeffrey’s main points are as follows:

• Legislative and Political Action: This year we went to Capitol Hill to seek pay parity for civilian employees and to steady the cost of health care premiums. We also informed our local representatives of issues specific to NARA, including expanded EEO and diversity programs, transit subsidies for our employees in regional facilities, and concerns over the increased contracting out of NARA programmatic activities.
• Health and Safety: Your Union represents your interests at monthly health and safety meetings. The new contract reflects our interest in continuous monitoring to promote healthy and safe working conditions.
• Representation: We represent NARA employees to ensure the fair and equitable application of the contract at performance appraisals and in grievance procedures.
• Communication: Our newly instituted website (http://www.afgecouncil260.org) keeps you informed of the union’s activities, such as legislative and political action, as well as helping you to better understand your rights and interests.

Local members who wish to participate in organizing a Lunch and Learn session for bargaining unit employees in their offices should contact Local President Vernon Early or Greg LaMotta.

Three members of our Local 2578 celebrated May Day with a million Cubans in Havana. James Cassedy, John Powers, and Greg LaMotta traveled to Cuba as part of a labor delegation that exchanged experiences with their Cuban counterparts. Sponsored by the U.S./Cuba Labor Exchange and the Central de Trabajadores Cubanos (CTC), the delegates visited a health clinic, a cigar factory, the CTC college, and the Latin American School of Medicine. They also met with leaders of the CTC and a great many ordinary Cuban workers. Over 90 percent of Cuban workers belong to unions, and the CTC, the equivalent of our AFL-CIO, plays an important role in shaping government labor laws and policies. May Day, which began in the United States in 1886, is an important labor holiday in many countries of the world. It is scarcely celebrated in our country, but that’s another story …

As announced to Local members by e-mail on June 3, 2002, the meeting to accept nominations for the positions of AFGE Local 2578 President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Chief Shop Steward, two Delegates-at-Large, and three alternate delegates will be held on Thursday June 13, 2002, 12 p.m., in room 1920 (the Union Office), Archives II. William Cowell (NLNP) was unanimously voted chair of the nominations committee at last week’s AFGE Local 2578 Executive Board meeting.

Notice of nominations and elections:
Nominations for the offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Shop Steward, two Delegates-at-Large, and three alternate delegates will be accepted at a nomination meeting on June 13, 2002. The President, by virtue of his office, is a delegate. To qualify, a nominee must be a member of this local; be a member in good standing for 1 year prior to the election; not be a member of any other labor organization not affiliated with the AFL-CIO.

Any member who has paid dues through June13, 2002 is in good standing and is eligible to nominate candidates and/or run for office.

second nomination is not required. Self-Nomination is permitted.

Candidates must accept nomination at the nomination meeting or, if not in attendance, submit a written or e-mail acceptance. This acceptance must be received the day of the nomination meeting. E-mail should be addressed to william.cowell@nara.gov. The member making the nomination is responsible for making the nominee aware ahead of time that the nomination will be made.

A mail secret ballot election will be conducted with ballots and election notice mailed to all local members for whom we have a current address.

Each candidate may observe, or have observers present, at the key points in the election process, including the tally of the ballots currently scheduled for July 11, 2002. A complete schedule for the election is included in the official nomination notice. Please contact Local Secretary Ted Hull for further information.

At the April monthly meeting, the membership voted unanimously to support a donation of $150 to support the efforts of Local member Anne Witty in the DC AIDS Ride 2002. Anne Witty, a long-time member of AFGE Local 2578, is participating in the 330-mile Washington, D.C. AIDS Ride 2002. At the April meeting, she discussed the event and the charities that will benefit from the Local’s donation. The event is scheduled for June 13 through 16, 2002. To learn more about this event visit http://www.bethepeople.com/aidsrides/events_ride_dc.htm.

Anne thanks AFGE Local 2578 members for their heartfelt support and invites all members to the closing ceremonies scheduled for Sunday June 16 on the National Mall between 3rd & 4th Sts., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.