American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees
President: Arcy M. Baca
Vice President: (vacant)
Secretary-Treasurer: Alan Ruckel
Recording Secretary: Rose Ulibarri
Executive Board: Virginia Lopez, Bella Lucero, and Linda Gonzales
Board or trustees: Christine Baca, Monica Villaire-Garcia, Lisa Lujan
American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees
1406 4th Street, Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 986-1365
Monthly Newsletter of AFSCME Local 477 SEPTEMBER 2008
MISSION STATEMENT
Local 477 is committed to providing services and representation to state employees
for the purpose of creating a productive and harmonious work environment while fostering
good labor management relations.
President’s Message
The Union’s focus has shifted almost exclusively to negotiations. It is an election
year, but the Union leadership for the most part is tied up in negotiations. The
negotiating team has put all proposals on the table and will have to patiently wait
for management to bring counter proposals to the table.
I am trying to get one or two guest writers to write to our members in our newsletter.
This month and through the end of the year, the most important issues the Union
faces are the contract negotiations, therefore I have posted the updates coming
directly from our negotiating team as our guest writers.
The contract is negotiated with the Governor (SPO). Once we have a contract negotiated,
the second face begins with lobbying our legislature to fully fund our contract.
We need participation from all members---whether it is speaking to Governor Richardson
or talking to members of the legislature to fully fund the contract. We are not
asking for anything more or anything less than we deserve! I would also encourage
you to come to our regularly-scheduled meetings on the second Wednesday of every
month. We meet at the Union Hall at 5:30 p.m.
Contract Negotiations have begun!
Contract Negotiations between AFSCME and the State of New Mexico started last month
(August 12 & 13) at AFSCME Union Hall in Albuquerque, and will continue until
a completed contract is tentatively agreed upon. Below are bulleted highlights of
proposals given to the State by AFSCME that represent the majority of New Mexico
State Employees!
- Ground Rules were agreed upon after a very contentious debate over the size of Union’s
bargaining team and Union’s right to use the press and media.
- Dates for future bargaining sessions have been agreed upon through the middle of
September.
- Union proposed an all new pay package starting with a General Salary increase based
on years of service from twenty-five cents to one dollar, then a C.O.L.A of $1500.00
across the board increase, also increases based on performance and market values!
- Union proposed all new Health Care reductions for state employees, 100% to be paid
by the employer for all of our employees and 80% to be paid by the employer for
your family and domestic partners!
- Union proposed a decrease in the time it takes an employee to move into the next
increase of annual leave accrual rates by two years each segment!
- Increase in accrual rate of Sick Leave from 3.69 to 4.00 hours! Converting excess
amount of Sick Leave to use as Annual Leave and for Retirement!
- An increase of On-Call Pay from $1.70 to $3.00 an Hour!
- An increase of Multi-Lingual Pay from a very lousy .10-cent differential to $1.00
an hour added to the employees base pay!
- A proposal to stop New Hires from being paid more than current and more experienced
employee!! This is a subject your union will fight for!!
AFSCME and State of New Mexico Contract Negotiations
On September 9th and 10th the third full session of contract negotiations between
the State of New Mexico and our Union took place. Those talks have slowed to snails
pace, the State of New Mexico has yet to make a single proposal in response to the
Union entire contract proposals! Our Union’s negotiating team is determined to improve
working conditions for its employees! The tactics employed by the State of New Mexico
will not work with this team!
• AFSCME agreed to cancel the Statewide LMC due to ongoing negotiations only
for this month; the November meeting remains as scheduled!
- AFSCME agreed to another negotiation session in October! Other dates will soon follow.
AFSCME will continue to pressure State to bargain in good faith as required by LAW!
AFSCME sent a letter directly to the Governor’s Office requesting that SPO start
bargaining in good faith!
State of New Mexico is embarrassing its own state employees and the taxpayers of
New Mexico by wasting six days with meaningless questions, instead of actively bargaining
and resolving issues!
AFSCME asks all state employees to get involved, and help STOP the nonsense; e-mail
the Governor’s Office directly. Simply state, “Bargain in Good Faith”!! We deserve
it!! Go to www.governor.state.nm.us, link to ‘Contact the Governor’ and follow the
e-mail links. It’s Easy and you deserve it as a State Employee!!
Your Negotiating Team will continue to the pressure the State of New Mexico to bargain
in good faith and to vastly improve the current contract! We will need your help,
so start to contact your local State Representatives and discuss state employee
issues with them!
For more information contact your Local Union President, Council 18 or go the all
New Statewide Website at www. afscme18.org and stay connected!!
Next session will in Santa Fe September 23-24, 2008. Location soon to be announced.
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