12,000 Alaska State Workers Reach Tentative Contract—and More Bargaining News
Some 12,000 Alaska state workers will vote soon on a tentative contract, and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 1,200 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
NEGOTIATIONS
Multiple, State of Alaska: The Alaska State Employees Association/AFSCME and the Alaska Public Employees Association/AFT have reached tentative agreements with the state that cover 12,000 workers. The three-year contracts, if ratified by the membership, would provide annual wage increases and increased employer contributions to health care.
Pro Athletes Take Field to Help Native Children
Members of the Professional Athletes came together in a benefit for Native American children at the union’s recent 14th annual “Evening With the Stars” gala in Washington, D.C. The gala featured a silent auction and a live auction of sports memorabilia and Native American art.
An estimated 1.3 million Native Americans currently live on reservations, and many suffer from poor health, poverty and inadequate education. Proceeds from the gala will benefit Native Vision, a nonprofit initiative that connects Native American youth with professional athlete mentors through a variety of health and education programs.
The union hopes the involvement of pro football players will help draw attention to the challenges facing many Native Americans.
Executive Council Welcomes New Vice Presidents
Of the 51 vice presidents elected today to the AFL-CIO Executive Council, there are nine new additions, who are expanding the range of voices that will be heard. We congratulate the following new vice presidents of the AFL-CIO:
- Patrick D. Finley, Plasterers and Cement Masons (OP&CMIA)
- M.B. “Mike” Futhey, United Transportation Union (UTU)
- Newton Jones, Boilermakers (IBB)
- D. Michael Langford, Utility Workers (UWUA)
- Robert McEllrath, International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU)
- Roberta Reardon, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA)
- John Ryan, Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Works (GMP)
- DeMaurice Smith, Professional Athletes
- Baldemar Velasquez, Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC)
NFL Players: Football Doesn’t Define Them
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Millions of men and women are watching NFL football today, but for most of the players on the field, football is not the only thing that defines them. NFL Players, the marketing arm of the NFL Players Association, is running its REAL campaign featuring 18 NFL players who tell the stories of their lives off the gridiron and demonstrate the wide range of personalities, ideas and emotions of the more than 1,800 members of the union.
This year’s campaign is built around the theme that “Football Doesn’t Define Me.” The players’ personalities were captured through a series of photo shoots featuring Drew Brees (New Orleans), Kris Brown (Houston), Luis Castillo (San Diego), Braylon Edwards (Cleveland), Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona), Walt Harris (San Francisco), Patrick Kerney (Seattle), Shawne Merriman (San Diego), Ryan Nece (Tampa Bay), Clinton Portis (Washington), Matt Ryan (Atlanta), Ephraim Salaam (Houston), Bob Sanders (Indianapolis), Steve Smith (Carolina), Jonathan Stewart (Carolina), Fred Taylor (Jacksonville), DeMarcus Ware (Dallas) and Jason Witten (Dallas).
