(Wichita, KS) - Nearly one hundred child care providers and many members of their families gathered on August 16 & 17 to hold a founding convention for statewide local union, Child Care Providers Together (CCPT). The convention was the culmination of twenty months of intensive outreach and organizing by child care providers in all corners of the state of Kansas. Providers began banding together in January 2007 to speak with a common, powerful voice.

Delegates to the founding convention achieved a number of important milestones, including the adoption of a local union constitution and the nomination of officers and trustees for the local union.

In addition to doing important business related to their local union's founding, the child care providers present also participated in a variety of training workshops and took part in convention-wide discussions about the way forward.  Workshop topics included training on communication tools for local unions, political and legislative advocacy and models for building an effective representational union.

Kansas CCPT, having provided the basis for a new AFSCME local union with its founding convention, will continue to expand as child care providers around the state build their own power.

Learn more about Kansas Child Care Providers Together here.

(San Francisco) - Delegates to the 38th AFSCME Biennial Convention from the states of Missouri and Kansas helped nominate and re-elect leaders of the International Union last week in San Francisco. International President Gerald McEntee, International Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy and Midwest District International Vice President Dan Homan were each elected without opposition to another term.

AFSCME Council 72 approved a resolution in June endorsing the re-election of AFSCME's International Union leaders.

President McEntee, Secretary-Treasurer Lucy and International Vice President Homan will each serve at least one more four-year term.

(Jefferson City) - With AFSCME's 38th Biennial Convention set to kick off in just a few days in San Francisco, elected convention delegates from AFSCME Council 72 are making preparations for the big event.

The Council 72 delegation has participated in a conference call and a series of discussion sessions aimed at familizarizing delegates with many of the resolutions that will be considered at the convention.

Delegates from Council 72 will also carry with them support for the re-election of International President Gerald McEntee and Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy, as the Council approved a formal endorsement of the International Union leaders in June.

Among those elected to represent Council 72 and its constituent local unions in San Francisco are John Norman, April Butner, Jill Triplett, Jim Admire, Vicki Bigler, Shirlean Burt, Helema Lewis, LeElla Kemp, Littejohn Grant, Theresa Bach, Lathey Riley, Gwen Williams, Rozetta Tullock, Steve Roth, Dorothy Townsend and Jeff Mazur.

The convention will be held Monday, July 28 through Friday, August 1.

(St. Louis) - Following the refusal of City of St. Louis officials to honor a pay plan bargained between city representatives and unions representing city workers, AFSCME Local 410 has taken a lead role in seeking justice for employees of the city.

"The people who run St. Louis have forgotten that a deal is a deal. They need to live by the same rules as everyone else and honor the agreements that they make," said Local 410 President Ted Williams.

Local 410 has joined with several other unions in legal action intended to force the City of St. Louis to honor the agreement struck at the bargaining table. Additionally, Local 410 members have led demonstrations at City Hall intended to draw attention to the city's efforts to back out from the pay deal reached with St. Louis unions.

AFSCME Local 410 was part of the multi-union bargaining team which negotiated 5.5% annual pay increases over the next three years for employees of the city. Despite having reached agreement, St. Louis officials later tried to pass only a 2.5% increase. AFSCME and Local 410 continue to fight for the bargained pay raise.

"One of the critical elements of negotiation is that both sides have to be willing to live by the terms they agree to at the table," said AFSCME state council director Jeff Mazur, "and right now it certainly doesn't appear as though the City of St. Louis understands that."

(Columbia, MO) - Dozens of AFSCME activists from Missouri and Kansas gathered in Columbia on Saturday, June 21 for a day-long training on a variety of topics. Those in attendance also got a visit from Attorney General and Democratic candidate for Governor, Jay Nixon.

Nixon spoke for thirty minutes with those assembled, imploring AFSCME activists to involve their co-workers, families and children in what will be a critical election. The four-term Attorney General also shared the story of his lifelong relationship with public service and expressed his respect and appreciation for the work done by public workers like AFSCME's members.

Though Nixon's visit was a highlight, the day included a comprehensive agenda of activist training. Participants engaged in training units on internal and external political action, union finances, communicating with manangement, the grievance process and bargaining and negotitations. The day was capped off by a question and answer session with a panel of distinguished local union leaders.

Local 2078 activist Jeffrey Everett said of the weekend's events, "I myself learned a great deal, and I hope to use this training in signing up new members and in the other day-to-day workings of employee-management relations."

(Jefferson City) – The Missouri Council of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) has announced its endorsement of Amy Coffman in her bid for Kansas City’s 44^th District seat in the Missouri House of Representatives, calling Coffman, “a true friend to public workers, a supporter of Kansas City’s working families and a strong advocate for Missouri’s citizens.”

“Amy Coffman has committed her candidacy to enhancing education, access to health care and the dignity of our seniors. Coffman shares the values of AFSCME’s members in Missouri and we are proud to stand behind her candidacy,” said Jeffrey Mazur, AFSCME Council Director.

AFSCME’s endorsement of Coffman is reflective of her proven commitment to public employee collective bargaining and support for a vibrant system of public services. AFSCME will back Coffman as she faces a contested Democratic primary election against two other candidates in August. No Republican candidate has filed to run for the seat.

“Our members look forward to working hard to help elect Amy Coffman to the Missouri House, as she’ll bring a new progressive voice to the chamber,” added Mazur.

(Washington, DC) - The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has endorsed the candidacy of Barack Obama for President of the United States.

The international union announced the endorsement on Thursday, with International President Gerald W. McEntee stating, "Barack Obama has the experience, judgment and strength to reinvigorate our economy and resurrect the American dream."

AFSCME's 1.4 million members across the country will now turn their efforts to helping elect Senator Obama to the White House in November. Thousands of AFSCME members in Missouri and Kansas will be joining that fight as well.

"Council 72's members are excited to be united behind a tremendous Presidential nominee," said Council administrator Jeffrey Mazur.

Mazur added, "AFSCME members across Missouri and Kansas will be busy pulling out every vote we can for Barack Obama. We look forward to the battle to bring change to Washington and Jefferson City."