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IUE-CWA Social Workers Save Jobs, Services
Social workers in Rochester and Monroe County, N.Y., members of IUE-CWA Local 81381, won a victory to preserve services for needy citizens and to keep quality jobs in the county.
A union and community-wide mobilization, combined with an effective CWA media campaign, resulted in a county budget that adds new jobs in child protective investigative work and maintains vital services.
For several months, the local, representing about 800 workers, kept up its fight against a proposed county budget that would have slashed 200 jobs and cut needed services to children, seniors and the disabled. The campaign included months of building support from religious and civic organizations, holding rallies and candlelight vigils, and visiting county legislators.
Two rounds of radio ads called on legislators to reject the county executive's budget, reminding the Monroe County community that the "cuts hurt families," a theme of the campaign.
The IUE-CWA local also conducted and released a review of the budget and job cut recommendations made by the private contractor hired by the county. The contractor's track record in Wisconsin was a disaster, the local noted, resulting in unacceptable increases in infant mortality, roadblocks to services and other conditions when the state followed the contractor's recommendations.
With the goal of getting the attention of county legislators, who would approve or reject the budget proposed by the county executive, union members and supporters jammed the legislature's monthly meetings and pressed their case about the need to keep effective social services in Monroe County.
At its November session, the legislature rejected the job cuts and approved a new budget that restored some program cuts and added new jobs. The new budget includes a 2.5 percent property tax increase adopted by the Republican-majority legislature. Taxes had not increased in the past 11 years, straining efforts to provide needed services.
IUE-CWA Local 81381 President John Vasko said the local will continue to work to win additional resources for social services and to monitor privatization proposals that will likely be introduced next year.
A union and community-wide mobilization, combined with an effective CWA media campaign, resulted in a county budget that adds new jobs in child protective investigative work and maintains vital services.
For several months, the local, representing about 800 workers, kept up its fight against a proposed county budget that would have slashed 200 jobs and cut needed services to children, seniors and the disabled. The campaign included months of building support from religious and civic organizations, holding rallies and candlelight vigils, and visiting county legislators.
Two rounds of radio ads called on legislators to reject the county executive's budget, reminding the Monroe County community that the "cuts hurt families," a theme of the campaign.
The IUE-CWA local also conducted and released a review of the budget and job cut recommendations made by the private contractor hired by the county. The contractor's track record in Wisconsin was a disaster, the local noted, resulting in unacceptable increases in infant mortality, roadblocks to services and other conditions when the state followed the contractor's recommendations.
With the goal of getting the attention of county legislators, who would approve or reject the budget proposed by the county executive, union members and supporters jammed the legislature's monthly meetings and pressed their case about the need to keep effective social services in Monroe County.
At its November session, the legislature rejected the job cuts and approved a new budget that restored some program cuts and added new jobs. The new budget includes a 2.5 percent property tax increase adopted by the Republican-majority legislature. Taxes had not increased in the past 11 years, straining efforts to provide needed services.
IUE-CWA Local 81381 President John Vasko said the local will continue to work to win additional resources for social services and to monitor privatization proposals that will likely be introduced next year.