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SEA-CWA Continues Growth Spurt
Members of a new CWA local were in the process of ratifying its first contract as the Newsletter went to press - and of celebrating the addition of another 250 members - District 7 President John Thompson reported.
SEA-CWA, the New Mexico State Employee Alliance, has doubled its membership to more than 3,000 workers since the reinstitution of a public employee bargaining law a year ago under Gov. Bill Richardson (D). The local has been issued an official number, 7076, and is developing bylaws and preparing to elect officers, anticipating the issuance of an official charter, probably in October.
Aug. 9 brought the certification of another 250 state employees into SEA-CWA, through card check, following a lengthy unit clarification process. The latest addition includes a wide range of workers in the General Services Department, from IT managers and computer technicians to building maintenance, janitors and even maids in the Governor's mansion.
Working at locations across the state, they even maintain the state's airplane, said District 7 Organizing Coordinator Rolando Figueroa.
Figueroa, Local 7076 Organizers Ariel Gold and Rex Kendall, Local 7704 Organizer Tim Roberts and state worker Lee Cabeza de Vaca, have for months talked to workers one on one and during lunch at worksite meetings, explaining the benefits of unionization.
"They reached majority support for the union about a year ago," Figueroa said, but cabinet secretary Ed Lopez wanted to exclude about two-thirds of the workers from the bargaining unit. Also, the state Public Employees Labor Relations Board had initially intended to require an election. It took the board five months to resolve the conflicts and finally allow a card check.
Many of the workers in the lower ranks are Hispanic or female and perceived discrimination in their treatment by older, white managers, Figueroa said.
"We had a substantial majority sign cards," said District 7 Organizing Coordinator Jana Smith-Carr.
New Mexico state workers, under Richardson, received 49-cent across-the-board raises Jan. 1, plus a 2 percent raise and reduction in health premiums on July 1, said Robin Gould, president of the former New Mexico state worker Local 7037 and vice chair of the bargaining committee.
The contract, she said, provides a grievance and arbitration procedure, seniority and a "fair share" provision requiring all workers covered by the contract to pay dues or equivalent representation fees.
The pact will expire in December 2005 but, said Gould, "we wanted a short contract to work out any bugs and to have bargaining coincide with an annual wage opener."
Gould, CWA Representative Lawrence Sandoval, who chaired bargaining, and Smith are recommending adoption at contract explanation meetings followed by onsite balloting in 18 cities. Ratification in all locations is expected by Sept. 8.
SEA-CWA, the New Mexico State Employee Alliance, has doubled its membership to more than 3,000 workers since the reinstitution of a public employee bargaining law a year ago under Gov. Bill Richardson (D). The local has been issued an official number, 7076, and is developing bylaws and preparing to elect officers, anticipating the issuance of an official charter, probably in October.
Aug. 9 brought the certification of another 250 state employees into SEA-CWA, through card check, following a lengthy unit clarification process. The latest addition includes a wide range of workers in the General Services Department, from IT managers and computer technicians to building maintenance, janitors and even maids in the Governor's mansion.
Working at locations across the state, they even maintain the state's airplane, said District 7 Organizing Coordinator Rolando Figueroa.
Figueroa, Local 7076 Organizers Ariel Gold and Rex Kendall, Local 7704 Organizer Tim Roberts and state worker Lee Cabeza de Vaca, have for months talked to workers one on one and during lunch at worksite meetings, explaining the benefits of unionization.
"They reached majority support for the union about a year ago," Figueroa said, but cabinet secretary Ed Lopez wanted to exclude about two-thirds of the workers from the bargaining unit. Also, the state Public Employees Labor Relations Board had initially intended to require an election. It took the board five months to resolve the conflicts and finally allow a card check.
Many of the workers in the lower ranks are Hispanic or female and perceived discrimination in their treatment by older, white managers, Figueroa said.
"We had a substantial majority sign cards," said District 7 Organizing Coordinator Jana Smith-Carr.
New Mexico state workers, under Richardson, received 49-cent across-the-board raises Jan. 1, plus a 2 percent raise and reduction in health premiums on July 1, said Robin Gould, president of the former New Mexico state worker Local 7037 and vice chair of the bargaining committee.
The contract, she said, provides a grievance and arbitration procedure, seniority and a "fair share" provision requiring all workers covered by the contract to pay dues or equivalent representation fees.
The pact will expire in December 2005 but, said Gould, "we wanted a short contract to work out any bugs and to have bargaining coincide with an annual wage opener."
Gould, CWA Representative Lawrence Sandoval, who chaired bargaining, and Smith are recommending adoption at contract explanation meetings followed by onsite balloting in 18 cities. Ratification in all locations is expected by Sept. 8.