Dear Sisters and Brothers,
The AFSCME P.E.O.P.L.E. (Public
Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality) Program was
developed to ensure that all AFSCME members have a political voice
in the election of our representatives in City, State and Federal
government.
In order for you to participate
in the political process, we need money to ensure that our voices
are heard. First the politicians need our financial support and
then they need our vote. Most of you may not know that the only
way we can financially support our political candidates is through
voluntary contributions from you to our P.E.O.P.L.E. program. Pennsylvania
is one of six states that do not allow political contributions from
dues money. Political action money must be contributed by our members
through our P.E.O.P.L.E. check-off drives. Over the past few years
our District Council and many of our Locals have grown. As a result
we have conducted many P.E.O.P.L.E. drives in order to make all
of our members aware of our commitment to political action.
One of the things that public sector employees should recognize
is that our political involvement is more than important - it is
vital. The laws that politicians make shape nearly every aspect
of our work lives: wages, benefits, our health and safety and even
our ability to bargain collectively. If we do not participate in
the process, we will find that others will be making decisions about
our future FOR US, NOT WITH US. There are many
battles that will confront us in the coming years and we must be
willing to meet the challenge. A checkoff is such a small price
to pay for getting people elected who care about public employees
and private nonprofit agency employees and the services that they
provide. Please click on our “How to Check Off” to find
out how to enroll.
Thank you for your support.
In Solidarity,
Vice President, District Council 47
and Chair of the P.E.O.P.L.E. Committee
