WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

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,

 

Linda Rhym
Vice President, District Council 47
and Chair of the P.E.O.P.L.E. Committee