Representatives of two labor groups announced on Aug. 17 a plan to forge a single union to in hopes of raising bargaining leverage to improve what they perceive as poor working conditions and low pay for state employees.
Members of the Communications Workers of America, which says it represents 700,000 private and public employees in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, declared the formation of the Arizona State Employee Association.
Chris Rossie, president of CWA Local 7079, told the crowd assembled at the state Capitol Executive Tower that the formation of the single union would help working situations for government workers in the state by developing leaders and bargaining power.
“I’ve seen the positive things unions have done for state employees in New Jersey, Texas, and New Mexico, and we’ll bring that to Arizona,” he said.
Several Democratic candidates and current legislators appeared at the meeting to support the move, including House Minority Leader Phil Lopes, D-27, who called the merging a “historic occasion.”
Mr. Lopes said that recent pay raises for state employees approved by the Legislature and signed into law were not sufficient and that Democratic candidates must be elected to the Arizona House and Senate to counter current leadership that is intent on shrinking the size of state government.
“We’ve got a battle ahead of us,” he said. “There is no question about that.”
State employees need to join the union in order to end the selective application of regulations, harassment, to reduce turnover and the privatization of government positions, and to develop solid grievance reporting policies, said Loralei Poll, an employee of the Department of Transportation.
Most of all, state employees should meet their elected officials and get their stances on government employee issues, she said.
“Hold them accountable,” she told the crowd of approximately 50 people. “What they’re telling the public isn’t what is going on at the state Capitol.”
In late January, Governor Napolitano signed into law a state employee pay raise of $1,650 and included the possibility that government workers could earn more based on performance.
The annual pay package is expected to cost the state $51 million this fiscal year and $169 million next year.