Council of Classified Employees of the California Federation of Teachers, AFT, AFL-CIO
Classified Insider
Summer 2018 Volume 8, Number 2
UNION NEWS FOR THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE
Workplace organizing
Facing new threat, members recommit to their unions
F
MATTHEW HARDY
armed with donuts at 5 a.m. or pizzas at 5 p.m. Gonzalez’s favorite approach was sitting down at someone’s desk and sharing a bag of popcorn with them, a tactic she calls a “pop-in.” A mass retirement cut through the San Diego County campus four years ago. Palomar College is now hiring, and the union hosts lunch at every new employee orientation. The efforts have shown results. Six years ago, fewer An organizing blitz at Antelope Valley College helped double classified membership. than 60 percent of 356 employees were union members. site features members wearing Today, membership is at 85 tive council identified fee payunion t-shirts on Blue Fridays; percent and a goal of 90 perers and and crisscrossed the the newsletter, renamed Unite, cent is within reach. Golden West, Orange Coast is emailed regularly; and the and Coastline campuses to union’s Facebook, Twitter and Lawndale Federation recruit them. Instagram feeds are kept fresh. President Carl Williams has The local also reopened the made recruitment in the elecontract and negotiated 30 minPalomar Council President mentary district a priority for utes at each new employee oriAnel Gonzalez also took office years, and the CFT recently recentation session to promote the last July, after six years on the ognized AFT Local 4529 for a 14 benefits of union membership, negotiating team and serving as percent increase in membership, as mandated under the laborn tio era g, Lawndale Fed Assisting in organzin nsig grievance officer for AFT Local er which now stands at 70 percent. sponsored Assembly Bill 119. mb me w ne reviews leader Carl Williams Ford. m Pa 4522. “People tend to be comt Williams said access to new Membership now stands at en sid Pre y lle ups with Antelope Va placent when nothing threatens employees at orientation ses84.5 percent, Marten said. them,” she said. “But now we’re drives have meant an influx of sions and a new AFT electronic “We have some very enthudoing the work that needs to be sign-up form have kicked the new enthusiasm and a renewed siastic young people with great done.” sense of union pride. ongoing campaign into overideas who want One of the drive. “We’re getting to people to get involved. first things Coast Federation President New employas soon as they are hired. We’re Gonzalez and Connie Marten was elected signing up people every day.” ees mean new executive counleader of AFT Local 4794 in The local invites non-memvigor. It’s pretty cil members July 2017 after serving nine bers to general meetings so they exciting.” did was spend years as vice president and six can see how the union works Local 4794 Anel Gonzalez Connie Marten two long days years as chief negotiator. and what members think and also invested crossing campus to meet peoKnowing the local needed want. Many join so they can in its communications netple where they work. The team to strengthen its membership vote on issues and contracts. work, which recently won five held meetings at all hours, Continued on page 4 base, Marten and the execuCFT awards: An updated webor years, the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court threatened to clip unions’ wings if the right case came before the bench. Classified AFT locals across California have been preparing for the decision in Janus v. AFSCME by asking agency fee payers to become full members, and recruiting at new employee orientations. The membership