Connecticut FPE/AFT expands representation at hospital

Service and maintenance workers at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, Conn., recently voted 331-229 to join the FPE/AFT-affiliated Connecticut Federation of Educational and Professional Employees (CFEPE). The 707-member bargaining unit is the third group of L&M workers to join the CFEPE. Previously, the CFEPE won representation elections among L&M's registered nurses and licensed practical nurses and technicians.

"It was one of the largest private sector election victories in the last 10 years in Connecticut, which makes this not only a big development for this hospital but for the entire state," says CFEPE president Leo Canty.

The CFEPE consists of nearly 25,000 employees in 80 locals throughout the state who are representative of each of the AFT's five divisions--health care, public employees, higher education, preK-12 and school-related personnel.

Member mobilization is New York PEF's 'AIM'

The two networks established by the FPE/AFT-affiliated New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) to communicate with members are taking hold, positioning the union for unprecedented member involvement in legislative, political and negotiation activities.

The "Active Informed Members," or AIM, initiative is built on the foundation that individual contact among union members is the key to communication--and member involvement. PEF's answer: The "Member Mobilizer Network," which divides the union's 55,000 members into groups of 10, each with a member mobilizer leader, and an e-mail system that enables the union to communicate with members--at their home e-mail addresses--quickly and inexpensively.

"At this point in time, we can reach 10 percent of our members with a press of a button [through e-mail], and 50 percent through the Member Mobilizer Network," says Eric Miller, PEF's assistant director of mobilizing and education. The goal is to achieve 55,000 "Active Informed Members" in PEF's 228 locals throughout the state.

"We know that we have to build power to be successful," says Miller. "The terms and conditions of our employment are determined politically--by politicians in a political environment. We don't have a right to strike or a right to binding arbitration. The only way we can bring power to any activity that we are engaged in is by involving our members in those activities. To be involved, they need to be informed--and we need to get information to them effectively and efficiently."