AFT PRIORITY: FIGHT ATTACKS ON CIVIL SERVICE

Politically motivated attacks on civil service systems are on the rise, prompting members of the AFT Public Employees program and policy council (PPC) to form a task force during its summer meeting.

The task force will focus on contracting out, also known as “shadow government,” and other efforts to undermine civil service systems. At press time, the task force was to meet in Washington, D.C., Oct. 20-21.

During its summer meeting, the PPC also authorized an organizing subcommittee to begin meeting early next year; discussed strategies for securing joint labor-management professional development opportunities for information technology employees; and reviewed affiliate efforts to address the budget crisis.

GAO ISSUES REPORT ON PROPOSED WIA FORMULAS

Members of AFT Public Employees who are following the reauthorization of the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) may want to check out a General Accounting Office report examining the potential effects of alternative formulas on state allocations.

The report is available at www.gao.gov. The report number is GAO-03-1043.

TASK FORCE LOOKS AT BIA REORGANIZATION

Union leaders at the AFT’s Indian Educators Federation are on high alert over a reorganization initiative at the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.

To stop the bureau from violating the union’s collective bargaining agreement—as well as federal law regarding Indian-preference employment rights—the union has formed a reorganization task force.

The task force is keeping a close eye on all directives the bureau issues relating to the reorganization, in addition to tracking hiring practices.

ACTION NEEDED ON INTERNET TAXATION

Budget-crunched states are doing their part to ease the collection of sales taxes on products purchased over the Internet in an effort to recoup much-needed revenue.

Now it is time for Congress to take action.

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia have developed a tax compact that would simplify collection of sales taxes on Internet purchases. However, implementation of the compact requires congressional authorization—and no legislation is pending.

“This has to be a key issue for the AFT because it is a way that states can start balancing their budgets and funding public services,” says Art Foeste, a member of the AFT Public Employees program and policy council and chair of the Wisconsin Federation of Teachers’ State Employees Council.

To send a letter to your lawmakers on this important issue, visit the Legislative Action Center on the AFT Web site (www.aft.org).

A study by Forrester Research Inc. estimates that state and local governments will lose $45 billion in 2006 and nearly $55 billion in 2011 in uncollected sales taxes from Web purchases.