2011 – The Year in Review

As the year draws to a close, we pause to celebrate the holiday season and reflect back on the past year. We want to take this opportunity to thank you for everything you have done to fight back in 2011. Although not every battle ended in victory, your support for workers’ rights and public services has made a real difference in helping to turn the tide.

As a loyal reader of the Battleground Bulletin, we know that you have been on the front lines of this fight and we want to recognize your contributions. We also want to recognize the AFSCME affiliates who lent their volunteer efforts to our campaign mobilizations in Wisconsin and Ohio, including:

California – Council 36, Local 685, UDW/AFSCME Local 3930; Hawaii – HGEA/AFSCME Local 152; Illinois – Council 31; Indiana & Kentucky – Council 62; Iowa – Council 61; Kansas – KOSE/AFSCME Local 300; Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont – Council 93 ; Maryland – Council 982; Minnesota – Council 5, Council 65; Missouri – Council 72; New York – District Council 37, CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000; Ohio – OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4, Council 8, OCSEA/AFSCME Local 11; Oregon – Council 75; Pennsylvania – Council 13, District Council 33; Washington– WSCCCE/AFSCME Council 2, WFSE/AFSCME Council 28; Wisconsin – WSEU/AFSCME Council 24, Council 40, Council 48

Please enjoy a much-deserved holiday break with your loved ones and we will see you back here in January. The challenges we face next year look just as daunting as this year, and we are counting on you to join us again on the front lines in 2012.

In solidarity,

GERALD W. McENTEE President		LEE A. SAUNDERS Secretary-Treasurer

State-By-State Highlights

A scene from the February 2011 protests in Madison, Wisconsin.

In Wisconsin, massive rallies in the cold and snow of February turned into the historic recall of two anti-worker state senators in August.

In Ohio, statehouse protests sparked a citizens’ veto of SB 5 powered by more than 1.3 million signatures and culminating in 61 percent of Buckeye State voters rejecting the anti-worker law last month.

Gloria Howell, Ethel Dyer, and Charlene Petties, members of Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4) Local 101, celebrate the defeat of Issue 2. (Photo by Tessa Berg)

In New York, AFSCME members played a huge part in bringing home victory in the County Executive election as leaders of the “We Are Erie County” campaign.

In Iowa, Liz Mathis won a special election to fill a state senate vacancy, protecting a narrow pro-worker majority in that chamber.

In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie’s aggressive anti-worker agenda led to his party losing a seat in the state legislature.

In New Hampshire, Gov. John Lynch’s veto of right-to-work-for-less legislation was upheld thanks to unprecedented grassroots lobbying efforts.

In Florida, Rick Scott saw his paycheck deception and anti-collective bargaining agenda rejected by the state legislature while he was on his way to becoming the least popular governor in the country.

In Puerto Rico, members of SPU/AFSCME Council 95 campaigned successfully for the unanimous passage of a bill reinstating collective bargaining rights stripped from public service workers in 2009.

In Missouri, AFSCME members fought back against anti-worker legislation, including a paycheck deception measure.

In Connecticut, Council 4 and Council 15 helped sweep pro-worker candidates into office in local elections across the state.

In Michigan, voters recalled a state legislator—anti-worker Rep. Paul Scott of Grand Blanc—for the first time since 1983.

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