Inside Council 4 01.15.23

Welcome

Thanks for checking out the latest issue of Inside Council 4. Your union newsletter has changed from a monthly to a quarterly format, but you'll still find links to recent webstories that feature and uplift AFSCME members, a calendar of events and info about how to stay connected to Council 4.

As we launch this issue, we remember Middletown Police Officer Matt Silvestrini, of AFSCME Local 1361, who died Dec. 4 of brain cancer. Local 1361 President Nick Puorro said that Officer Silvestrini dedicated his life to

Veterans Day Feature: Two veterans stick together from the battlefield to the union floor

U S Army veterans Robert Beamon and Stan Sudduth forged a bond 20 years ago that remains strong as union members in AFSCME Local 391 (State Corrections) They have stayed side by side through military deployment to becoming correctional officers to serving as union leaders. Read more.

SEBAC Statement Regarding Pandemic Pay Arbitration for State Employees

Dec. 22 marked the second and final day of the arbitration hearing between SEBAC and the State of Connecticut over the amount of pandemic pay due to frontline essential state employees At the hearing, the arbitrator heard directly from workers who were not able to “stay safe, stay home” about the risks they faced at the job site to ensure that critical state services continued Read more.

AFSCME COUNCIL 4

We're a 30,000-member strong labor union fighting for the rights and freedoms of Connecticut workers.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Jody Barr, Executive Director

Bernie Bombardier, President Stacie Harris-Byrdsong, Secretary

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Troy Raccuia, Director of Collective Bargaining Kelly Martinez, Director of Organizing & Member Services

Amy O'Connor, Chief of Staff Megan Batchelder, Executive Assistant

COMMUNICATIONS STAFF

Lauren Takores, Communications Coordinator and Inside Council 4 Editor

Renee Hamel, Associate Communications Director

444 East Main St , New Britain, CT 06051 Phone: 860-224-4000 - Fax: 860-224-3041 Email: info@council4 org

serving his country and his local community. "He was a true sheepdog," Puorro said "His legacy will now live on through his two beautiful children and his wonderful wife. Everyone here at the Middletown Police Department will always be able to proudly look back on the fact we crossed paths with Matt. He was a hero and he will be missed by us all Deservedly so, this agency and this city will keep his memory alive forever "

Public Service Proud: Advising college students 'holistically, not just academically'

It might seem like a long way from performing in shows like “42nd Street'' to mentoring students at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven The way Angela Ruggiero (AFSCME Local 2836/SUOAF) sees it, working as the associate director at the Center for PreProfessional Programs fills her with a passion and sense of accomplishment similar to what she experienced during her professional career in musical theater Read more

Union applauds labor board decision in Bridgeport case

AFSCME Local 1522 and Council 4 applauded a ruling by the state labor board that found the City of Bridgeport violated municipal labor laws by outsourcing bargaining unit work within the Board of Education to newly created non-union information technology positions and discriminating against the union Read more.

New Trainings!

New Haven Education Justice

Diane Guz (right), a special education paraprofessional and AFSCME Local 3429 member, spoke at an education justice town hall about her experiences and vision for safe, healthy and healing schools, Sat. Dec. 17 at Celentano School in New Haven Also pictured are New Haven Board of Education member Darnell Goldson (left) and Council 4 executive board member Claudine Chambers.

Hispanic Heritage Month

We recognized and uplifted several Council 4 members with Hispanic and Latino heritage by featuring their stories using picture quotes on social media during Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Pictured left is Daisy Sanchez, AFSCME Local 2663 (P-2 Social & Human Services) member.

Get Out the Vote Rally

Dozens of supporters from seven Connecticut unions gathered for a get-out-the-vote rally, featuring speeches by labor-endorsed state and national candidates, Oct. 28 at Council 4.

During the election, Council 4 members and staff volunteered for 265 shifts during the Connecticut AFL-CIO Labor 2022 program, participating in labor walks and phone banking for endorsed candidates including a total of 33 labor walk shifts during GOTV weekend.

Welcome new members

Welcome to the new members of AFSCME Local 2193 (State Marshal Association of Connecticut) pictured here with longtime members and Council 4 staff, Dec. 6 at Council 4

Halloween in Hartford

Members of AFSCME Local 1716 (Hartford DPW) and 566 (Hartford Schools Custodians) co-hosted a Halloween party for members and their families, Oct. 22 at Naylor Elementary School. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin made an appearance.

Local 714 Comms Training

Members of the AFSCME Local 714 (CT Dept. of Social Services) executive board learned how to use Action Network a digital organizing platform that lets users build and manage email lists to disseminate info to subscribers about meetings and events, petitions, surveys and letter campaigns, Oct. 24 at Council 4.

National School Bus Safety Week

During National School Bus Safety Week, we lifted up AFSCME Local 1361 (Middletown Police) member Officer Foss-Rugan and AFSCME Local 466 (Middletown City Employees) member Lucy DiMartino , the dynamic duo who are at the crosswalks at MacDonough School in rain, shine, sleet or snow, Oct. 18 in Middletown

Library Workers Are Stronger Together

Our new organizing campaign focusing on cultural workers started strong with the successful organization of the South Windsor librarians, who voted to unionize on Oct. 26 forming AFSCME Local 1303-488

AFSCME Local 1303-85, representing Middletown’s Russell Library workers, reached a tentative agreement in late November that the membership ratified Dec. 20. The members gained wage increases in line with what other city employees received, substantially increased vacation time, increased the amount of money available for educational reimbursement and gained a shoe and clothing allowance for facilities and security staff

AFSCME Local 1303-85 (Russell Library, Middletown) members with staff representative Emily Demicco, bottom left

AFSCME Local 1303-488 (South Windsor Library) members

UpcomingEvents

Pleasecheckwebsitecalendarfortimesandlocations

Jan.24,28,March14:RolesandResponsibilitiesofLocalOfficers/ExecutiveBoards/Stewards Workshop

Jan.31&Feb.7:Two-PartStewardsTraining

Feb.2:Council4ExecutiveBoardMeeting

Feb.14,18:TipsandBestPracticesonChairingEffectiveMeetingsWorkshop

Feb.21:HistoryofAFSCMEandtheLaborMovement(ForAdults)

Feb.25:CyberSecurityandBestPracticesWorkshop

Feb.28,April4:DutyofFairRepresentationWorkshop

March2:Council4Presidents+1,ExecutiveBoard,DelegatesMeetings

March4:WhatisaUnion?TheImportance&BasicHistoryofLabor(ForYouths)

March7:FOIAandFOIRequests:Who,Why,andWhattoDoWorkshop

March18:TreasurerandTrusteeTraining(facilitatedbyAFSCMEInternational)

March21,25:Workers'CompensationReview

March28,April1:LawsandNewMemberOutreachforLocalLeadersWorkshop

April6:Council4ExecutiveBoardMeeting

April14-16:AFSCMECouncil4BiennialConference