Convention Recap
200+ delegates from almost every Council 24 local met at the annual convention July 23-24 in Appleton.
Major developments included adoption of a constitutional amendment moving date for the annual convention to occur sometime during the time period of March 15 to June 15 each year. Among the resolutions adopted were those: opposing outsourcing connected to a project at UW Madison; supporting military service credit legislation; supporting protection of corrections staff against false allegations of abuse; encouraging the use of union workers and services; and establishing a community service event at every convention.
The weekend included the election/re-election of the following table officers, all by acclamation.
President – Bob McLinn; Vice-President – Paulette Feld;
Secretary – Jennifer Merlin; and Treasurer – Larry Lautenschlager.
The convention culminated with the presentation of food drive items and money raised for St. Joseph’s Food Pantry of Menasha, under the leadership of our Standing Education Committee. Some 15 boxes of food were donated along with cash donations and matching funds totaling $7,000. It was a great show of community support and compassion by Wisconsin’s great state employees. Congratulations to all involved.
** Click here to access the the 12/9/09 Snow Day Settlement **
Health Care Reform Implementation
The Obama Administration continues to move ahead decisively on health care reform implementation. Posted on the AFSCME website* you will find two fact sheets prepared by our Department of Research and Collective Bargaining Services relating to recent interim final regulations (IFRs) implementing key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
The first, deals with an issue that is generating considerable enthusiasm among our membership: the extension of dependent coverage for adult children up to the age of 26. The second fact sheet provides a summary description of the “grandfathering” rules that affect the implementation of the dependent care coverage and other important features of the PPACA that may benefit many of our members.
Although we have a number of constructive suggestions concerning these IFRs, we are generally pleased with the approach taken by the Administration. They have construed the statute in a manner that will ensure that all of our members with employment based coverage will be able to cover their adult children up to age 26 effective no later than the first plan year beginning after September 23, 2010, unless the child has other employment based coverage. On the issue of grandfathering, the Administration has taken a well reasoned and balanced approach to allowing plans to make limited changes to plan benefits while maintaining grandfathered status (and, therefore, exemption from some, but not all, new benefit mandates) while ensuring that significant erosion of plan benefits will lead to a loss of grandfathered status.
If you have any questions about these issues or other matters relating to the PPACA and health benefits, please feel free to contact Steven Kreisberg or Mary Meeker in our Department of Research and Collective Bargaining Services at (202) 429-1237.
*Scroll down to section titled “Downloadable Materials”
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AFSCME’s Next Wave program provides the tools and connections to get younger members active and ready for future union leadership. We are excited to announce Wisconsin’s first Next Wave Conference this fall in Milwaukee. If you are 35ish or younger, join us in Milwaukee this September.
More information and a registration form can be found here.
The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO is building an online community. Click here for details.
2-1-1 Info and Referral Search
Providing as a Menu of Safety Net Programs During Time of Furloughs & Economic Uncertainty
Stewards in Action Training Program
Dates have been set for the 2010 Steward in Action Training Program. Click here for information and a list of training cities.
Questions? sia@wseu-24.org
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