News

Happy Holidays  from APEA/AFT’s President

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:15:59 -0900

As another year comes to a close and we celebrate the holidays with our families, I want to thank you for all you do each day. As public employees who provide the vital services that allow our communities to function—as well as labor activists who advocate for your families, coworkers and neighbors—you make me proud to be associated with you and to serve as your union president.

In 2011 we won good contracts for our fellow members, but we did so much more. We beat back harmful cuts to our schools and advocated for students. We helped elect candidates who respect us and who support working families. We stood with our brothers and sisters in Wisconsin, whose very right to exist as a union is under attack. We fought for federal legislation that meant good, family-supporting jobs and infrastructure here in Alaska. We partnered with school districts in innovative ways to literally save hundreds of at-risk students. We were successful in ensuring that Alaska’s resources continue to benefit Alaskans, keeping that money in state. We stood in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in other local unions, and began working with legislators from both parties toward a return to a defined benefit retirement. We garnered prestigious nationwide honors from AFT as one of our members from Ketchikan won the "Everyday Hero" award and we were awarded 2nd place in the nation for best website.

We fought these battles at the bargaining table, at rallies, in the press, online and at the voting booth. None of this would have been possible without you, the members who are our union.

In the coming year, we will continue to face opportunities and challenges. It’s an election year that will once again see the fate of working families on the ballot. School and local budgets will once again force us to do more with less. We will be called upon to defend the youngest and most vulnerable Alaskans by improving the base student allocation and protecting Denali KidCare. And we will undoubtedly be called upon to defend Alaska’s fiscal resources—the very resources that pay our salaries and provide our benefits—from another assault by corporations from Outside.

Because of our caliber of public employees, and because of union activists like you, I am filled with confidence and hope for the coming year. I wish you and your family the very happiest of holidays, and look forward to working alongside you in 2012.

Nancy Hereford
APEA/AFT President

Bargaining Update: Local Contract Negotiations Around The State

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 12:06:53 -0800

Petersburg Municipal Employees Association has reached a Tentative Agreement. While only retroactive until July 2011 (one year without a COLA), it provides 2% for 3 years and a reduction in the maximum Personal Leave accrued from 48 days per year to 42. The reduction affects 15 members, pending ratification.

Fairbanks North Star Borough Employees Association is continuing to prepare for negotiations. Our agreement expires 6/30/2012, and negotiations will start by 12/1/2011. (No change since last update)

Juneau Mental Health Professionals are at the bargaining table.

Ketchikan Gateway Borough Employees have begun negotiations and have signed off over half of the contract. Our current agreement expires 9/30/2011. We have agreed the agreement will be retroactive to 10/1/2011, though we don’t anticipate it will take much longer. (No change since last update)

Juneau Education Support Staff will begin negotiations in November. Our agreement expires 6/30/2012. (No change since last update)

City of Nome Employees contract expires 12/31/2011. We have updated our constitution and selected negotiators, and are beginning to prepare for negotiations. (Negotiations begin November 2)

Alaska Housing Maintenance and Custodians contract expires 3/16/2012. We have our negotiators, and are gathering input to craft our proposal. (No change since last update)

Valdez Federation of Teachers contract expires 6/30/2012. We are moving forward with negotiations. (No change since last update)

Anchorage Council of Education contract expires 6/30/2012. We have our negotiators selected and are moving forward with negotiations. (Have agreed to engage in interest-based bargaining starting in November.)

Anchorage Early Intervention Occupations Union contract expires 12/31/2011. We have our negotiators and are preparing to go to the bargaining table. (Have agreed to roll over the contract for one year until 12/31/12.)

United Special Education Services contract expires 6/30/2012. We have our negotiators and are preparing for negotiations. (No change since last update)

TOTEM contract expires 6/30/2012. We have reached an agreement through win-win bargaining. (Ratification vote held November 11.)

Rare, Bipartisan Action on Prescription Drugs, but where’s Sen. Murkowski?

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:18:27 -0800

by Gary Miller, Retiree

Just when it looks like Congress can’t ever do something bipartisan, they surprise us with Senate Bill S.319. This bipartisan legislation can help reduce prescription drug costs by allowing the importation of prescription drugs.

The sponsor is Republican Olympia Snowe and the bill has 21 bipartisan cosponsors; 5 are Republicans, one is an Independent and 15 are Democrats. You can access more detailed information about the bill here, including its full text, summary, cosponsors and current status.

In the findings section of the bill, “the Congressional Budget Office has found that the cost of prescription drugs are between 35 to 55 percent less in other highly-developed countries than in the United States”. Every Alaskan who has to buy a prescription drug would benefit. Federal employees receive health care and this would reduce costs for the federal government (and aren’t we supposedly concerned about debt reduction?). Medicare, Medicaid and the Veteran’s Administration would also save money (even more debt reduction). There is one question:

Why isn’t Senator Murkowski signing on as a cosponsor?

We can ask her ourselves. The senator can be contacted by email here, you can look up the phone number for the office closest to you here, or you can call her toll-free line throughout Alaska: 1-877-829-6030

Our Chance To Speak Up For Jobs: Murkowski Hosts “Economic Town Halls” in Mat-Su, Fairbanks

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:46:01 -0800

Our senior Senator voted against the American Jobs Act, which would have provided infrastructure, investment and jobs for Alaska. The bill is now being introduced piece by piece, to put folks back to work and strengthen the economy. Let the senator know that our problems are too serious, the stakes are too high, and that we can’t afford to wait for an end to partisan games in Washington that stand in the way of progress for our people.

FACT SHEET: REBUILD AMERICA JOBS ACT

KEY PROVISIONS

• Immediately Invests in Our Roads, Rails and Airports ($50 Billion):  The Senate bill provides $50 billion in immediate investments for highways, transit, rail and aviation, helping to modernize an infrastructure that now receives a grade of “D” from the American Society of Civil Engineers and putting hundreds of thousands of construction workers back on the job. This investment will put people to work upgrading 150,000 miles of road, laying/maintaining 4,000 miles of train tracks, restoring 150 miles of runways, and putting in place a next-generation air-traffic control system that will reduce travel time and delays. The plan includes $27 billion to rebuild roads and bridges, $9 billion to repair transit systems, $5 billion for projects selected through a competitive grant program, $4 billion for construction of the high-speed rail network, $2 billion to improve airport facilities and $1 billion for a NextGen air traffic control system. The call for greater infrastructure investment has been joined by leaders from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka to U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue.

• Establishes a National Infrastructure Bank ($10 Billion):  The Senate bill establishes a National Infrastructure Bank capitalized with $10 billion that will leverage private and public capital to help fund a broad range of infrastructure projects. The Bank would be based on the model Senators Kerry and Hutchison have championed, which has been endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce while building on legislation by Senators Rockefeller and Lautenberg and the work of long-time infrastructure bank champions like Rosa DeLauro and the input of the President’s Jobs Council.

• Asks Millionaires to Pay Their Fair Share Without Adding a Dime to the Deficit. In order to create or save hundreds of thousands of construction jobs, the Senate bill imposes a 0.7% surtax on modified adjusted gross income in excess of $1 million for both single filers and married couples filing jointly. The surtax is effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012.

AMERICANS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT MODERNIZING OUR NATION’S INFRASTRUCTURE

CNN/ORC Poll: 72% of Americans, 54% of Republicans Support Rebuilding Our Infrastructure. According to a recent CNN/ORC Poll, 72% of Americans support “increasing federal spending to build and repair roads, bridges and schools,” while only 28% oppose. This is up from 64% from September of this year. 70% of Independents and 54% of Republicans support funding our infrastructure. [CNN/ORC Poll, 10/17/11]

Rockefeller Foundation: 72% of Americans Support Infrastructure Bank. The Rockefeller Foundation infrastructure survey, conducted in February 2011, found that 72% of Americans support “Creating a National Infrastructure Bank that helps finance transportation projects that are important to the whole nation or large regions and that funds projects based on merit, not politics.” [Rockefeller Foundation, 2/14/11]

THERE IS BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT

U.S. Chamber of Commerce: President “Was Right to Call For” Transportation Infrastructure Investments. Thomas J. Donohue, President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said after President Obama’s September jobs speech that the President “was right to call for… smart investments in our transportation infrastructure. The administration and Congress must now act on these priorities without further delay in order to save and create hundreds of thousands of American jobs.” [U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 9/8/11]

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials: $50 Billion For Infrastructure Projects Could Create or Protect Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs. “John Horsely, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, said at its peak a year ago, the Recovery Act helped employ 64,000 workers on highway projects. He says a concentrated infusion of $50 billion now could lead to the employment of hundreds of thousands more. ‘The president wants to jump-start the economy and create jobs, and so if he could manage to get the authority to spend $50 billion all in one year, you would probably have a much higher number of jobs created, if it all happened in one year,’ Horsely said.” [ABC News, 9/8/11]

President of GOP Mayors and Local Officials Coalition: Infrastructure Spending “Puts People to Work,” Needs to Be “Higher Priority” for Congressional Republicans. “Mick Cornett, the GOP mayor of Oklahoma City, welcomes the infrastructure spending that Obama has proposed in his jobs bill, explaining that mayors witness the impact of such investments on the ground level. ‘Mayors see up close the deferred maintenance that’s going on in nation’s cities…it’s just a ticking time bomb. We also know that it puts people to work,’ says Cornett, president of the Republican Mayors and Local Officials coalition within the U.S. Conference. Obama’s jobs plan proposes new infrastructure spending on everything from rebuilding schools to an infrastructure finance bank--all of which Cornett supports… Cornett says that, by contrast, Congressional Republicans have not put forward any substantial plans to revitalize the country’s infrastructure.” [Washington Post, 9/20/11]

Associated General Contractors: “Should Congress Fail To Enact” President’s Infrastructure Plan, “Too Many Construction Workers Will Remain Unemployed, The Private Sector Will Suffer, And Taxpayers Will End Up Paying More.” Stephen E. Sandherr, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America, said, “Should Congress fail to enact the desperately needed infrastructure investments the President proposes, too many construction workers will remain unemployed, the private sector will suffer, and taxpayers will end up paying more, later, for infrastructure. Infrastructure projects don’t just create construction jobs... Investing in infrastructure is the most effective way to create good jobs, deliver great roads, build a strong economy and protect taxpayers. That is why the Associated General Contractors of America stands with the president and everyone else who is willing to make the investments needed to revive our industry and rebuild our economy.” [Associated General Contractors, 9/9/11]

American Society of Civil Engineers: Current, Insufficient Funding for Infrastructure Will Cost America More Than 870,000 Jobs and $900 Billion By 2020. Patrick J. Natale of the American Society of Civil Engineers wrote, “Obama’s call for infrastructure investment was not only about jobs but about our competitiveness in global markets. Both the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation and the Building America’s Future Educational Fund have released reports showing how we are rapidly falling behind our global competitors such as China, Japan, and South Korea when it comes to investing and modernizing our transportation systems… A recent economic study from ASCE found that even current investment levels in transportation infrastructure will cost the American economy more than 870,000 jobs and suppress the growth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product by almost $900 billion by the year 2020.” [National Journal, 9/12/11]

President Reagan Said Infrastructure Investment Was Common Sense. “Common sense tells us that it will cost a lot less to keep the system we have in good repair than to let it disintegrate and have to start over from scratch. Clearly this program is an investment in tomorrow that we must make today. It will allow us to complete the interstate system, make most -- the interstate repairs and strengthen and improve our bridges, make all of us safer, and help our cities meet their public transit needs.” [Remarks, 1/6/83]

THERE IS BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK

Earlier This Year, Two Republican Senators Co-Sponsored an Infrastructure Bank. According to the Washington Post, “Earlier this year, in fact, two Senate Republicans — Kay Bailey Hutchison (Tex.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.) — had co-sponsored Massachusetts Democrat John Kerry’s infrastructure bank bill, which bears close resemblance to the proposal in Obama’s failed jobs bill.” [Washington Post, 10/13/11]

Sen. Hutchison: “A National Infrastructure Bank is an Innovative Way” to Address the Nation’s Water, Transportation, and Energy Infrastructure Needs. “The idea of a national infrastructure bank is an innovative way to leverage private-public partnerships and maximize private funding to address our water, transportation, and energy infrastructure needs. In our current fiscal situation, we must be creative in meeting the needs of our country and spurring economic development and job growth, while protecting taxpayers from new federal spending as much as possible.” [Hutchison Blog, 9/7/11]

Bipartisan BUILD Act Is Endorsed By Chamber of Commerce & AFL-CIO. “Amid growing concerns that the nation's infrastructure is deteriorating, a group of Democrats, Republicans, and labor and business leaders called Tuesday for the creation of a national infrastructure bank to help finance the construction of things like roads, bridges, water systems and power grids. The proposal -- sponsored by Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Republican of Texas -- would establish an independent bank to provide loans and loan guarantees for projects of regional or national significance. The idea is to attract more infrastructure investment from the private sector: by creating an infrastructure bank with $10 billion now, they say, they could spur up to $640 billion worth of infrastructure spending over the next decade… To underscore the need for better infrastructure, two frequent rivals were on hand at the news conference: Richard Trumka, the president of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., and Thomas J. Donohue, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the main business lobby. With a nod to the strange-bedfellows experience of having a labor leader as an ally, Mr. Donohue said, ''He and I are going to take our show on the road as the new 'Odd Couple.'” [New York Times, 3/16/11]

Alliance for American Manufacturing Said Infrastructure Bank Would Create Jobs.  Scott Paul, Executive Director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, provided a list of recommendations that would create more manufacturing jobs, including, “we need to invest in infrastructure and establish a national infrastructure bank” [Testimony before the Joint Economic Committee, 6/22/11; The Hill, 8/15/11]

Mark Zandi: Infrastructure Bank Would Boost Manufacturing. Mark Zandi of Moody’s Analytics testified, “To lower the cost of transportation, telecommunications and energy, policymakers could provide consistent support to public investment in transportation networks, the internet backbone, and the electric grid. As a potential example of this support, Build America bonds issued as part of the recent fiscal stimulus efforts have been very successful. A national infrastructure bank, which could marry private capital with financial support from the government, would provide a substantial boost to this effort.” [Testimony before the Joint Economic Committee, 6/22/11]

Private Infrastructure Investment Could Create 1.9 Million Jobs. Sphere Consulting LLC reported, “Over $250 billion of private equity capital is currently available, and some additional legislative and administrative changes could accelerate infrastructure projects and enhance funding.” The firm found that private investment in infrastructure could generate 1.9 million U.S. jobs. They suggested that the U.S. “Create a National Infrastructure Bank (NIB) that is authorized to lend at favorable terms to both the public and private sectors for qualified infrastructure projects.” [Sphere Consulting, July 2011]

The American Jobs Act: What’s In It For Alaska?

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 08:01:07 -0800

20,000 Alaskan businesses will have their payroll tax cut in half under the bill.
 A typical Alaskan household, with a median income of around $62,000, will receive a tax cut of approximately $1,920.

Immediate investments of at least $219,700,000 in Alaska that could support a
minimum of 2,900 local jobs.

Avoiding layoffs via $70,500,000 in funds to Alaska supporting up to 900 educator &
first responder jobs.

Alaska will receive $62,000,000 in school infrastructure funding, supporting up to 800
jobs.

Alaska can receive roughly $20,000,000 to revitalize and refurbish local communities.

Alaska can receive $2,500,000 for its community colleges, in the next fiscal year alone.

Putting the 8,000 long-term unemployed Alaskans back to work via the bill’s Pathways
Back To Work initiative.

Preventing 5,800 Alaskans looking for work from losing their unemployments benefits
in just the first 6 weeks.

The bill’s Pathways Back to Work Fund can place 300 adults and 700 youths into jobs in
Alaska.

This is just a partial list. Because the stakes are so high for our state, our local communities, our schools, our infrastructure, our small businesses and our families, Alaskan workers converged on the state’s AFL-CIO this Friday to thank Sen. Mark Begich for standing up for our state and to urge Sen. Lisa Murkowski to reconsider her vote to filibuster Alaskan interests.

The filibuster was once a rarely used legislative maneuver used in special circumstances, but today has become a constant, obstructionist partisan tactic that prevents Alaskan interests like the above from even getting a vote in the Senate.

Families in Alaska and across our nation have been devastated by this economy. Many who desperately want to work can’t find jobs. Businesses has been battered because they lack customers with money to spend. Local communities are facing the layoffs among some of our most critical jobs, like first responders and school teachers.

Alaska AFL-CIO President Vince Beltrami explains that the American Jobs Act “reflects longstanding bipartisan priorities” and “should have brought together all Senators of both parties to stem the tide of economic pain that is overwhelming working people.”

AFT President Randi Weingarten, meanwhile, called the Senate’s shirking of its responsibilities to the American people “an outrage,” noting that a group of senators voted against a bill that would put teachers, cops, firefighters and construction workers back to work.

”These are not radical ideas,” Weingarten said. “They are real solutions to get Americans back to work doing the work that needs to be done.”

During her campaign last year, Sen. Murkowski portrayed herself as an independent-minded advocate for Alaska who would put our state ahead of lockstep partisan maneuvering. It’s now up to us to contact her and hold her to that. Our families, neighbors and communities across Alaska deserve nothing less.

You can email the Senator here, look up the phone number for the office closest to you here, and call her toll-free line throughout Alaska: 1-877-829-6030

RPEA Draws A Crowd:  Legislators Address Pensions, Medicare

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 07:53:17 -0800

[Thanks to Bob Madigan for his reporting on this week’s forum.]

A packed house of retired APEA/AFT members greeted three prominent Anchorage legislators this week, as Senators Lesil McGuire and Bill Wielechowski were joined by Representative Mike Hawker for a lively discussion of retiree priorities.

Return to a defined benefit pension

A bill before the legislature, SB 121, would allow current employees to choose between:
• a defined contribution pension, whereby they areresponsible for managing their own pension funds, or
• a defined benefit pension similar to the one RPEA members now have in PRS and TRS. New state employees no longer have the second option.

All three legislators supported SB 121. Senator Wielechowski pointed out that Alaska is the only state where employees have neither a defined benefit pension nor social security. There is no safety net for these employees if the markets perform as they have in recent years. Furthermore, the fact that no new employees are being added to the TRS and PRS systems weakens these systems. Senator McGuire explained how a previous bill six years ago created the current mess, and that SB 121 is a thoughtful remedy to the problem. Representative Hawker discussed the job of convincing other legislators to support the bill. A key disagreement is different estimates on the true costs of the bill. Representative Hawker is convinced that the cost is zero , that the bill will benefit the pension system, and pledged to work on convincing his colleagues of this.

The unfunded liability problem

In the 1990s, the state cut back significantly on its contributions to PRS and TRS pension funds. Because of this, the funds will eventually run out of money.

All three legislators agreed the problem must be addressed. Senator McGuire explained how consultants in the 1990s made errors that she described as criminal. The state has already sued them, received a $500 million settlement, and is increasing its PRS/TRS funding to reduce the liability (last year’s state contribution was $480 Million). McGuire expressed confidence in finding a solution and Hawker, voicing agreement, pointed to his own draft legislation that would allow the pension funds to borrow low interest money and invest it in high return securities to strengthen the funds. Interest rates are currently at record lows and shrewd pension fund managers have been able to achieve investment returns as high as 20%. Representative Hawker sees this as an opportunity to retire some of the liability. Senator Wielechowski emphasized how important the current oil tax debate is to this issue. Under the Governor’s controversial oil tax proposal, our state income would be drastically reduced and the unfunded liability problem would be exacerbated instead of solved.

The Medicare doctor shortage

RPEA members expressed appreciation for the creation of the Alaska Medicare Clinic—an effort to which Rep. Hawker and Sen. McGuire were instrumental. RPEA members, noting that this is a remedy for Anchorage, asked the lawmakers what can be done for the rest of the state.

One statewide solution is SB 87, a bill allowing the State of Alaska to supplement Medicare payments to doctors to offset the low Medicare reimbursement rates. Senators Wielechowski and McGuire are co-sponsors of the bill, and Representative Hawker supports it. The bill has passed the Senate and will be taken up by the House in the coming year.

All three legislators agreed that oil tax policy is critical to this bill, as oil taxes provide its funding. Two very different perspectives then emerged, as Sen. Wielechowski warned that the proposed changes in oil tax rates would cause a dramatic reduction in state revenue that could exhaust all of the state’s ready cash in ten years. He pointed out that oil field employment and exploration are at an all time highs and tax giveaways aren’t needed. Sen. McGuire and Rep. Hawker argued that oil companies will not invest in production wells unless the tax is lowered. The companies currently pay a progressive tax that depends on the price of oil —the higher the price, the higher the tax. Some believe that lowering the tax will cause increased production, although oil companies have refused to make a commitment to investment and jobs in Alaska in return for new tax breaks. APEA/AFT has previously addressed this issue, with Wielechowski providing an in-depth factual analysis that separates fact from fiction. This debate will return in the coming legislative session, and current APEA/AFT members as well as retirees have much at stake in it.

Elected Leaders, Activists Rally In Support of SB5 (Denali KidCare)

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:34:59 -0800

Downtown Anchorage saw an enthusiastic turnout today in support of Senate Bill 5, the Denali KidCare bill authored by State Sen. Bettye Davis (pictured above with Senators Hollis French and Johnny Ellis at today’s rally).

Last year, Gov. Sean Parnell vetoed a bill that would have provided Denali Kid Care (the state health program that gets 70% matching federal funds) to 1200 infants and children, and about 200 pregnant women who are between 175% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

The Senate Health and Social Services committee is holding a hearing today at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office to discuss how to help more of Alaska’s uninsured children and pregnant women receive essential health care coverage through Denali KidCare.

Contact your state senator, your state representative, and the governor to let them know you support health care for kids and SB5.

Oct. 4 Local Elections: 75% of APEA Endorsements Victorious

Wed, 5 Oct 2011 07:58:23 -0800

We didn’t win everything we wanted to win, but APEA-supported candidates and ballot measures did win in every borough where we made endorsements and when all was said and done, we batted .750 on election night.
Winners included John Davies (above), who was elected to the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly by an overwhelming margin.
Kenai Peninsula Borough mayoral candidate Mike Navarre was easily the top vote-getter and will face the 2nd-place finisher, whom he bested by a 39%–24% spread, in the borough’s October 25 run-off.
In the Mat-Su Valley, both of the ballot initiatives we endorsed—Proposition 2 (transportation bond) and Proposition 3 (education/capital improvement bond)—won by wide margins.
In Juneau, Jesse Kiehl claimed an assembly seat by a better than 2–1 margin, while Loren Jones’s race—with the vote totals currently separated by 53 ballots, and the absentees yet to be counted—has not been called.
Sally Saddler, meanwhile, won a landslide victory for the Juneau School Board and write-in candidate O’Brien also appears to have won.
In Ketchikan, Dave Kiffer won the mayor’s race by a whopping 1,569–194 vote margin, and Michael Painter won a seat on the borough assembly.
A big thank you and congratulations to all of our activists across the state who gave of their time, expertise and energy in order to help bring these victories home!

APEA/AFT Is Hiring

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:23:58 -0800

Northern Regional Manager (Fairbanks Office) 
The Alaska Public Employees Association/AFT (AFL-CIO) is currently accepting applications for the position of Regional Manager for its Northern Regional office in Fairbanks. Applicants must have advanced verbal and written communications skills, exceptional analytical abilities, identification with labor philosophies, the ability to deal effectively with emotional and highly stressful situations and knowledge of labor relations/human resource theory. A degree in Industrial Relations, Human Resource Development, or a closely related field or a Juris Doctor is desired.
 The Regional Manager is a union advocate and also an administrator. He/she must be able to handle high volumes of grievances and classification appeals, negotiate collective bargaining agreements and draft and argue Unfair Labor Practice complaints. Applicants should have prior experience in member mobilization activities. The Regional Manager is responsible for negotiations and contract administration for all APEA/AFT bargaining units in Northern Alaska. This position requires travel. The salary is $6,285 – 6,718 per month(DOE), with generous benefits. Qualified APEA/AFT members are encouraged to apply. Interested applicants should send a completed APEA/AFT application, 3 Professional References, a resumé and analytical writing sample by October 14, 2011 to:  Bruce Ludwig, Business Manager APEA/AFT 211 Fourth Street, Suite 306  Juneau, AK 99801

Fax: 907-463-4980 Email: bludwig@apea-aft.org

Northern Field Representative II  (Fairbanks Office) 
The Alaska Public Employees Association/AFT (AFL-CIO) is currently accepting applications for the position of Field Representative II for its Northern Regional office in Fairbanks. Applicants must have advanced verbal and written communications skills, exceptional analytical abilities, identification with labor philosophies, the ability to deal effectively with emotional and highly stressful situations and knowledge of labor relations/human resource theory. A degree in Industrial Relations, Human Resource Development, or a closely related field is desired.
 The Field Representative II is a union advocate. He/she must be able to handle high volumes of grievances and classification appeals, negotiate collective bargaining agreements and draft and argue Unfair Labor Practice complaints. The successful candidate will also have a desire and willingness to work on internal organizing and member involvement, external organizing, and political campaigns when necessary. This position requires travel. The beginning salary is $ 5,499–5,885 per month(DOE), plus generous benefits. Qualified APEA/AFT members are encouraged to apply. Interested applicants should send a completed APEA/AFT application, resume, three professional references and analytical writing sample to:
Bruce Ludwig, Business Manager APEA/AFT 211 Fourth Street, Suite 306  Juneau, AK 99801

Fax: 907-463-4980
Email: bludwig@apea-aft.org

On Whose Side Are YOU?

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:28:18 -0800

Fairbanks, Anchorage To Answer That Question Sept. 6 & 8
After Alaskan school kids literally went begging to Juneau earlier this year, needing things like roofs over their heads in Sleetmute and Tenakee, their requests were vetoed by the Governor.
But when a CEO like ConocoPhillips’ Jim Mulva (far left, above), who enjoys an average compensation of $18.66 million per year, demands Alaskans fork over even more to his company, Governor Parnell couldn’t be more sympathetic.
Although operators on the North Slope and Beaufort Sea are preparing for one of the busiest exploration seasons since 1969, Parnell continues to blackmail us with the canard that a company raking billions in profits out of Alaska each year just isn’t enough to make oil exploration worthwhile.
Give them more or the pipeline might dry up, we’re threatened.
Even now, Parnell vetoes fire alarms (!) for Valdez High School and Hermon Hutchens Elementary. How much worse will it get once we let him redirect even more of our state’s resources from the most pressing needs of Alaskans to the already overflowing coffers of the globe’s most profitable corporations?
Let’s not wait around to find out. We can make our voices heard on September 6 in Fairbanks and September 8 in Anchorage (see hearing info at right).