Over 2,000 workers turned out to reject Mayor Gimenez’s current contract proposal for the AFSCME Local 199 bargaining unit. Members used vacation and furlough days to staff election sites at five locations across the county. Workers flocked to the voting sites, prepared to stand up and fight against the current contract proposal.
“I volunteered because this issue is important to me. I’ve worked hard my entire life to better myself and every time I take a step forward, this Mayor has knocked me back. County workers have to stand up and push back on these unwarranted attacks. The stronger AFSCME Local 199 becomes, the weaker the Mayor will be,” said Alicia Thomas, Elections Specialist and AFSCME Volunteer Member Organizer.
“Seeing us out in front of the contract issue proves to workers that it’s a new day at AFSCME Local 199,” said Sherilyn Bell, “I think having members volunteer to work the election motivated people to get active and sign up.” During the vote, Local 199 increased both membership and PEOPLE sign-ups, growing the strength of the union and surpassing the goals set for the, AFSCME 50K stronger campaign.
“We are fed up and tired of the Mayor taking from those who are struggling to make it and giving breaks his millionaire cronies,” said Jamila Holiday, AFSCME member from the 311 Department.
The Mayor’s administration has continued to gut the contract of public employees, weaken the county workforce, cut public services and attack Miami-Dade county working families. The budget proposal released by the mayor cuts the government by almost 3 percent, and requires the release of 654 county positions. The majority of those positions come from the libraries and police department, which will have significant negative effects on the community at large.
AFSCME Local 199’s current contract expires September 30, 2014. The County Commission votes on the budget for the 2015 fiscal year which will determine negotiations for the coming three year contract agreement.
