WHITE COLLAROFFICE AND PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION, AFL-CIO, CLC

No. 512 Issue 1, Spring 2011

AFL-CIO-CLC

33Voices From TheRallies

This Is WhatDemocracy LooksLike!

NY Podiatrists’Victory

Marutiak Named VP

111166 1212

INSIDE

SPECIAL EDITIONOPEIU Fights Back Against Assault on Workers’ Rights!OPEIU Bus Travels Across the Country, Uniting Members in the Fight!

IT PAYS TO BELONG!

OPEIU

OPEIUhas joined hundreds of thousands ofworkers through-out the country in protest of the assault on workers’ rights,rallying to ensure our voices are heard in the political process

and fighting for dignity and respect forAmerica’s working families.Rallies and protests were held throughout themonths of February,

March and April to protest the outrageous attacks on the rights ofworkers, inwhat International PresidentMichael Goodwin has called“the turning point for the middle class and for workers.”“This is not just about labor rights, this is about civil rights,”

President Goodwin told listeners of The StephanieMiller Show afterone of the first large rallies held inMadison,Wisconsin on February25. “The enthusiasm, the commitment and the energy of the peopleis so heartwarming.“It’s not just union brothers and sisters, it’s everybody,” President

Goodwin continued. “The public is supporting the right of unionsto maintain their collective bargaining by more than a 2-1 margin.Obviously, we don’t have a 2-1 ratio of unionized brothers and sis-ters inWisconsin, so it’s the public that is seeing that what GovernorScottWalker is doing is not right and they are sidingwith the employ-ees. Sixty-eight percent are siding with labor!“Walker and his kind are trying to take away workers’ collective

bargaining rights by saying it’s necessary to balance their budgets, butthe idea of calling this a budgetary issue is ridiculous,” PresidentGoodwin continued. “This is nothingmore than a group ofRepublicanextremists in various states getting together and saying let’s elimi-nate the unions.We know exactlywhat they are trying to do – destroythe unions and destroy collective bargaining!”

At the rally on February 25 in Madison, more than 100 OPEIUmembers joined the worker protests as President Goodwin told thegathered masses to raise their voices against the destruction of col-lective bargaining for public workers.President Goodwin said the rally was remarkable, noting that he

was inspired “by seeing the camaraderie of the labormovement. It’sjust a wonderful feeling. I’ve been going to rallies for 50 years andI don’t recall being at an event so powerful and so inspiring aswhat’sgoing on here.”In an interview with Workers Independent News radio,

President Goodwin said that working families must win this fightto stop corporations and their political allies from taking away therights of workers.“We cannot let that happen, wemustmake it stop,” said President

Goodwin. “They can’t shut us up, we've got to speak out like this in(Continued on page 11)

One of two OPEIU buses takes members to rallies toensure that OPEIU’s voice is heard in state capitalsthroughout the United States!

The labor movement is facing thegreatest crisis in its history. There aregovernors in numerous states who are

working together to destroy the labor move-ment with attacks on public employees andtheir right to bargain collectively.The latest attacks are far worse than the

attack by the federal government in 1981on the air traffic controllers, who were firedby President Reagan for refusing to returnto work following a strike. History hasrecorded that the strike by members of theProfessional Air Traffic ControllersOrganization (PATCO) was a turning pointfor the labor movement, leading to a steadydecline in union membership density andlower wages and benefits for all workers.Unlike the governors who want to destroy

workers’ rights, NewYork GovernorAndrewCuomo invited New York labor leaders tothe executive mansion on Monday, March28, 2011 in Albany, New York to discussconcerns of union members and the budget.Region II Vice President Richard Laniganand I attended the meeting and wereextremely pleased with the discussion. NewYork State is facing similar budgetary chal-lenges as other states, yet the approach takenby the new governor was totally different.Instead of blaming all of the ills on publicemployees and collective bargaining, thisgovernor adopted the approach of how wecould work together to solve difficult prob-lems. He made it clear that, “I want to workwith you—I’m on your side.” He stronglydisagrees with the union-busting activities ofthe other governors.Despite the fact that he had to cut the budg-

et from theusual 13percent-16percent increaseevery year to a 2 percent reduction from lastyear’s budget, he was able to do it by talkingto union representatives andworkingoutmutu-

� Editorial

TheGovernor YouWant –TheGovernor YouDon’tWantBy Michael Goodwin, International President

al solutions.Oneof the things that impressedusmost was his statement that cuts in educationmust not beachievedby layingoff teachers–butrather eliminating the “bloat” that he said exist-ed in the administrative staff in the school dis-tricts. He further stated he would use theleverage that the state has in granting awardsby threatening to withhold those monies fromany school district that lays off teachers.When a representative of law enforce-

ment employees complained that their union

had an open contract for an extended periodof time, and yet again, meetings scheduledfor the following day were canceled,Governor Cuomo responded by saying, “ifthe agency heads are not available for tomor-row’s meeting, I will meet with the unionrepresentatives myself.” The agency headshe was referring to were present in the roomand I’m sure were deservedly embarrassed.How refreshing is this report on the meet-ing with Governor Cuomo?By contrast, it’s upsetting to think about

what the public employees are facing inWisconsin—decertification of their unions,elimination of payroll deduction of dues, dis-cipline and discharge based on so-called“merit evaluations” by supervisors, along

2 � White Collar

with unnecessary demands for employeecontributions to health and pension plans.All of this was demanded by the state, despitethe fact that the Wisconsin pension plan is100 percent funded and does not needemployee contributions. The alleged needfor these contributions was supposedly relat-ed to the budget—and when the workersagreed to meet the demands of the gover-nor, he still went ahead with his union-bust-ing legislation. The courts have ruled thatthe legislation is unconstitutional and thatruling is expected to be appealed to the stateSupreme Court. In the meantime, petitionshave been circulating to recall eightRepublican legislators with the goal of elec-tions in June. Unfortunately, the governorcannot be recalled before serving at least oneyear, which will be after January 1, 2012.There are similar attacks underway in

other states. This cancer has spread to Ohio,Michigan, Indiana, Florida, Maine and NewHampshire. In all, the labor movement isbattling more than 500 pieces of anti-unionlegislation!I have said in the past, “be careful what

you wish for.” Unfortunately, not enoughworkers got the message and voted againsttheir best interests or stayed home in the2010 elections, permitting these right-wingextremist governors to get elected. We areall now paying the price!We need more of the Governor Andrew

Cuomo type of leadership and less of theGovernor ScottWalker slash and burn style.It has been said that if the labor move-

ment was outlawed tomorrow and reducedto ashes, from those ashes a new labor move-ment would be built! Governor ScottWalkercan be assured that the labor movement inWisconsin will not be destroyed and he willbe nothing more than a footnote in history.

Governor Andrew Cuomo

Issue 1, Spring 2011 � 3

OPEIU Voices From The Rallies“It was very awe-inspiring to see work-

ing people standing up against this scaryand horrible threat. Working people every-where stand to lose so much, but it was total-ly inspiring to see 100,000 people insolidarity, standing up for one another’srights. I came away proud of being a unionmember…I will never forget the awesomefeeling of walking into the Madison Capitolbuilding—wall-to-wall people—and hear-ing the cheers and chants of the crowd.Westayed in Madison for two days, and in thattime we had the best possible education.Wesaw and participated in the power of peo-ple united. All kinds of people—people inwheelchairs, people pushing strollers, old,young, and everything in between...What Isaw and experienced inWisconsin was inspi-rational—let’s keep that spirit growing!”

Maria CatalfioBoard Member-at-Large

Local 494Detroit, Michigan

Pictured with President Michael Goodwin, Local 494members from left to right are Christine Cassisi,TonyaPerry and Marie Lentz. Local 494 represents the cler-ical and maintenance workers at all the United AutoWorkers (UAW) offices nationwide and in Puerto Rico.

“As President of Local 494, I am veryproud of how our members are standing upfor workers’ rights. Our members participat-ed in rallies across the country, and as theneed arose, they showed their support. Ourmembers understand not only how impor-tant it is to give of themselves to fight againstthe union-busting going on throughout thecountry, but also the negative effect it willhave on all working people whether they areunion or not. Local 494 is willing to gowher-ever the need arises to take this challenge on.May this be a wake-up call around the coun-try!”

Kris BucciPresidentLocal 494

Detroit, Michigan

“As we boarded the bus, I have to sayI had no idea how this protest was goingto turn out. When we got there, words

cannot explain how proud I was to bethere in the support of our brothers andsisters.”

Tonya PerryTrustee

Local 494Detroit, Michigan

“The Wisconsin protest was an eyeopener. Experiencing the camaraderie ofall the different unions under one domefor the same cause! It was an empoweringand invigorating event. Five years agowhen I started (at the UAW), I was fullof union pride, but day-to-day, year-to-year, it dwindled a bit. But this rally, thiscause, those members have reinvigorat-ed me.”

Joe MasonBoard Member-at-Large

Local 494Detroit, Michigan

Members of Local 494, Detroit, Michigan, gather fora rally on March 16 at the steps of the MichiganCapitol building.

For more information about the OPEIU,visit our website at www.opeiu.org.

4 � White Collar

WHITE COLLAROfficial Organ of

OFFICEAND PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEESINTERNATIONAL UNION

affiliated with the AFL-CIO, CLChttp: www.opeiu.org

MICHAEL GOODWIN MARY MAHONEY

President Secretary-Treasurer

WHITE COLLAR (ISSN 0043-4876) is published quarterlyby Office and Professional Employees International Union, 80Eighth Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10011. Periodicalpostage paid atWashington, D.C. POSTMASTER: Send addresschanges to Office and Professional Employees International Union,80 Eighth Avenue, 6th Floor, NewYork, NY 10011.Reproduction by the Labor Press of any or all material herein

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CALMACPS

“Entering the Capitol, I felt the labormovement in the United States is stillvibrant. It was a great experience for Local100 members to stand in solidarity with oursisters and brothers in the labor movement.It was a moving experience to see all thedifferent unions working together to makea difference.”

Greg BlackmanInternational Vice President,

Region IIIPresident,Local 100

Miramar, Florida

Region III International VicePresident and Local 100 PresidentGreg Blackman (far right), picturedwith Treasurer Walter Clarit andFirst Vice President Otto Castilloinside theWisconsin State Capitolbuilding on February 25.

“A group of Local 459 members rode thebus in Wisconsin to join the protests there[prior to the bill’s passage that destroyed col-lective bargaining rights inWisconsin.] Theyknew their trip toMadison in support of pub-lic sector workers was historic, but could notreally appreciate how big and important itwas until they got there…Walking into theWisconsin Capitol was like entering a newworld. Every inch was covered with bannersand flyers. Chants, whistles, horns and espe-cially drums filled the air. The sound could bedeafening. The crowd was led by a group ofstudents in the middle. Chants of “kill thebill” roared through the building. The spiritof the protest was heardwhen everyone yelledover and over again, ‘this is what democra-cy looks like.’You can only imagine howimpossible it would be for the governor or

Local 459 members pictured from left to right are Service RepresentativeCharlesTerry, Chief Steward Brenda Densmore, Service RepresentativeJeff Fleming, Steward Deb Sides, RegionVII InternationalVice Presidentand Local 459 Senior Service Representative Joseph Marutiak, mem-ber Chanita Robinson and Chief Steward Pat Smith. Not pictured isService Representative Lance Rhines.

the Republicans to concentrate in this envi-ronment.“The inside of the capitol was just the

first ring of the protest. Outside of the build-ing, thousands walked to show their out-rage. The number of people varied by timeof day and the day of the week, but theweekends brought more than 70,000 peoplesome days. It was a diverse crowd of union-ists, progressives, elderly people, kids, stu-dents, teachers and everyone in between.It felt like the whole state was there to saythey did not support this bill.”

Joseph MarutiakInternational Vice President,

Region VIISenior Service Representative,

Local 459Lansing, Michigan

“Given the recentattack on the labor move-ment and working fami-lies nationally, andparticularly in NewJersey, I am proud of theturnout of Local 32 mem-bers to show their solidar-ity in keeping the labormovement strong.”

Allen ByronInternational Vice

President, Region IIST/BM,Local 32

Union, New Jersey

Region II International Vice President and Local 32Secretary-Treasurer/BusinessManager AllenByronwithNewJersey State AFL-CIOSecretary-TreasurerLaurel Brennan and New Jersey State AFL-CIOPresidentCharlesWowkanech inTrenton,NewJerseyat a“Day of Solidarity” roundtable on April 4.

OPEIU Voices Fr

Issue 1, Spring 2011 � 5

“When I arrived inMadison, Wisconsin, I felta strong connection with thepublic sector workers whowere fighting to keep theirrights. I understood that theunion ultimately winning orlosing this issue would haveramifications on the collec-tive bargaining that Local153 is engaged in. I felt asense of renewal, of purposeand was very happy to bethere representing my Localand International.”

Richard LaniganInternational Vice

President, Region IISecretary-Treasurer,

Local 153NewYork, NewYork

Region II International Vice President and Local 153 Secretary-Treasurer RichardLanigan (second from right) with members of Local 3 (San Francisco, California)at the Madison rally on February 25.

The Jobs Crisis Continues and FewinWashington Seem to Notice or Care

Submitted by Glen Rosselli, OPEIU Policy and Government Affairs Consultant

Nearly four months into the 112thCongress and virtually no one istalking about jobs. Mass firings

have abated, there have been 13 consecutivemonths of private sector job growth, andthe unemployment rate has dropped overthe last year from 9.9 percent to 8.8 per-cent. But the employment picture is far fromrecovered.We are slowly coming out of the worst

recession in generations, and today thereare still nearly five unemployed workersfor every job opening and more than sixmillion workers who have been unemployedfor six months or longer. Almost 25 mil-lion workers are either unemployed orunderemployed, and the rate of job growthover the last year—averaging roughly135,000 jobs per month—won’t get us backall the jobs lost in the recession until 2018.

YetWashington seems to have lost inter-est in jobs and the jobless. No jobs billshave been introduced in Congress this year.Instead, unable to agree on a budget andbelieving that excessive government spend-ing is holding the economy back,Republicans led efforts to drastically cutprograms. They used “must pass” budgetlegislation to get tens of billions of dollarscut from programs.Government services that working fam-

ilies rely on, from housing assistance to PellGrants for college, were slashed. Food andjob safety inspections, needed infrastructureprojects and some health care programs werealso cut or delayed. All totaled, the cutswould add up to the largest budget reduc-tion for federal agencies in U.S. history.Amid a fragile economic recovery with

high unemployment, these budget cuts will

slow growth and risk increasing unemploy-ment, completely wiping out the positiveeconomic effects of last December’s exten-sion of the 2009 tax cuts for workingAmericans.Unfortunately, this approach—loading

up must pass legislation—is likely to con-tinue as May’s deadline for action toincrease the federal debt limit looms andCongress needs to borrow to fund the pro-grams they’ve already agreed to.There are other ways to address our fis-

cal problems that would not shut down orcripple critical services that America’sworking families rely on, but instead cre-ate jobs to help boost economic growth. Ina $15 trillion economy, there is plenty ofroom to target investments in education,job training and job-creating infrastructureprojects, but we need to act now.

rom The Rallies

6 � White Collar

This IsWhat Demo

On February 26, Hawai’i Nurses’Association (HNA)/OPEIULocal 50 joined working families in the“American Dream”Rally to stand in solidarity with the people of Wisconsin.Pictured left to right are HNA Supporter AlexandraBrooking, HNA Director of Field Services Irene Pu’uohau,Erlinda Ferrer, RN, HNA Treasurer Elayne Schwartz andHNA Labor Relations Specialist Timothy Kawana.

Members fromLocal 8 (Seattle,Washington) join arally in Madison,Wisconsin onFebruary 25.Pictured are Local8 member CharlieBest, PresidentGoodwin, Local 8President KellieMcGuire andExecutive Boardmember KarenWhite.

President Goodwin, Local 9 (Milwaukee,Wisconsin) member and Wisconsin AFL-CIOExecutive Assistant to the Secretary-TreasurerMarilinda Johnson, and OPEIU Director ofOrganization and Field Services Kevin Kistleron Friday, February 25 at the Wisconsin StateAFL-CIO office at the Concourse Hotel.

Local 12 (Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota)Bookkeeper Verretta Strickland and Secretaryand Board Member Sharice McCain at a rally inMadison on February 25.

The OPEIU Nurses Council bus, filled with OPEIURegistered Nurses from throughout the country, makes itway to Lansing, Michigan on April 13.

Issue 1, Spring 2011 � 7

ocracy Looks Like!

On April 4, HNA/OPEIU Local 50joined various AFL-CIO unions at theState Capitol Rotunda in Honolulu toparticipate in a “We Are One” rally insolidarity with working people inWisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Michiganand dozens of other stateswhere theyare fighting for the rights Dr. Kinggave his life for. Pictured areTreasurerElayne Schwartz, Executive SecretaryValerie Higa, HNA President JoanCraft,Vicky Poland,Vicky Hamada andMark Cole.

On February 26, Leo and Judith Bandsma,members of Local 73 in Jacksonville, Floridaattended a rally in Columbia, South Carolina,held in support of public employees inWisconsin and other states under attack.Organized by Moveon.org, the rally was smallbut lively, with many people speaking in sup-port of our sisters and brothers facing the lossof their collective bargaining rights.South Carolina is a right-to-work state, so

the biggest surprise was the number of peo-ple stepping up to say that, while they person-ally don’t have a union, they support workers’rights to bargaining and the right to belong toa union.

Local 459 member Pat Smith’s grandchil-dren, Camryn Ashley and La'kebreunaAshley, pose with Reverend Jesse Jackson.Rev. Jackson spent a lot of time inWisconsin, speaking and encouraging unionmembers to stand strong. He also traveled inthe OPEIU bus to several appearances.

Reverend Jesse Jackson joins Local 95 (Grand Rapids,Wisconsin) President Jeff Jester and InternationalRepresentative Gary Nuber at a rally at the Madison Capitolon Saturday, March 12.

8 � White Collar

Local 459 (Lansing, Michigan) member Lee Major,Local 40 (Mt. Clemens,Michigan)Trustee and StewardDina Carlisle, RN, Local 42 (Farmington Hills,Michigan) Vice President Duane Spencer and Local459 President Kevin Nix in Madison on March 19.

This IsWhat Demo

Locals 153 (NewYork, NY) and 32 (Union, NJ) members jointheir sisters and brothers at IBEW Local 269 inTrenton, NewJersey at a roundtable,“Day of Solidarity,”on April 4.This daymarks the 43rd anniversary of Dr.Martin Luther King's assas-sination in Memphis, where he was standing with sanita-tion workers demanding their dream of a better life.

Pictured from left to right are Local 39 (Madison,Wisconsin) members Nicholle Johnson,CamdenGoetz, Business Agent Deb Eveland, Local 95(Grand Rapids,Wisconsin) President Jeff Jester,Barb Saddison, Shane Saddison-Bradford,Susan Kress, Sue Steinert and Colleen Foth.

RegionVII InternationalVice President and Local 512(Lansing,Michigan) President Aaron Sanders, formerLocal 512 board member and activist Tony Smydraand President Goodwin at a rally in the State CapitolBuilding in Madison,Wisconsin on February 25.

President Goodwin addresses the crowd at the NewYork State AFL-CIO “We Are One” rally on April 9 inNewYork City’s Times Square.

Indiana legislators on March 15 in Urbana, Illinois,pictured with the OPEIU “This is What DemocracyLooks Like” bus. The OPEIU bus has been a greattool for our members and others to join demonstra-tions throughout the country.

Issue 1, Spring 2011 � 9

ocracy Looks Like!Local Union 277 (FortWorth,Texas)members showed their support forteachers across the country, andattended a “We Are One” rally onApril 6 in Austin,Texas. Pictured leftto right are Denise Gilbert, DonnaLaMontagna, Anna Bucaro, HaileyOnasch and Marcos Santos.“Our members realize they have

a vested interest in the outcome ofwhat the states are trying to do tocollective bargaining for public sec-tor employees,” said Region IVInternational Vice President andLocal 277 President and BusinessManager BeckyTurner.“They under-stand that an attack on one union is

an attack on all of us. Even down south in Savannah, Georgia, Brett Hulme, Local 277 member and President ofthe Savannah Regional Labor Council, gave an interview to the local NBC news affiliate supporting the publicsector employees’ efforts. Brett told the reporter that he didn’t have to be inWisconsin to have concerns aboutwhat he thinks is a union-busting attempt by the governor there, ScottWalker. Hulme said, ‘Most people forgetthey have a 40-hour work week and safe conditions in their workplace, thanks to unions.’ He went on to say,‘What’s going on inWisconsin is a lot more than trying to balance the budget.’“We have members all across the country traveling to state houses to stand with the public sector employ-

ees inWisconsin,”saidTurner.“Our members Lori Onasch, Denise Gilbert, Anna Bucaro, Donna LaMontagna andMarcos Santos were inWisconsin to stand with the teachers there. As well as Robin Ferrarro taking time fromher busy schedule to travel from Illinois to staff the hospitality suite in Madison. Others stood with teachers intheir respective state houses such as Tim O’Connor in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Vivian Dwyer in Richmond, Virginia;Susan Kelleher and Mary Keoh in Springfield, Massachusetts; Susan Fuldauer, Sean McArdle, Mike Libassi, andThomasWatkins in Indianapolis, Indiana; Sue Gilbert and Denise Gilbert in Chicago, Illinois; and JohnWagner,Judy Spade, Don Spohn and Krissa Hensley in Columbus, Ohio.”

At a“WeAre One”rally on April 4 areDetroit City Councilwoman BrendaJones (CWA), former OPEIUInternational Vice President forDiversity and Metro-Detroit CLUWPresidentMillie Hall, andMetro-DetroitCLUWExecutive CommitteeMemberBrenda Standerfer-Jones (APWU).

Members of Local 153 joined other New Yorkers in a “We Are One”rally on April 9 in NewYork City.The rally was sponsored by the NewYork State AFL-CIO.

10 � White Collar

Michigan Update: Bills Aimed at Breaking UnionsSubmitted by JohnDeTizio,Director of LaborRelations,MichiganAssociation ofGovernmentalEmployees (MAGE)

Ourbrothers and sisters throughout the country who haveheard Michigan’s Governor Snyder proclaim that, “Thisis not Wisconsin,” may be surprised to hear that the cit-

izens of Michigan working in both the public and private sectorare currently facing a host of bills and resolutions specificallyaimed at breaking the backs of the unions, dismantling CivilService in an effort to return to the “spoils system” and taxing ourretirees.The Republican-controlled Senate, House and Executive

branch purport that this is simply an effort to address the state’sbudget deficit, which just happens to be exacerbated by the gov-ernor’s concurrent cutting of our business tax. They contend theyare “fairly” distributing the pain. Review the following bills anddecide for yourself:HB 4125 Give emergency financial manager power to

impose on collective bargaining agreement.SB 1020 Create right-to-work zones.SB 0020 Prohibit promulgation of rules for ergonomics in

the workplace.HB 4135 The membership of board of trustees of certain

police and fire retirement systems; make a pro-hibited subject of bargaining.

HB 4205 Repeals PA 312 Police and Fire Arbitration.SB 0095 Repeals prevailing wage on state projects.HB 4159 Repeals the sunset on the 3 percent public work-

er contribution to pension.HB 4152 Freeze wages; no steps; pass health care costs on

to public workers.HB 4142 Teacher tenure to be based on evaluation of

teacher effectiveness; provide for, and allow foradditional probationary period.

HB 4140 Public Employee Health Care—creates healthcare plan for all public workers; eliminates collec-tive bargaining.

Make no mistake, the fact that similar bills are surfacing in anumber of other states is no coincidence. This is clearly an attemptto exploit the current economic crisis occurring in our country todivide and conquer. If we allow them to succeed, the CEO’s inour country that currently make 560 times what a rank and fileworker makes will make 1,000 times more.This is big money trying to bust the unions to make it easier

to make bigger money. How does this assault on the middle classaffect our economy? Consider this: in 2009, the CEO of Johnson& Johnson slashed 9,000 jobs and took home $25 million thatyear. HP’s former CEOMark Hurd cut out 6,400 jobs and made$24 million. Fred Hassan of Schering-Plough received $33 mil-lion while the company was laying off 16,000 workers overall.The Institute for Policy Studies concludes that the nearly $600 mil-lion awarded to the top 50 CEO layoff leaders would pay unem-ployment benefits to 37,759 workers for an entire year.Someone explain to me how this situation can be good for

our economy. If that $600 million goes to the 37,000 laid off

workers, it is spentinstantly. It goesimmediately backinto the economythrough purchasesof clothing, foodand services provid-ed by fellowAmericans (includ-ing small businessowners) and it jumpstarts the economy.If that $600 milliongoes to these CEOs,who made the sameamount last yearand the year before,do they spend it? Can they spend it? No one can spend that muchmoney… so there it sits, in their coffers… as the masses fightover the crumbs.What is happening should be no surprise. When President

Bush was in office, they cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans,and businesses. Guys like William Buffett and Rockefeller andBill Gates all condemned the move. They said it would take bil-lions out of our country’s coffers and exacerbate the deficit. Theyunderstand that currently in this country, the richest 1 percentof Americans possess more wealth than the combined wealth ofthe other 90 percent. More disturbing is the fact that the currenttax laws in place are allowing this 1 percent of Americans to getricher at an alarming rate. In 1982 there were 13 billionaires inAmerica; in 1987 there were 49. Note that prior to 1986 the aver-age number of American billionaires was 13, then the Reaganadministration introduced new tax legislation favoring the top 1percent. In 1986 the number of billionaires doubled. Today thereare 99 billionaires and the tax laws that paved the way for thisinequity are still in place.Everyone knows that it’s the middle class that pays taxes. It’s

the middle class that makes this country work. Keep giving all themoney to the top 1 percent and taxes will not be paid, our deficitwill grow, our infrastructures will crumble and what’s left of themiddle class will start fighting each other—public employeesagainst private, salaried against hourly, union against non-union.Oh, wait…that’s already happening.

MAGE Director of Labor RelationsJohn DeTizio

Show Your Support forMinor League Umpires!

Go to www.opeiu.org to find the schedule of your localminor league baseball team, and go to a game and supportAMLU/OPEIU Guild 322 members!

AMLU/OPEIU Guild 322

Issue 1, Spring 2011 � 11

NYPodiatrists Saved FromBudget Ax

OPEIU Guild 45, the First NationalGuild of Healthcare Providers ofthe Lower Extremity, have stopped

efforts by NewYork State to cut Medicaidcoverage of podiatric services at hospitalsand freestanding medical clinics.The dire state of fiscal health in many

states across the nation has led to numer-ous proposals of layoffs, department consol-idations, and or service eliminations.In NY state recently, the governor insti-

tuted a task force dubbed the “MRT” orMedicaid Reduction Team, whose job wasto look for waste and overspending in theMedicaid budget.One of the proposals included the elim-

ination of podiatric services from “article28” facilities in the state. This included hos-pitals and other freestanding medical clin-

ics serving mostly the poor and indigentpopulation of the state.This cut would have had disastrous con-

sequences for the population served, mostnotably the diabetic, elderly and medicallycompromised patients who are at risk oflimb loss and possibly death without prop-er podiatric care.Also affected would be the podiatric res-

idency programs and medical school clin-ics, which would in many cases no longerbe sustainable without the access toMedicaid patients.“Fortunately, the NY State Podiatric

Medical Association working closely withour Albany lobbyists, the AmericanDiabetes Association and with our OPEIUfamily, was able to stave off this cut andhopes to sustain this with continued sup-

port fromthese groupsand the com-munity atlarge,” saidGary Stones,DPM, VicePresident ofthe NYSP o d i a t r i cM e d i c a lAssociationand Guild 45 Trustee.“Special acknowledgement goes to

OPEIU Local 153 for their strong supportand clear understanding of this vital issueaffecting the podiatrists and podiatricpatients in the state of New York,” Dr.Stones concluded.

OPEIU Fights Back Against Assault onWorkers’ Rights!Madison and fight this thing until Walker and all anti-union forcesthroughout the nation are out of office.”What began inWisconsin has spread tomore than 18 other states,

including Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Florida, Maine and NewHampshire, withmore than 500 pieces of anti-union legislation nowbeing considered in state legislatures throughout the United States.The labormovement – includingOPEIU– and community groups

and others have taken the fight nationwide, staging events to stopwhat has happened inWisconsin, Ohio and others from happeningin all 50 states.To uniteOPEIUmembers nationwide in the fight, the International

Union made two buses available decorated with photos of OPEIUmembers and the slogan, “This Is What Democracy Looks Like,”which tookmembers to events inWisconsin,Michigan,Ohio, Illinois,NewYork and New Jersey. Local Union members throughout thecountry also attended rallies in other states such as Texas, Florida,California, South Carolina andmany others. “OPEIUmembers haveshown tremendous support for the cause, making themselves avail-able to attend rallies and encouraging their fellowworkers to get outand be heard,” said President Goodwin.OnApril 4, “WeAreOne” rallieswere held in all 50 states to honor

the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King and to oppose attacks onthe values that he worked for his entire life. “This is the most impor-tant civil rights struggle sinceDr.King,” observedPresidentGoodwin.And onApril 13, theOPEIUbuses traveled throughoutMichigan,

picking up our union sisters and brothers and taking them to the“Defend the Middle Class” rally at the state capitol in Lansing,Michigan. OPEIU members from as far away as Local Union 29 inSan Francisco and Local 50 in Hawaii—including members of theOPEIUNursesCouncil—traveled toLansing to show their support andsend themessage to our political leaders that it’s time to start protect-

ing middle class families—not corporate CEOs!“This fight won’t be won in days, weeks or even months,” said

PresidentGoodwin. “Instead, this is apivotalmoment in the labormove-ment’s history.What happensnowcould, andwill, determineour future.“In state after state, politicians are playing politics by launch-

ing a coordinated attack on working families. They’re not givingup their pay or pensions, but they want working people to give uptheirs. Tell your state legislators they should focus on creatinggood jobs with fair pay—not playing politics and attacking work-ing people,” said President Goodwin.And, he said, there is a pos-itive aspect to all of this.“The fact is,Walker and his ilk have unified theDemocratic party,

unified labor unions, andmore importantly, have provided the debateon the value andmerits of collective bargaining that we’ve been hop-ing to have for years,” President Goodwin continued. “Nowwe havea national debate. The support for workers it out there, now we justhave to harness it and educate workers, and bring them into the labormovement. We’re doing that now.We just have to keep up the fightand continue!”

(Continued from page 1)

International President Michael Goodwin addressesthe crowd in Madison,Wisconsin on February 25, 2011.

Gary Stones, DPM

AFL-CIO-CLC

Printed in USA

The OPEIU Executive Board hasnamed Joseph Marutiak to serve asVice President for RegionVII on the

Executive Board. Marutiak is the SeniorService Representative for Local 459 inLansing, Michigan.“Joe has been a dedicated union leader

for many years, and his life’s mission hasbeen to better the lives of working familiesin Michigan and throughout the UnitedStates,” said President Goodwin. “His expe-rience working at Local 459, defendingmembers and negotiating higher pay andbenefits, makes him the perfect person torepresent the members of Region VII.”Marutiak has served as Local 459 senior

service representative since 2000, and waspresident from 1985 to 2000 where he

served as the lead negotiator and chiefspokesperson during bargaining, process-ing grievances and organizing new units forthe 3,700-member Local Union. Prior tohis service at Local 459, Marutiak served asa case manager at C-E-I Community MentalHealth and Shiawassee Community MentalHealth. He has served on the MichiganAFL-CIO Executive Council since 1998,and the Lansing Association of HumanRights (LAHR) since 1989.Marutiak replaces the retiring Vice

President Cindy Jeffries, who has beenappointed to serve as Commissioner of theFederal Mediation and ConciliationService (FMCS). Jeffries is one of fourOPEIU members serving as an FMCScommissioner.

JosephMarutiak NamedOPEIU Vice President

Joseph Marutiak

President Goodwin and NewYork Governor Cuomo Talk Union IssuesInternational President MichaelGoodwin meets with GovernorAndrew Cuomo at the execu-tive mansion in Albany, NewYork on Monday, March 28,2011. Governor Cuomo invitedPresident Goodwin, Region IIInternational Vice PresidentRichard Lanigan and other NewYork labor leaders to discussissues of concern to unionmembers, as well as the NewYork state budget. (SeePresident Goodwin’s columnon page 2 for more detailsabout the visit).