Danny Homan, President of AFSCME Iowa Council 61, didn’t expect the outpouring of support he received from the floor of the OCSEA Convention last week. He knew that the story of how collective bargaining in Iowa has been destroyed would upset people. Little did he know their silence while he was telling his story…actually spoke volumes.
In February of this year, AFSCME public employees in Iowa not only lost their ability to bargain for vacation, sick leave, health care, layoffs, seniority and almost every other contract provisions, they also lost payroll dues deduction, an automatic hit to their union’s ability to represent members.
Homan’s tearful address to the body brought delegate after delegate to the mic to contribute to the fight in Iowa and to help support Homan’s effort to rebuild his council. “An injury to one, is an injury to all,” said Board Member Jim LaRocca, as he donated from his Chapter 1801.
After Pres. Mabe kicked it off with a contribution of $5,000 from OCSEA, more than 70 chapters, districts, assemblies—even individuals---donated $100, $250, $500, even $1,000 or more, for a total of nearly $40,000 pledged to the council. WATCH THE VIDEO
Homan was overwhelmed but warned delegates to “not feel sorry for him or his membership.” With the help of his members and the whole AFSCME family Homan has managed to re-sign up more than half of his original 9,000 members this year.
Delegates who pledged and those members who wish to donate are encouraged to give checks made out to “Council 61” to Secretary-Treasurer Kathy Stewart or OCSEA Comptroller Melissa Oatney by mailing them to OCSEA Headquarters, 390 Worthington Road, Westerville, OH 43082.The donation mailing should be titled: Iowa 61 Support Fund.
After Homan’s presentation, AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride, joined a panel of OCSEA leaders to talk about steps moving forward when a Supreme Court case, Janus vs. AFSCME, becomes the law of the land. That case is expected to be heard next year, which would render the entire country “Right to Work” for the purposes of public employees. McBride was joined by leaders Amy Wray, Scott Dye and Monica White who told best practices regarding New Employee Orientation, how to mobilize members around bargaining and current agency issues.