Raring to Go
Arizona State Employees Gear Up for Organizing
Martha Seaman is an environmental rules specialist for the Department of Environmental Quality and, as she says, “an attorney by trade.” This month, she begins the 21st year of her career at DEQ.
She is also an enthusiastic member of the SEIU State Employees Organizing Committee and she is raring to go. “This is the best chance we’ve had, for as long as I’ve been a state employee, to really bring about the kind of power we need here.”
“We provide a service,” said Martha. “Every one of us who works for the state of Arizona knows our clients are our citizens, individuals and businesses that need to do business with us. We also understand that we have something constructive to offer, we understand the framework within which we provide those services.
“I think that’s why the organizing effort has been so successful at DEQ. Because we’re locking into the desire employees have to be part of the innovations that will help us provide solid, competent services. We want to participate in that and help make it happen.”
A Righteous Thing
Before she came to Arizona, Martha had spent 10 years working for the State of Michigan. “When I first entered government service, it was still in the era when that was considered a righteous thing to do,” she said with a laugh.
“So I will never forgive those politicians who demonized public employees and made us the problem instead of doing what they should have done, which is engage us in the effort to provide the services people need and do it the best way we possibly can.”
‘We need to be at the table’
“That’s why I think this campaign is so important,” said Martha. “We need to be at the table. We need to be in the policy discussion. We need to be respected and regarded as having the expertise that we have.
“We know this work. And it’s about time we got in a position where we can really show the value of that knowledge. And I really think the union will be a huge step forward for Arizona state employees.
“You know, there isn’t a state employee out there who isn’t also a taxpayer. We want the most efficient system, the best system we can get, too,” said Martha.
For Martha, there’s a reason for that beyond her commitment to her co-workers’ futures. “I have a son who receives services from the Division of Developmental Disabilities,” she said.
“And for his benefit and for the benefit of my family, I want those folks to be stable, well-paid, well-trained, because guess what? They’re dealing with my son. It’s personal.”