Crossing the Threshold

Crossing the Threshold

A Strong Voice in a Big Election Year

The small ceremony in Michael Smarik’s Phoenix office Jan. 14 took less than 10 minutes but it marked a real milestone in our drive to build a strong union of state employees.

“I’m very, very happy to be able to present you with this book of signed membership cards,” said Martha Seaman as she placed a thick binder and a thin CD on Michael’s desk.

Martha was part of a delegation that included Peggy Guichard-Watters, Jeanene Hanley and Mariana Sandoval. All four of them knew that as simple and short as the meeting was, it marked a giant step forward for Arizona state employees.

Submitting our membership cards means we have crossed a threshold required by the state. And we did it in less than a year.

SEIU AZ State Members (from left) Peggy Guichard-Watters, Mariana Sandoval, Jeanene Hanley and Martha Seaman after submitting a thick stack of membership cards

It also means that every dues-paying member of SEIU Arizona’s State Employees Chapter will become a Founding Member of a new and different kind of union, one with a bold plan to improve the lot of state workers and a strong commitment to delivering quality public services to the people of our state.
“We did it!” said Peggy as the group gathered in front of the DOA building after the meeting. “We’re very excited about this.”

“It makes me feel great,” said Jay Rogers, who works at the Arizona Training Center in Coolidge. “It feels good finally having a voice, being part of a larger family.”

What’s Next?

We’ve demonstrated that we’re serious about building our union. Beginning with our first paycheck in March, State chapter members will start paying dues.

“Dues are an investment in the future,” said Chuck Minter at the Arizona Training Center in Coolidge.

“If we want to do what has to be done, do the work of building a strong union that really does speak for us, we need the funds to do it,” said AHCCCS employee Todd Schwarz. “That’s what dues are for.”
We now have members in every state agency and in every county in Arizona.

“I’ve been all over this state,” said SEIU organizer Ron McDade.

“Yuma, Window Rock, Kayenta and quite a few places I still can’t pronounce. I’m telling you, state workers are definitely ready to talk about what they want to improve. And they’re signing up.”

A New Phase
SEIU Arizona members are entering a new phase where we, as a group of committed, involved working people, can use our voice to make the changes we need to make if we want Arizona not just to grow, but to grow smart.

And if ever there was a political year when working people need to speak up, 2008 is it.
So speak up we will. We’ve already started talking with candidates running for the state legislature to find out if they will support Meet & Confer for public sector employees.

We’re also talking to candidates for office in a number of cities and counties to see if they will advocate for Meet & Confer.

SEIU Arizona State Chapter members will be volunteering to help elect those candidates who support our efforts to win a seat at the table and work together with management to improve public services.

The value and strength of our union is in direct proportion to our numbers – so let’s double them this year.

Congratulations to all of the Founding Members of our State Employees Chapter. We really are stronger together.