By The PA. AFL-CIO
– Members of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Community Services Committee, held their annual meeting in Hershey January 6th and 7th to review the 2014 programs and activities and to plan their activities for 2015. David Fillman, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 13, and the Chair of the Community Services Committee welcomed the leaders and expressed his gratitude and thanks, on behalf of all workers across Pennsylvania for the hard work and dedication in helping hundreds of the thousands of working families and in making our communities stronger and better places to live and to work.
During the recent holidays alone, thousands of families and children, who are in need, received gifts, of food, clothing and presents to make the holidays warmer and brighter. The 14 Community Services Liaisons across Pennsylvania build the network of volunteers from unions and central labor councils that support local United Way Partnerships and Agencies that provide needed and valuable programs and help to working families and communities. We call it making our communities and making Pennsylvania a better place to live for everyone, Fillman said in his remarks.
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Bloomingdale encouraged the Committee to keep building and increasing your programs to meet the needs of today and tomorrow and in helping build union density. Although the economy and jobs are on the upswing, wages still are way behind. We will be pushing for policies that improve skills and wages including raising the minimum wage, but until we do there are still human needs to be met by you and the agencies you support, Bloomingdale said in his remarks.
Carla Insinga introduced the leaders of several Constituency groups including: Helen Elliot the President of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of CLUW and Michele Kessler who spoke about building their organizations and how their members can help support Community Services programs in their communities through their organizations. And at the same time encouraged the committee members to help them in outreach and in building their respective organizations. Together and collectively we can accomplish the goals we set of promoting social and economic justice. Other untapped resources are the Young Workers Groups which are growing in many unions and community partnerships that are underway in the Central Pennsylvania area and expanding to other areas of Pennsylvania including York Pennsylvania were both labor unions, civil rights, clergy and community members and leadership are solidifying their ties and relationships to meet the challenges they face.
Discussions and presentations were also provided by Sean Crimmins, AFL-CIO Northeast Regional Director, United Way Worldwide; Charles LaVallee of the Variety Children’s Charity; Chad Trainer, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Director of Legislation; Wayne Burton, President of Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans;Karen Overly Smith, AFL-CIO/United Way of the Capital Region Labor Liaison; and Gregg Potter, President of the Lehigh Valleyh Central Labor Council and Jean Martin, Director of Community Services of Organized Labor and President of the Lancaster County Central Labor Council.
Alex Minishak, CWA International Representative discussed the Community Coalition to stop the deregulation of land line phones being undertaken by Verizon, Carl Dillinger, the Director of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Community Services Committee led the the meetings.
Save the Date: Jan.31 Deadline for the 2015 Scholarship Essay Contest; Feb. 9 & 10 Pennsylvania AFL-CIO 2015 Legislative Conference, Harrisburg
Source: http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=5715
