Dear Sisters and Brothers:

As you know, this past Wednesday the U. S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of Janus v. AFSCME that the collection of agency fees by public sector unions is an unconstitutional infringement of the First Amendment rights of nonmembers. Nonmembers now have the right to receive the same contractual benefits as members without paying anything to support the union that secures those benefits for all of us.

OFNHP members at KPNW won important agreements in Continuing Care Services, Urgent Care, and Emergency Psychiatric Services in June.  Take a look at how our departmental bargaining teams were able to improve the conditions for OFNHP members and their patients. 

Legislature steps back from budget cliff!

When it all came down to a vote, lawmakers didn’t even need the full 10-day special session to take a step back from the fiscal cliff and compromise on a multi-year budget fix that sets Louisiana on a more stable, reliable course.

Today's Supreme Court decision, the Janus ruling, impacts unions and union members across the country, but it means something unique to us in Wisconsin. We have endured attacks on our rights as working people over the last several years. Unfortunately, our union sisters and brothers across the country are now getting a taste of what we have faced. However, we have never stopped fighting for what our members and patients deserve--no matter what--and today will not weaken our resolve.

“This is a very bad ruling, but living in a state that for years has been attacking workers’ rights, we have learned that we can be a strong and effective union when we stick together and join with the community to stand up for working families. In spite of relentless attacks, nurses and healthcare workers in Wisconsin continue to join together in our union, because they know the future is better when workers have unions,” said WFNHP President, Candice Owley.

At the Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees annual member meeting, President John Ripley gave a broad overview of the state of the union. The union is rapidly growing and by July anticipates being at 800 members. Should that growth continue as expected, within three years BCFPE will be the second largest public employee union in Baltimore county.

Below are changes to the By-Laws of the NYSLC to bring them in line with election ballots.  A set of the current By-Laws can be found in the Key Documents section.

ARTICLE VI OFFICERS

1. Duties of the Second Vice President/Western Regional Officer: Add (Regions F,G,H,I)

a. Assist the President and first Vice President.

b. Serve as the alternate delegate to NYSUT, AFT, and other affiliate conventions

c. Oversee the publication of the NYSLC newsletter.

ARTICLE IX REGIONS AND CHAPTERS