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SUMMUP is a statewide caucus of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) human service locals created to educate delegates and members regarding common workplace issues.
SUMMUP provides a common agenda through development of unified collective bargaining goals, education programs, coordination of cross agency policy, joint legislative activity and coalition building.
SUMMUP promotes activism within the communities in which its membership lives and works by introducing education in this area and encouraging volunteerism and coordinating programs that assist working families.
SUMMUP seeks to develop unity within its membership by providing quality support and sharing successful strategies to assure workers rights, dignity, and fairness in the workplace.
SUMMUP maintains a legal defense fund to provide economic relief to members and locals whenever expenses are incurred in defending our members' workplace rights.
The annual Mass AFL/CIO conference was held May 21,22, and 21st at the Seacrest Resort in N. Falmouth, Ma.
The first day of the conference saw discussions on the economy,health care, and the income tax, as well as a stanout at the rotary for health care.
On the second day attendees heard speakers and panels on the Massachusetts Written Majority Authorization Law and the National AFL/CIO Labor 2008 Political Plan. There was a working lunch with the keynote being Secretary Suzanne Bump, Ex. Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The day ended with a polititical and legislative update and a video of the Ma AFL/CIO Scholarship Program.
The last day of the conference consited of a Srategic Plan Update from president, Bob Haynes,a panel on Legislative issues by legislative folks from several unions including AFSCME's own Jim Durkin, and a Labor and Workforce Development update from George Noel, Dir. of Labor
On May 21,2008 the SUMMUP delegates heard from three Massachusetts State Representatives during the regular monthly meeting held at the J.P. Tuttle Post in Auburn, Ma.
The panel consisted of Rep. Marty Walsh, Rep. Jim O'Day, and Rep. Steve D'Amico.
The topic of discussion was why it is so important for the members of SUMMUP to get politically involved on a grassroots level with issues important to their families and the cities and towns they live in.
The members of the panel being two union members and a past community organizer, as well as State representatives, were very informative as to how the process works with getting legislation passed or stopped and why they needed to keep hearing from their constiuents on the issues they want addressed and why.
In a formal vote on Friday, May 2nd the House voted 144 to 10 to reject a proposal in the House budget that would have raised state employee health insurance contribution rates by 55 to 10%. The result of out-of-pocket increases to these employees would have from 335 to 675%.
The proposal was defeated through an amendment originally sponsored by Representative Marty Walsh, which ended up co-sponsored by 106 out of 160 members of the House. SUMMUP delegates Thank Rep. Walsh for his initial involvement and the rest of the Representatives who supported this amendment.
SUMMUP and AFSCME members did a great job of contacting their representatives to gain support for the amendment. The budget process now moves to the Senate where another great job will need to be done to fight any effort there to increase the health insurance costs to state employees.Stay Tuned !!!!!
The annual SUMMUP convention was held April 4-6th at the Radisson Hyannis.
The entire weekend focused on the importance of members getting involved in politics and working to elect candidates who share our values and who will stand up and support the issues important to working families and the cities and towns in which they live.
Also at the heart of SUMMUP members is the issue of assuring there are good programs in place to assist those clients in their care and custody. Those clients are from the Departments of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Public Health, Youth Services and Corrections.
On Friday the attendees heard from Bob Haynes, president of the Mass AFL/CIO and Mike Foster, Staff Representative from Council 93.
Staurday was a day long interactive workshop co lead by Tess Ewing and Susan Winning from the U Mass Labor Extension program.
Also, Morgan Purcell from Local 646 was elected to fill a three year Trustee seat.
The delegates of SUMMUP Heard from candidate Doug Belanger on Wednesday, March 19th at their monthly meeting at the Tuttle Post in Auburn, MA. Doug is running for the 2nd Worcester Senate seat that will be vacated by Senator Ed Augustus who will not seek re-election.
Doug spoke highly of Senator Augustus thanking him for a job well done. He has decided to run because like the Senator, Doug has a passion for helping working families with their issues and those of the cities and towns in which they live.
