AFL-CIO Pennsylvania Labor 2008 Blog

Labor Leader of the Week: Mary Schwanger, AFSCME District Council 90 Director

Council Director Mary Schwanger comes from a strong union and organizing background.  Her grandfather and her father were both officers in their respective locals.  When she graduated from college she went to work for the city of Harrisburg and immediately joined the local union.   She was Vice President and Chief Steward for several years before leaving to work for AFSCME International as an organizer in the south.  Her first assignment was in Little Rock, Arkansas where she had the opportunity to work with Governor Clinton who she says, at the time, was dedicated to helping build up the union. From there she went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she helped organize correctional officers.  In the mid-nineties she came back to her home state to be a staff rep at AFSCME District Council 90 and was unanimously voted to be the director seven years later in October of 1996.  Today she represents nearly 10,000 members in Dauphin County as the Director of AFSCME District Council 90 and is the Chair of the Central Pennsylvania Area Labor Federation.

Council Director Schwanger describes her members as being "politically active and excited to be involved in the election this year."  She says that because her union represents primarily public sector employees, her members are "especially aware of the connection between the economy and their job security."  Recent battles over city jobs that threatened to go private have made her members more aware of "their vulnerability and how fragile the economy is under the current administration."  The passage of the Employee Free Choice Act is, in Council Director Schwanger's mind, by far the most important issue in this election.   Her union's recent experience "facing a county nursing home that went private and refused to recognize the union anymore, despite language in the agreement that demanded that it do so," helps illustrate how crucial the passage of EFCA is to the labor movement's future.  "It was a wake up call for all our members," says Council Director Schwanger, "to see that this union that had existed for thirty years could all of a sudden not only go private but also go non-union."

Far from being pessimistic though, Council Director Schwanger views this "wake up call" and the election as an opportunity.  She believes that conversations among members about "the union and how important this election is to the union and working families" not only help educate members but also help to bring the union members together. She says that while in past election cycles members have handed out leaflets at worksites, this year she wants to take it a step further by really facilitating "dialogue at the workplace." As a former organizer, she knows that "the more members are invested in local unions the stronger we are."

Council Director Schwanger and her members are ready to elect a candidate in November "who is going to speak for working families" and, as Council Director Schwanger says, "certainly if you look at McCain's record he is not a person who is ready to speak for working families." Council Director Schwanger emphasizes how terrible McCain would be for the future of working people and says that she can't "imagine where the labor movement will be if he is elected." But she ends on a positive note, because she feels that "there is a sense that things in this country could radically change as a result of labor movement's work in this election and my members are very excited to be a part of that."

CWA Local 13000's Annual Convention: Member Involvement in the Election is Made a Priority

(Below: CWA Local 13000 President Ed Mooney)

This Week CWA Local 13000 held it's annual convention in Harrisburg with around 100 members in attendance, including Local President Ed Mooney, Vice President Tom Crawford, Secretary Treasurer Mary Beth Gambone, Western Region Vice President Dick Johns and Eastern Region Vice President Jim Gardler.  CWA Local 13000 members had a lot to talk about because on top of an important election year, the union is also currently preparing for the expiration of their "East" contract with Verizon, the union's biggest employer in the state. The Verizon "East" contract covers 21,000 IBEW members and 55,000 CWA-represented workers.  The contract expires on August 2nd and the IBEW and CWA will bargain jointly with Verizon.

CWA Local 13000 President Ed Mooney lists the Employee Free Choice Act as a top issue for his members.  When interviewed at the convention he said it is important to remind members that they are "voting for their jobs" this election and that they should not to get caught up in arguments about the candidates themselves.  He says that he'll "vote for anyone as long he or she supports labor."  Red folders were given out at the convention to all members full of reading material about the CWA's top four issues: The Employee Free Choice Act, health care, jobs/free trade, and retirement security. Members of the National AFL-CIO Labor 2008 Team were invited presenters at the conference and CWA Local 13000 is clearly making member education and mobilization around these issues a priority this year.

To help spread the word about McCain and his anti-labor agenda to members, in addition to the Labor 2008 program presentation at the convention, CWA Local 13000 published McCain's anti-labor voting record in their bi-monthly magazine.  The local also had a strong turnout in the May 17th Labor Walks and is looking for even more members to come out for the walks in June. President Ed Mooney was at the May 17th Labor Walk and says he needs every last active and retired member to get involved this campaign cycle.  "I am voting on the issues and the issues are about taking care of my family and my union," said President Ed Mooney.  He calls on all union members to follow his example by uniting in November to vote against McCain and for a better future for labor.  To see pictures from the convention click here.

May 17th Labor Walks Were A Huge Success!

The May 17th Labor Walks were a huge success and members from across the state from AFGE, AFSCME, AFT, BCTGM, CWA, FOP, IAFF, IAM, IBB, IBEW, IBT, ROOF, SEIU, SMWIA, TWU, UA, UBC, UFCW, UMWA, UNITE HERE, USW, UWUA,Working America and more, came out to talk to fellow union members and Working America members about McCain's anti-worker record on health care.  Pennsylvania AFl CIO President Bill George walked in Pittsburgh with USW District 10 Director John DeFazio and Allegheny CLC President Jack Shea. In the Northeast, Scranton CLC President Nancy Krake walked with union members from IBEW, SEIU, SOAR,  UNITE HERE, and USW.  In Erie, CLC President Jack Fisher walked with members from AFSCME, AFT, CWA, IBEW, SEIU, ROOF, and USW.  Unions represented in the Southeast included AFSCME, CWA, IBEW, and USW.
  It was a powerful kick off to what is sure to be an exciting season as the labor movement's political program picks up even more momentum.  Union members are talking to each other about the Employee Free Choice Act, health care, the economy, and the importance of job security and fair wages.  As USW District 10 Director, John DeFazio said Saturday morning, "working families can't afford not to be out today fighting to stop McCain from being in office."  The May 17^th Labor Walk is just the beginning as labor leaders are now planning their strategies for the rest of the election cycle.  This week’s labor leader of the week, Ronald Demicheli, President of AFGE local 1916, has already sent out health care fliers to his members and plans to send out more in the next couple weeks.   

  The labor movement is a powerful voice in this election and with such a strong kick off with our May 17^th Labor Walks across the state, we have shown it is a voice that can not be ignored!  To see more pictures from the walk click here.                                                                                                            

(Right: USW District 10 Director John DeFazio at the May 17th Labor Walk in Pittsburgh)                                                                           
(Image at top: Joe Oliver, IBEW Local 459; Don Koval, SEIU 668; Jack Sabo, USW 2635; Sue Stevens, SEIU 668; Ruth Villa, UNITE HERE! 454; Dennis Conahan, USW Local 2635; Ernie Esposito, USW District 10 and CLC President; Henry Ball, SOAR 15-4 at the May 17th Labor Walk in Johnstown)