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| AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy, Council 2 President Chris Dugovich and Vice President Roy Brannam. |
The call came on Friday afternoon as the Council 2 executive board was meeting on the first day of the 44th biennial convention.
On the line was Vice President Al Gore. He wanted to speak to Chris Dugovich, the Union's President and Executive Director.
Gore apologized he was unable to attend the convention in person.
He spoke about the importance of the public employees’ right to organize and collective bargaining.
He also underlined the need for strong unions and sent his best wishes for a successful convention. Dugovich reported on the conversation to the delegates on the Saturday morning during the convention's main session.
The convention, held at the Tacoma Sheraton Hotel, was attended by 400 people, making it the largest in Council 2 history.
During the convention, Dugovich was re-elected as President for another four-year term. This fall, Dugovich will have been president for 10 years. Over that time, Council 2 has doubled in size.
Also re-elected for four-year terms were Roy Brannam, Vice President, and Judy Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer. (A full list of the executive board appears on Page 4.)
Proceedings on Saturday began with the traditional People breakfast followed by the main session, which was addressed by several keynote speakers. Committee meetings and workshops were held during the afternoon and a hosted dinner/dance reception was held Saturday evening.
At breakfast on Sunday, Deborah Senn, the state Insurance Commissioner, addressed the women's action committee.
In his keynote speech at the convention, AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Bill Lucy said that Council 2 has been doing remarkable work for the last seven or eight years.
I think you guys are doing a fantastic job and we are proud to be associated with the work you are doing,” Lucy told the delegates.
Lucy said, too, that a way needs to be found to include everybody in the economic prosperity being experienced by the country.
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| Rep. Steve Conway speaks at PEOPLE breakfast |
At the PEOPLE breakfast, Sen. Calvin Goings, a Democrat who represents the 25th district in which the convention was held, said pension reform must be on the top of the priority list.
“You folks make this state work,” he told delegates. “It is time to give you back a bit of your money in terms of benefits.
“It is your money and we have an obligation to make sure it is spent wisely. It is important, too, to have people like you on the committee that oversees how your money is spent.”
Rep. Steve Conway said pension reform is the one goal for which he wants to work.” We are trying to create a pension structure in which you will have a voice,” he said.
“We have got to change the present structure and talk about sharing in this extraordinary gain.
“I am going to carry on the fight on this pension issue.
“I pledge that to you. think it is what has to be done.
“It is only fair to you.”
