After John Ohlson of Local 120 in Tacoma returned from the AFSCME International Convention in Philadelphia in late June, he changed the signature at the end of his e-mail to “AFSCME rocks.”
“I thought it was great,” said the senior database analyst for Tacoma Water. “It gave me a new perspective on the union movement. It showed me how it could be done.”
Calling it inspiring, Ohlson said now that he is back home he has been applying the principles he learned at the convention with
great success.
Other delegates, too, found that the convention was inspirational, informative and definitely worthwhile attending.
Some 4,000 delegates to the convention — including 150 from Council 2 — pledged renewed commitment to organizing the unorganized workers.
They also committed themselves to more effective political action and to greater attention to building a better employment life for AFSCME members across the country.
The convention featured speeches from President Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore, and the next Speaker of the House, Richard Gephardt.
A number of workshops and educational seminars were held to help stewards and leaders of local unions be more effective in their roles in the union.
