US Senator Patty Murray addresses the Northest Regional Conference in Olympia

ONCE AGAIN the popular Northwest Regional Conference shattered the record books by attracting some 240 delegates, the biggest attendance ever.

The conference, held in Olympia at the end of October, was attended by contingents from Council 2, Council 28, Council 75 and Local 52 in Alaska.

“It was an excellent conference,” says Council 2 President/Executive Director and International Vice President Chris Dugovich. “We are so pleased that the attendees enjoy this annual event. This is our seventh year and we are extremely gratified that it continues to grow and people continue to appreciate the presentations.”

Council 2 is always trying to enhance the event and any suggestions for improvements next year will be appreciated, Dugovich added.

The keynote speaker at the conference was US Sen. Patty Murray who said that efforts are being made at the federal level to retain programs important to public employees.

She said, too, that new prescription drug programs are needed and the Social Security and Medicare systems need to be maintained.

The Bush Administration is sending $87 billion to Iraq, but that sort of money needs to be invested in this country, Murray added.
Among the other speakers was Larry Scanlon, afscme Director of Political Action, who pointed out that every effort will be made in next year’s races, both at the presidential and congressional level, to regain a labor-friendly US Congress.

Chuck Loveless, afscme Director of Legislation, told how the union was able to raise $23 billion in state and local aid, while Seattle labor law attorney Jon Rosen spoke on the ways in which legal issues affect the bargaining process.

In his presentation, Steve Regenstreif, Director of the afscme Retiree Program, pointed out that the size of the over-65 population will more than double when the baby boomers reach retirement age. Their massive retirement will create a huge drain on the labor movement, he said.

He discussed ways in which labor can hold on to its retiring members in order to preserve and enhance the unions’ strength.