By CHRIS DUGOVICH

Chris Dugovich
Council 2 President/Executive Director

For close to eight years now, I have had the privilege of representing the Northwest region (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington) on the AFSCME International Executive Board. Currently 31 people serve as International Vice Presidents from districts that vary quite a bit, both in geographic size and number of members represented. The Northwest region is not only one of the largest geographically but also is one of the two largest in terms of number of members — the other is California.

For several years I've worked hard to make others on the board aware of our inequities and looked forward to an opportunity to correct the situation. Well, the opportunity arrived and we came out on top.

Due to our continued growth and a significant realignment of a number of International Vice President positions across the country, I am pleased to inform you that, if all goes as planned (and I am sure it will) the Northwest region will be able to elect two International Vice Presidents at the International Convention in Anaheim in June.

During the last several weeks a committee made up of several unaffected International Vice Presidents met to look at a number of redistricting plans designed to correct the inequities that occurred as a result of increases and decreases in membership in several parts of the country.

I attended a meeting of that committee and advocated for the viewpoint that the Northwest region's growth and potential growth justified the creation of a second International Vice President position.

Committee has agreed

The committee is recommending a plan supported by International President Gerald McEntee that contains the following:

1. Creates a second IVP position in the Northwest region
2. Creates a second IVP position in California
3. Creates a new district for Puerto Rico and creates a new IVP position for that territory
4. Merges the Southern District into the Caribbean District, removing the Southern District’s IVP

This plan will be submitted to all the International Vice Presidents at our March meeting and I am confident they will recommend its approval.

The plan then would be submitted in the form of an amendment to the AFSCME constitution and presented to the delegates in Anaheim for their approval.

If the plan is approved by the delegates, the Northwest region would elect two IVPs on Thursday, in Anaheim at the International Convention.

Thanks go to a number of International Vice Presidents who worked with me and in the end supported our effort. Naturally, President McEntee’s support was critical to this effort. His push put us over the top in a series of meetings that culminated in a meeting with me on Friday, February 20.

At this juncture, it looks as though the plan is well on its way to reality.

Two International Vice Presidents for Northwest region

I am extremely proud of this effort. First and foremost because it as the right thing to do. It brings not only added representation to the Northwest region, but added clout.
It recognizes our region-wide organizing successes and will help further tie this vast region together. I am extremely pleased to have played a part in making it happen.