News from your Chief Steward.
Where: TYPark Pavilion 12
3300 N Park Rd,
Hollywood, FL 33021
When: Saturday, March 23, Noon – 4:00PM
Join us for a family day of food fun and music!
FOR MEMBERS AND IMMEDIATE FAMILY
ONLY – NO AFSCME NON-MEMBERS
There is a $1.50 park entrance fee but kids
under 5 are free
RSVP Your full name and number of guests
to rsvp@local2432.com by Wednesday,
March 20th – HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
WHAT: EARLY VOTING FOR PENSION BOARD TRUSTEE
WHEN: THIS Monday, JAN 28th – Friday, FEB 1st
TIME: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
WHERE: CITY HALL, PENSION OFFICE 2nd Floor Annex Building
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE: FULL TIME EMPLOYEES
***UPDATE*** – It has come to our attention that full time eligible employees have been turned away when attempting to vote. We are working to get the situation addressed. Please reply to afscmelocal2432@local2432.com if you were turned away by the pension office. Also, remember to bring your City ID badge.
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The Pension Board trustee position representing City employees is up and Christopher Cassidy, AFSCME Local 2432 President, is being challenged by Lorie Mertens-Black who is an Executive in the City Manager’s Office. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE UNION MAINTAINS THIS SEAT ON THE PENSION BOARD. CHRIS NEEDS YOUR VOTE!
The City Manager’s Office and City Commission already control 4 seats on the 7 member Board, and we can’t afford to lose a Union voice. Christopher Cassidy is committed to following the ordinance as written, not as re-interpreted by different City Hall administrations. With contract negotiations on-going, this is a critical time for our Union to keep OUR voice on the Pension Board.
Since we elected Chris to represent us on the Pension Board 3 years ago, OUR pension fund has grown by $65 Million, from $285 Million to $350 Million.
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Shout out to all who attended and to Tropical Acres and X-hale Productions for making it a great event!
Election Results
The following members were nominated and elected (ran unopposed) at the November 20th Special Meeting:
An election will be held on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 from 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM for the E-Board Board At Large – 2 year term position at the Union Hall – 2734 Hollywood Boulevard. The candidates are:
All current members in the 3 bargaining units are eligible to vote. We hope to see you there!
Nominations for the following Officer positions will take place at a Special Meeting on November 20th @ 6:30 PM. Nominations will close promptly at 8PM. Elections will be held on December 11th (see flyer below). Any member with more than 1 year of active membership is eligible to be nominated. Member election notices have been sent in the mail.
The Member Holiday Party will be held on Saturday, December 1st from 7 – 11 PM. Seating is limited, so RSVP is first come first serve. Limit one (1) guest per member. Email your full name and guest info to rsvp@local2432.com by November 23rd to be added to the guest list which will be checked at the door. Non-member employees are prohibited. No exceptions!
We need our Brothers and Sisters of AFSCME Local 2432 to come out in force wearing your AFSCME green this Wednesday, September 12 @ 5:30 PM for the Budget Hearing – City Hall Commission Chambers.
Back in July, the City Commission in their role as the CRA Board, voted for the Beach CRA to give back the maximum amount that still allowed the Beach CRA to continue with projects.The CRA is now working behind the scenes to lower the amount of money that the Beach CRA will give back to help the City’s General Fund.
It is imperative that that the CRA Board/City Commission sticks to its word to make the Beach CRA give back the maximum amount to help the City’s budget. Many of the City’s needs INCLUDING OUR CURRENT CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS will be negatively impacted if the CRA Board/City Commissions back-tracks.
WE NEED A STRONG SHOWING TO SEND A MESSAGE! THE CITY CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT AFSCME – SPREAD THE WORD AND SHOW UP IN SOLIDARITY IN YOUR AFSCME GREEN!
A CRA is a Community Redevelopment Agency which cities create to fight “slum and blight”. The City of Hollywood created its Beach CRA more than twenty (20) years ago to fight “slum and blight” on the beach. For those fortunate enough to own property on the beach, the Beach CRA District has flourished. Beach property values have exploded.
The CRA is run by a Board, the Hollywood City Commission. They are one and the same group.
As we know, every year, the City Commission grapples with City budget shortfalls. Jobs get threatened. Employees’ wages, healthcare and pension benefits get put on the chopping block. Despite the dramatic growth in beach properties, and the related growth in tax funding going to the Beach CRA. For everyone else, those tax dollars flowing from the beach — which is the economic engine of the city and that belongs to all residents — cannot be used to improve any of our neighborhoods outside of the beach. As things stand now, the Beach CRA does not expire until 2027.
To make things clear, when it comes to the Beach CRA, the City Commission can and does spend up to 1 million dollars on each street on the beach. Despite the Beach CRA being able to spend all of that tax money on beach properties, the City Commission’s hands are tied. They can’t use any of those funds outside of the Beach. Consequently, the recent capital budget for streets, beautification, etc. for the rest of the City outside of the CRA, has been around 1 million dollars. Just like City residents, we, the City’s employees have borne the brunt of the pain. A few of our elected Commissioners see the folly of this current setup and are ready for change. We need to help make more Commissioners see the light.
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City management has confirmed that the potential outsourcing of City departments is now under consideration! Come to the Commission Meeting @ 5PM today (Tuesday), July 3rd at City Hall in the Commission Chambers, Room 219.
Your participation is critical in showing the Commission that AFSCME employees have a vested interest in the advancement of the City. The grass is not greener using contractors as they have learned with the (Waste Pro) Sanitation outsourcing debacle.
Wear your AFSCME Local 2432 T-Shirt. Don’t have one, wear a green shirt. Parking is available at the Union hall if you are unable to park at City Hall – 2734 Hollywood Boulevard (rear lot off Van Buren). Show the Commission that we help make Hollywood happen!
In Solidarity.
Christopher Cassidy, President
AFSCME Local 2432
