The DC 37
Political Action Committee ( PAC )
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Leonard Allen |
Chair:
Leonard Allen,
President, Local 2021
Meetings are held every second Thursday of the
month with the exception of July, August and December. Members can join by
simply coming to a PAC meeting at DC 37 located at
The Political Action Committee is a forum to discuss issues that affect the
membership, as well as inform members about current legislation on the city,
state and federal level. The PAC is also a forum to recruit and train
volunteers for political activities.
Voter Registration
Frequently Asked
Questions
1. Who is eligible to register?
To register to vote, you
must:
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Be a
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Be 18 years old by December 31 of the year in which you file
form. (Note: You must be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary or
other election in which you want to vote.)
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Live at your present address for at least 30 days before an
election.
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Not be in jail or parole for a felony conviction.
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Not claim the right to vote elsewhere.
2. How do I register to vote?
You can register to vote
by:
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*Using
the Voter Registration Form (PDF format)* on this Web site,
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Stopping by the Political Action Department to pick up a
voter registration form, or
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Contacting the Board of Elections at (212) NYC-VOTE.
*Step 1- Answer questions
1 to 11 completely.
Remember:
Question 2- (Citizenship) You must be a
Question 6- (Date of Birth) You must be at least 18.
Question 10- (Political Party) You must select a party to vote in the primary.
Question 11- (Signature) You must sign and date the form in blue or black ink
only.
Step 2- Fill out the small
part of the form completely (do not detach).
Step 3 -Mail the form to DC 37, Attn. PAL,
Step 4 -DC 37 will file your form with the Board of
Elections, and you will be registered to vote.
Congratulations!
1. Once registered, am I registered forever?
No. You will also need
to re-register to vote if:
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You have not voted in the last four years,
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You want to select a political party,
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You want to change your political party,
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You have changed your name, or
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You have moved.
- Why should I enroll in a political party?
If you are enrolled in a political party, you may vote in that party’s primary election and help select the candidates who will run on that party’s ticket in the general election. In addition, you may sign party petitions to get the party candidate on the ballot.
*Note:
The down loadable application is in PDF format. You must have Adobe Acrobat
Reader installed to view and print these files. Click the icon below to
download Acrobat Reader for free.
PEOPLE Program
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Join
Now Making a PEOPLE donation. Signing a payroll deduction card for PEOPLE check-off. Becoming active in your union's PEOPLE committee. Being a VIP (Very Important PEOPLE). |
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All AFSCME members and their families can be part of PEOPLE! "Your ability to gain at the bargaining table is directly related to your past gains politically. AFSCME PEOPLE is our vehicle to get the job done." —Gerald McEntee "Being
active in PEOPLE is the single best way to build the —William Lucy |
An important political program
is PEOPLE: "Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative
Equality." PEOPLE contributions are used to support elected officials who
understand the needs and concerns of working families. PEOPLE dollars have
provided valuable support to AFSCME's lobbying efforts on issues such as saving
Social Security, fighting for pay equity and countering anti-union initiatives.
PEOPLE is the difference between having things happen to you and making them
happen.
Chair: Esther (
Treasurer: Channing Gill
PEOPLE Coordinators:
PEOPLE Coordinators from each DC 37 local and
the Retirees Association are appointed by their local/Retirees Association
president. They hold meetings on the second Monday of the month (except in
July, August and December).
Politics Affects Everyone
By participating in PEOPLE (AFSCME's political, legislative and fundraising
arm), you can have a direct impact on the political process from helping shape
policies on privatization and other issues that affect us to helping elect the
public officials who are your bosses.
As a public employee, your job, wages and working conditions are directly
linked to politics. We need the active participation of all members in order to
make our legislative/political program strong, and in turn, to be effective
when we work on behalf of our members. No other group of employees has such a
direct connection to politics as AFSCME members. That is why PEOPLE matters.
How PEOPLE Makes a Difference
PEOPLE
works to affect the political process on many levels. By law, union dues cannot
be used to fund political campaigns; voluntary member contributions to the
PEOPLE fund are used to help elect pro-worker candidates.
It is important to realize that pro-worker candidates are generally outspent by
opponents, often by more than 10 to one. Big business is always a big spender
for their candidates. Without our member contributions, pro-worker candidates
would face almost impossible odds.
But PEOPLE provides more than money to candidates and campaigns. Trained AFSCME
volunteers participate in campaigns to give pro-worker candidates the winning
edge. Our political activists can make the crucial difference in any race.
AFSCME also serves as a strategic resource for pro-worker candidates to help
map out successful campaign strategies.
And last but not least, PEOPLE works with AFSCME members at the council and
local levels to help create a structure for evaluating campaigns and endorsing
candidates in state and local races. Politics is everywhere, but fortunately,
so is PEOPLE.
PEOPLE Needs You
Like all aspects of our
union, PEOPLE is nothing without our members. To provide a strong political
voice for public employees, we need help. You can become an active part of
PEOPLE in many ways. The easiest way is by participating in a PEOPLE check-off
program to provide a regular contribution that we can count on as we work with
candidates and campaigns throughout the year to make sure our members' interests
are represented.
Politicians will make decisions that have a great impact on you from
privatization to pensions with or without your input. Make your voice heard by
joining with other members in PEOPLE.
DC 37 PEOPLE
Room 414
(212) 815-1578
IIn accordance with federal law, the PEOPLE
Committee will accept contributions only from members of AFSCME and their
families. Contributions or gifts to AFSCME PEOPLE are not deductible as
charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.
LOBBYING INSTITUTE
What is the Lobbying
Institute?
The Lobbying Institute,
which is generally held in March, is designed to empower members and teach them
how to effectively express their concerns to their legislators –either in
person, by phone, or by letter. The program allows members to receive an inside
view of the legislative process and to hear from government officials about
what it is like to be lobbied. The Institute also makes members eligible to
attend the DC 37 Lobby Day in
What are AFSCME and DC 37
Lobby Days?
Members
are given an opportunity to personally lobby their elected officials in
What is the Legislative
Conference?
The Legislative Conference marks the first phase in
the development of the political and legislative program that DC 37 union
members will pursue in the upcoming year.
How can I get involved in any of these conferences
or programs sponsored by DC 37?
A month before each conference or program, the
Political Action Department runs an advertisement and coupon in the union
newspaper, Public Employee Press, inviting members to attend. If members are
interested, they submit a coupon to PAL before the posted deadline. Members
will receive confirmation cards a week before the event.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
About the PEOPLE Program
What
does PEOPLE stand for?
PEOPLE
stands for Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality. PEOPLE
is AFSCME’s political action committee and lobbies Congress on behalf of public
employees and their families.
Why
should I contribute to the PEOPLE Program?
Your PEOPLE
contributions are used to support politicians who understand the needs and
concerns of working families. Your PEOPLE dollars strengthen DC 37 and AFSCME’s
ability to influence politics and policy at all levels of government. Your
PEOPLE dollars also help protect your job and quality of life.
How
are my PEOPLE dollars used?
PEOPLE dollars are used in federal
elections. Federal elections are Presidential, Vice Presidential, US Senate,
and US House of Representative elections. PEOPLE dollars are also used to
support AFSCME’s lobbying efforts on issues such as saving social security, pay
equity, and the war against privatization.
Do
PEOPLE dollars only go to one political party?
No. PEOPLE dollars are used to
support candidates who understand the needs and concerns of labor and working
families. PEOPLE politicians are men and women who respect public employees and
believe in the work that we do regardless of political affiliation.
Aren’t
my dues used to support the PEOPLE Program?
No. By
law, Union dues cannot be used to support political candidates. The law does
allow public employees to contribute politically through the PEOPLE Program.
How
do I become a VIP member?
A member who contributes $2.00 or
more per pay period automatically becomes a member of the VIP Club.
What
do I get as a VIP member?
VIP gifts include 1st year VIP
jacket and pin, 2nd year pen and pencil set, 3rd year VIP sweatshirt, 4th year
VIP weekender bag, 5th year VIP jacket, 10th year VIP polo shirt and a 15th
year VIP jacket.
How
much money does it cost to join PEOPLE?
The minimum amount a union member
can contribute to the program is fifty cents per pay period. Members may also
make a yearly contribution to PEOPLE by sending a check or money order made
payable to: DC 37 PEOPLE Membership applications may be obtained from your
Local PEOPLE Coordinator or by calling the PEOPLE office at (212) 815-1578.
Who
do I contact when I don’t receive my VIP gift?
Contact the PEOPLE office at (212)
815-1578 or your PEOPLE Coordinator.
How
long do I have to contribute to PEOPLE?
PEOPLE contributions are voluntary
and can be stopped at any time by contacting the PEOPLE office.
Are
PEOPLE contributions tax deductible?
No. PEOPLE contributions are not
tax deductible.
Can
my friends contribute to PEOPLE?
No. In
accordance with federal law, the DC 37 PEOPLE Committee will only accept
contributions from members of locals affiliated with DC 37, AFSCME and their
families.
Phone Banking/Volunteers Needed
Does Political Action conduct
phone banks?
PAL has computerized phones located in Room
10 in the basement of our headquarters for issue and candidate phone banks.
How can I volunteer for the DC
37 phone bank?
You can come to the
Political Action Department to pick up a volunteer registration form to choose
dates for phone banks or you can contact Eren Isbilir in PAL at (212) 815-1550
between the hours of
How often are phone banks
conducted?
Phone banks are conducted depending on issue and election campaign schedules.
In general, the phone banks operate five days a week from
Community Associations
What is a DC 37 Community
Association?
A DC 37 Community Association is a
group of DC 37 members, retirees, their families and friends who meet quarterly
(once every 3 months) in their own community to share common concerns and plan
action. The union sponsors these associations to help solve local problems and
to build organization in the local community.
What kinds of issues are
discussed at community association meetings?
A broad range of topics
is addressed at meetings. The association's steering committee chooses the
topic with input from the general membership. Community problems such as crime,
drugs, transit, housing, and educational services are frequent topics.
Politicians and agency representatives are invited to these meetings to hear
our members' and community residents' problems and answer their questions. The
community associations are involved in voter registration and electoral
activities.
What have the
community associations accomplished?
The community associations throughout the city have
done many things that have made a positive impact. They have registered voters,
consult with community partners and act as liaisons for the union. Most
importantly, they have established a strong union presence in the community, as
well as in the workplace.
How can I get involved?
DC 37 has community associations with a regular meeting schedule for the areas
listed below. The meeting schedule is listed in the Public Employee Press, or
you can call Political Action at (212) 815-1550 for details.
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Field Operations
This year, our efforts will be
focused on achieving the union's legislative objectives for the year and
securing a new contract. To this end, we will be recruiting DC 37 members to
work with us as mobilization coordinators to assist us in turning out our
members for important upcoming events.
To bolster these efforts and to maximize our success, we will also be
organizing a mobilization team to assist with our organizing activities around
our political agenda.
DC 37 members should complete
and send in a Field
Operations Form (PDF format*) if you would like
to volunteer to be part of our effort to turn out our members for important
events.
VERIFIABLE ELECTRONIC BALLOT TALLYING
Democracy requires verifiable election results. Where’s the paper trail for each ballot count? See what can and should be done to ensure true representation at the www.WheresThePaper.org
