2/7: AFSCME is asking sisters and brothers nationwide to keep the pressure on for the jobs bill and real health care reform. Please call Sen. Specter and Sen. Casey on Wednesday February 10 - the job you save could be your own. We've made it easy to spread the word and make the call. Call 1-888-460-0813, AFSCME's toll free hotline to the U.S. Capitol and tell them Pennsylvania needs big investment in public services.
PEBTF Changes Now in Effect
2/3: Effective 2/1 PEBTF covered employees may only enroll, add dependents, remove dependents, or disenroll from a health plan as a result of a qualifying life event. If life event changes are not submitted within 60 days you will be required to wait until the next open enrollment period to do so. More...
Help Haiti
1/15: At this moment of urgent need, the Haitian government – and the people of Haiti – have asked for help from the world community. Those of us who can must heed this call in whatever way possible. AFSCME International is donating $25,000 in relief funds to the Solidarity Center's Earthquake Relief for Haitian Workers fund. We encourage all of our brothers and sisters to go to the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center website and click on the words “donate now." Please type “AFSCME” when asked for your union affiliation. Thank you.
L2582 Member Gets Published
1/14: Jean Thompson, L2582 Fayette Co. Clericals, was recently published in her local newspaper. Thompson's 'letter to the editor' expressed her frustration regarding the recent budget impasse and acknowledges L2582 members for donating food and money to Fayette County Community Action Agency (FCCAA) and other charities. FCCAA's food bank had helped out state employees during payless paydays.
1/7: This afternoon Gov. Rendell signed the gambling reform and table games legalization bill narrowly approved by the House and Senate this week, thus avoiding $250 million in cuts. Those cuts would have included nearly 1,000 jobs. In a press conference held after the private signing, Rendell said, "Everyone who voted "no" should explain to citizens where it [$250 million] would have come from."
AFSCME C13 Scores a Major Victory in PA Supreme Court !
12/28: PA Supreme Court ruled today that the state constitution, "... does not prohibit the Commonwealth from continuing to employ and pay all FLSA nonexempt Commonwealth employees in the event that the Pennsylvania Legislature fails to pass a budget." AFSCME (along with SEIU L668 and FOSCEP L2382), had appealed a 2008 Commonwealth Court decision arguing that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) trumped any language in the state constitution that requires an appropriation to be passed before money can be paid from the state treasury -- and PA Supreme Court justices agreed. The ruling also noted that "timely payment of wages" is required by federal law. "It's been a frustrating and arduous fight," said C13 Exec. Dir. David R. Fillman. "This is a very sweet victory indeed."
New Tax Credits Available in 2010
12/14: Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Congress and Pres. Obama have improved and expanded 2010 federal tax credits, including the Earned Income Credit, the Child Tax Credit and the new Making Work Pay Credit. Also, a new American Opportunity Credit can help low-wage workers pay for college. With the new legislation, more members will quality, credits will be larger and benefits will be tailored to better meet family needs. Find out more and download free outreach posters, flyers and fact sheets.
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"I've been a proud AFSCME member for 30 years. I've seen AFSCME help a lot of my brothers and sisters over the years. We've gotten excellent contracts and benefits thanks to this union."
C13 2010 Scholarship Apps Now Being Accepted 
