Council 13 members speak up at town hall meetings
During the month of April, AFSCME members gathered at town hall meetings throughout Pennsylvania to connect with Council 13’s new leadership and strategize on how to strengthen the union moving forward.
Meetings were held in Harrisburg, Plymouth Meeting, Dunmore, Duncansville, New Columbia, Clarion, and Pittsburgh.
Council 13’s Administrator and AFSCME International’s Director of Organizing and Field Services, Mike Sukal, laid out the challenges the union faces, as well as possible solutions, while taking vital input from members in attendance.
“Member input needs to be at the forefront of any decision we make at Council 13,” Sukal said. “The members know what is and isn’t working, and that’s why we held these meetings, which will not be the last.”
It is clear that Council 13 members throughout the state have common sets of challenges within their union, as well as a common pride in the gains they have made through their union. It is equally clear that to overcome those challenges, we will all need to work together to build an even stronger Council 13 for the future.
“The town hall was well attended and lots of good points were made,” said Michelle Lee, Vice President of AFSCME Local 3130, who attended the Harrisburg meeting. “It’s on us. We’re leaders because we step up. We need to inspire and encourage the newer members to step up and be active as well.”
“It was nice to have an open dialog with everyone having an opportunity to speak,” said Shawn Makar, President of AFSCME Local 2361, who attended the town hall meeting in District Council 86. “It’s our union, and everyone needs to be active in righting the ship. We have an opportunity to make things even better than they were before. It’s going to take all of us to make changes moving forward that will keep our union strong now and in the future.”
Thank you to those who attended any of these meetings, and we hope you will be sure to join your sisters and brothers when we get together again soon.
