General questions

How do I join Local 3005?
Sign up here.

I have an idea; can the union do xyz?
Please contact us! We’d love to support member-led efforts, so let us know what you’re thinking. 

How can I get involved in the union?
Join a committee, attend a meeting, or become a shop steward!

How can I join a committee?
There are currently 5 committees open for members: Membership, Communication, Healthcare and Benefits, Contract and Negotiations, and Political Action. For more info about committees, visit this page. Interested in joining a committee or want to learn more? Email paulbrown.local3005@gmail.com.

When are the meetings?
General Membership Meetings happen according to our constitution in September, November, January, March, and May with a break in the summer. They are announced via postcard in the mail, fliers at work sites, and the e-mail newsletter. General Membership Meetings, Committee Meeetings, and other events are also posted on the website calendar.

What does a shop steward do?
Stewards organize coworkers, identify workplace issues, conduct fact finding and investigate grievances, encourage members to act together to correct injustice, and educate coworkers about policies and building solidarity. They get coworkers used to standing up to management and talking about the union. They can also work on special projects as interested, like fact sheets, planning lunch-time educational sessions, research, etc. When a workplace issue rises to the level of being a violation of our contract or an official policy, shop stewards can help you file a grievance, alongside our DC37 Grievance Representative, Claudia Quick (cquick@dc37.net).

In Local 3005, anyone can become a steward! No experience needed. The only requirement is that you take the DC 37 shop steward class. Email qhood.local3005@gmail.com with any questions about becoming a shop steward.

I want to get involved but I’m afraid of the time commitment. Do you have any roles for me?
The more people we have involved, the more we can take turns doing the work! You don’t have to permanently commit yourself to anything in order to attend a union event or a committee meeting. There are plenty of roles for rank-and-file members of varying time commitments. Tasks like hanging up flyers or text banking are essential to the smooth running of our local, and we’re always looking for volunteers.

How can I sign up for the e-mail newsletter?
Sign up here.

How do I request a contribution from the local for illness, childbirth, or bereavement? 
Union membership isn't only about workplace issues. We're also here to support one another through the highs and lows of life. If you or a fellow member of the Local are celebrating the joys of new parenthood, healing from illness or surgery, or grieving the loss of a loved one, fill out this form to receive a small contribution from the local. 

Where can I learn more about our contracts?
Here. You can also join the contracts committee that is working on building power and pressure to improve our contracts through targeted campaigns.

Why are you commenting on politics? That is not allowed or related to improving our working conditions.
We take the AFSCME constitution seriously: 

"One of the fundamental tenets of democratic government is the consent of the governed. Unions are an extension of that idea. Union members are both workers and citizens.

Collective bargaining is the expression of citizenship in employment. Participation in the political life of the nation is but another aspect of that citizenship.

In the same way that unions are dedicated to improvement of the terms and conditions of employment, we are equally dedicated to exert ourselves, individually and collectively, to fulfill the promise of American life. Amidst unparalleled abundance, there should be no want. Surrounded by agricultural surpluses of all descriptions, there should be no hunger. With advanced science and medical research, sickness should not go untreated. A country that voyages into outer space can provide adequate education, protection and family preservation for all its children.

For unions, the work place and the polling place are inseparable, and the exercise of the awesome rights and responsibilities of citizenship is equally required at both."