UNION FACTS & GLOSSARY
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a voluntary federation of national and international labor unions representing 9 million workers. The AFL-CIO was created in 1955 by the merger of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Organizations. AFSCME is a member of the AFL-CIO.
Change to Win is a federation of unions that split from the AFL-CIO in 2005. It represents 4 million workers nationwide. Several international union leaders disputed the emphasis of the AFL-CIO on politics and felt that more resources should be devoted to organizing new workers. They split to form their own federation.

AFSCME
“American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees.” Founded in
1932 by a group of white-collar, professional State employees in Madison,
Wisconsin. There are now over one and a quarter million members covered by
AFSCME International, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

AFSCME International
Each Local pays a per capita share to the International Union. The International is governed bythe convention, which meets biennially. Every AFSCME Local is allowed representation at the International Convention.
The International Executive Boards includes President, Secretary-Treasurer and thirty regional Vice-Presidents who are elected by convention delegates every four years. The Board meets quarterly to determine policy and programs and implement convention resolutions. The International assists Locals and Councils in organizing, education, training, research and political activity.
The Area office, located with Council 5 in South St. Paul, serves the Upper Midwest area. This includes AFSCME’s two Minnesota Councils, Council 59 in South Dakota, including an Organizing Committee in North Dakota and Nebraska. The office provides support to the Statewide PEOPLE Committee, coordinates Day-On-The-Hill and produces the Legislative Alert. Staff also provides education programs and support on organizing campaigns.

Bargaining Unit
The National Labor Relations Act determines the bargaining units for private sector employees. A bargaining unit under the NLRA is defined as a group of two or more employees who share a community of interest and may reasonably be grouped together for purposes of collective bargaining. The NLRB has discretion to determine appropriate bargaining units.

PELRA defines what these are for state employees. The Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS) determines bargaining units when employees indicate a desire for a union election.
Collective Bargaining
A method of determining terms and conditions of employment by negotiation between representatives of the employer and the Union represented employees.

Council
AFSCME has a Council structure whereas the Locals pay a share (per cap) of their Local dues. This allows the Locals to share resources. A Council Director is hired by the Council Executive Board and s/he in turn hires the rest of the staff.

Council 5
AFSCME Minnesota Council 5 jurisdiction includes members in over 120 Locals of local government employees (city, county, school district) in the twin cities and arrowhead region. It also represents state employees, University of Minnesota employees, and several private sector units including Fairview Hospital and Red Cross.
The staff consists of Field Representatives who provide support and assistance to Locals; a political staff; Communications, Organizing and Education Departments, a Researcher and the Executive Staff. Support staff includes accounting personnel, office and membership staff. They provide services such as membership data, dues deductions, printing services financial reporting and payment. There are offices in South St. Paul, Duluth and Brainerd.

Minnesota has two councils. The other is Council 65 which represents local government employees outside the twin cities and the arrowhead region.

Council 5 Convention
Held once year to conduct the business of Council 5. Some decisions must be made by the entire delegation rather than the Executive Board that meets once a month. This includes constitutional amendments and resolutions. A resolution is an issue that is brought forward by an individual, Local or Policy Committee. Delegates elect the four chair officers and the Executive Board at the convention of even numbered years. Other events include educational workshops, political receptions, social hospitality rooms, Committee meetings and speakers.

Council 5 Executive Board
This is the highestdecision-making body of the Council when the convention is not in session. This entity carries on the business of the Council and meets once a month. Executive Board members are elected by the convention delegates in one of two ways: 1) By sector (State, County, City, Private Sector or School District) or 2) By one of 6 regional districts.

Duty of Fair Representation
The Union’s obligation, as the exclusive bargaining representative of a group of employees, to represent fairly all employees in the bargaining unit in grievance handling, as well as, contract negotiations.

Exclusive Bargaining Rep
“Exclusive Representative” means an employee organization, which has been certified to meet and negotiate with the employer on behalf of all employees in the appropriate unit. Council 5 is the Exclusive Bargaining Representative as recognized by the BMS and the NLRB.

Fair Share
PELRA allows the Union to require employees who are not union members to contribute a fair share fee for services rendered by the Union. In no event shall the fair share fee exceed 85 percent of the regular membership dues. For private sector employees, payer fees must be bargained with the employer.

Grievance Arbitration
A dispute resolution process whereby a neutral third party, the arbitrator, hears a grievance and makes a decision which is usually both final and binding on both parties. This process is used when the grievance procedure fails to produce a resolution.

Local
A group of workers who organize and vote to form a Union they then determine a structure that will allow them to function effectively. A Local can be defined by bargaining unit, geographical location, employer or a combination of these. Once a governance framework is developed, they write a constitution and establish a dues structure.

Local Meeting
Regularly scheduled meeting where members make decisions regarding the business of the Local Union. This includes allocating money based on priorities of the Local, how to participate in the Council 5 structure and the larger labor movement, information and decisions in how to interact with the employer, and correspondence received by the President. It may also include various Committee reports (Organizing, Steward, Social, Newsletter, etc.), good and welfare and current workplace issues. The Local constitution governs how often membership meetings are held. Locals elect officers and executive board representatives to carry on the business of the Local on a daily basis.

National Labor Relations Board
The National Labor Relations Board is an independent Federal agency created in 1935 by Congress to administer the National Labor Relations Act, the basic law governing relations between labor unions and employers. The statue guarantees the right of employees to organize and to bargain collectively with their employers. This act applied to all employers involved in interstate commerce, other than airlines, railroads, agriculture, and Government. It is this law that governs Council 5 employees who work for private sector employers.

PELRA (Public Employees)
Public Employee Labor Relations Act, Chapter 179A, a Minnesota statute passed by the legislature in 1971 that gave public employees in this State the right to bargain salaries, benefits and working conditions. PELRA is administered by the Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS) whose job it is to determine appropriate bargaining units, oversee certification and decertification elections, and provide mediation services.

PEOPLE
“Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality.” This is AFSCME’s legislative/political action program. It is also the name of AFSCME’s Political Action Committee and is registered with the Federal Election Commission. Federal law and some State laws prohibit the use of Union dues money to support political candidates. Campaign contributions by AFSCME to these candidates must come from a separate voluntary fund.

Policy Committee
This is a decision-making body comprised of Council 5 members who have a common agency or employer. This would include anyone who is a member of a Local at a particular State agency like the Department of Human Services (DHS) or Transportation (DOT). It can also include members of different locals who work for Hennepin County or the University of Minnesota
Policy Committees are as active or effective as the members elected to it. A
Policy Committee might engage in lobbying efforts or employer-wide issues like
DHS downsizing the regional treatment centers or contract campaign strategies.
Some Policy Committees have treasuries, while others do not.

Stewards
Union representatives elected or appointed by the Local. Stewards function as advocates (including contract enforcement and grievance handling); organizers and Union builders; educators and information sources and leaders.

Unfair Labor Practice
An employer or Union practice forbidden by the National Labor Relations
Board, the Civil Service Reform Act (for Federal workers), or State and Local
Laws.
9/1/06