[Gennifer Reed] Hello. My name is Gennifer Reed and I am a supervisor at the Department of Human Services, Children and Youth Division and an AFSCME DC 47 Local 2816 member.

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[Brett Bessler] Hi, I'm Brett Bessler, Local 2186 member, facility supervisor at Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.

 

[Gennifer Reed] We're here today to announce our campaign for President and Vice President of Local 2186 on the ONE Committee Slate. We are excited to be running for office in this fall's upcoming election because we believe that we have an opportunity to elect a new leadership dedicated to building a more powerful union. We need to rebuild our union from the ground up and we want to fight to win improvements for our workplaces, our lives, and our futures together.

 

[Brett Bessler] And when we talked to members across this city, it's clear that we're in crisis. Members across all departments are being worked to the bone as a result of rampant understaffing and inadequate funding. They're faced with unsafe working conditions like dilapidated buildings and working alone. They're professionals that are being shuffled around like pawns and worked above their pay grade due to the mismanagement of their department’s leadership. And they're left wondering if anything will ever get better and often question if they've been set up to fail from the start. Local 2186 members are being harmed in so many ways, every day, and there is no sense of urgency from their current representation to defend, protect, and advocate for their immensely difficult work.

 

[Gennifer Reed] Yes, that's true, Brett. But our Slate members have already proved that they're here for the fight. They've advocated and achieved to obtain millions of additional funding for their departments. Our Slate members have already established health and safety committees to address their dire working conditions and preventing contract violations when their representation offered little or no support. Our slate has already proven they can do the work. And as your leadership, we need to continue these efforts in an even more impactful way at your work environment.

 

[Brett Bessler] It's past time for union democracy in local 2186. We need leadership that communicates with and take directions from members, instead of ignoring them. We need leadership that invests in strong stewards because rank and file members, not the elected officers, are the heart and true leaders of our union. We need a leadership that recognizes that front line supervisors have rights at work and are more powerful when they organize together alongside their coworkers in other Locals. And we need leadership that fights in the trenches with workers because we run this city, not management.

 

[Gennifer Reed] That's right, Brett. Now a vote to support one committee will be a vote to break the cycle of complacency and work towards a new understanding of what Local 2186 can and will be for you, the members, at the forefront. Over the coming months, we look forward to listening and learning from you, to fully understand your needs and concerns in your workplace. To contact us and share your story, please email ONEcomte@gmail.com, that's ONEcomte@gmail.com. Brett, our slate members, and myself, look forward to providing you a seat at the table as we build a path to a stronger Local, a Local that will organize, negotiate, and empower as one family, with one voice, for one city. We look forward to earning your vote in October. Let's get to work, Brett.

 

[Brett Bessler] Been doing it for years!