Mississippi Alliance of State Employees

MASE/CWA GOVERNING BOARD AND STAFF 

"The strongest bond of human sympathy, outside of the family relation, should be one uniting all working people of all nations, tongues and kindreds."

"All that harms labor is treason to America. No line can be drawn between these two. If any man tells you he loves America, yet hates labor, he is a liar. If a man tells you he trusts America, yet fears labor, he is a fool."

                        Abraham Lincoln

PRESIDENT: Brenda R. Scott (Organizer, MASE/CWA)

VICE-PRESIDENT: VACANT

TREASURER: Dr. Ivory Phillips (JSU/IHL, Jackson)

SECRETARY: Mary Goon (DHS, Washington Co.)

REGION 1: Malinda Armstrong (Health Dept., Tunica Co.)

REGION 2: VACANT

REGION 3: VACANT

REGION 4: Willie Fuller (MDOC, Sunflower Co.)

REGION 5: Shirley Cowans (DHS, Holmes Co.)

REGION 6: Odean Reed (DHS, Warren Co.)

REGION 7: VACANT

REGION 8: Debra Williams (City of Jackson, Hinds Co.)

REGION 9: VACANT

REGION 10: VACANT

REGION 11: VACANT

REGION 12: Maxine Jackson (DHS, Marion Co.)

REGION 13: Barry Robertson (DHS, Forrest Co.)

REGION 14: Regina Reed (Corrections, Greene Co.)

REGION 15: Earnest Simpson (DHS, Hancock Co.)

MAP Headstart: Willie Herlong (Lauderdale Co.)

MASE/CWA STAFF:

Brenda R. Scott, Organizer

Michele McNeal, Lead Organizer

Fred Howard, Organizer

David Schnell, Organizer

Gwen Farmer, Administrative Assistant, Membership Coordinator

Alexis Farmer, Volunteer Services

Donald J. Keshel, Gone but never forgotten. 

Representing Mississippi's Public Workers

A USERS GUIDE TO MASE/CWA

To begin with, let us examine how MASE/CWA has impacted state workers since its' inception in 1989.

The organizers at MASE/CWA have been responsible for legislation being passed that gave state workers no less than NINE pay raises. Without MASE/CWA state employees would not have received a tenth of these raises.

LIST OF RAISES OVER THE YEARS AND AMOUNTS:

• 1991 - $125.00 per month or 5% of base salary or realignment, whichever is greater.
• 1994 - $133.33 per month or 4% of base salary or realignment, which ever greater.
• 1995 - In addition to realignment and $500.00 in-service, a 1% anniversary date increase was implemented.
• 1996 - Realignment or $700.00, whichever is greater.
• 1998 - In addition to realignment and $300.00 in-service, a 1% anniversary date increase.
• 1999 - A minimum of $600 and a maximum of $900 to the next higher step for all job clases. Also included a $900 minimum for Information Tech positions and an average $1,500 for MH-DCW classifications.
• 2000 - All classifications received a minimum $600 and a maximum $1,600 realignment and a $900 in-service for employees hired before Dec. 31, 1998.
• 2003 - All classifications received a minimum $600 realignment, which was at first only $300, but due to the efforts of MASE/CWA was raised to $600.
• 2006 - Fought and won the largest pay raise ever in the history of Mississippi, full funding of the realignment package or $1,500 whichever is greater.
• 2007 - Once again, fought and won full funding of the realignment package or $1,500 whichever is greater.

So...whether you are a long-time member of the Mississippi Alliance of State Employees/Communications Workers of America, or just joined, understanding what we do and the benefits we offer can be somewhat overwhelming. That's partly due to our democratic structure by which over 3,000 members in all 82 Mississippi counties and nearly 60 area organizing committees and an elected Board effectively sets policy for the entire organization. It's partly attributable to the union's involvement in all areas that affect public employees - the workplace, the city, county or state agency, the Mississippi Legislature and the U. S. Congress - in an unusually wide range of workers concerns and other activities.

But, such explanations barely scratch the surface of the REAL MASE/CWA. The fact is, the union can not really be explained, it has to be experienced. As with any other truly representative organization, a little guidance can add immeasurably to one's satisfaction. Here, then, is a brief overview, offered in the hope that you will be encouraged to get involved.

WHAT IS MASE/CWA ALL ABOUT?

As a member of MASE/CWA, you belong to the national organization, Communications Workers of America, and the local organization, the Mississippi Alliance of State Employees. We are part of an organization that includes more than 200,000 other public workers in 21 states pressing forward together to improve our working lives.

From this point forward, the possibilities are virtually limitless. For example, you can:

-- Use the extensive Union Privilege consumer benefits offered to Mississippi state employees exclusively through MASE/CWA.

-- Have an exclusive $2,500 accidental death and dismemberment insurance policy that comes free to all members.

-- Put your writing talents to work as a contributor to our monthly newsletter,SOLIDARITY.

-- Speak out at a public hearing on issues affecting your job, the people you serve, your agency, public workers in general, or laws affecting all public workers.

-- Run for a seat on the MASE/CWA Governing Board, elections are held every three years.

. . .And that's just the beginning. MASE/CWA members make a difference in a variety of ways, from public education on issues affecting Mississippi's public workers to litigation, lobbying and electorial politics. Talk with the MASE/CWA activists where you work for more information or contact the state-wide MASE/CWA office in Jackson.

TAKING ISSUE:

•  Worried about your job security??
  Throughout its' history, the Communications Workers of America and it's local, the Mississippi Alliance of State Employees, have played a powerful role in protecting thousands of public workers from the loss of jobs through privatization. Today, MASE/CWA is leading the way in Mississippi in protecting threatened and endangered state employees and the people our members serve.
• Dissatisfied with your pay?
  We welcome your help in our campaigns to enact dollar amount across-the-board pay raises for all public, state and university employees. Since MASE/CWA began in 1989, no less than 9 pay raises, with a minimum total of $5,700 has been enacted by the Mississippi Legislature, mileage reimbursement has been increased three times, all successfully lobbied for by MASE/CWA members exclusively.
• Sick of tired of being sick and tired?
  MASE/CWA members have successfully lobbied the Legislature for improvements in leave time. Including writing and enacting laws to allow sick leave to be used for illness in your immediate family, to allow state employees the ability to donate sick and personal leave to other ill or injured state employees and employees with illness in their immediate family. We continue to fight to delete the requirement that personal leave be taken for the first day of illness. These gains have been accomplished solely by our members' persuasion of their Legislators!

In Washington, DC, in Jackson, MS and in communities throughout America, the members of the Communications Workers of America and the Mississippi Alliance of State Employees are working to protect the rights, benefits and to improve the pay of public workers - for our families, for our future.

YOU CAN GET INVOLVED!

"Lead people in action on behalf of their self-interests, and they will return to their jobs to advocate not only for their own interests, but for all of their co-workers." That statement, made by an earlier organizer of our union, has been proved true countless times since on thousands of national, statewide and local issues taken on by CWA and MASE over the years.

Under the auspices of MASE/CWA, thousands of area organizing committee meetings and statewide organizing conferences have identified issued, planned and implemented action, and won many improvements in public workers lives in Mississippi.

Under the auspices of our National Union, the Communications Workers of America, and the AFL-CIO, the national organization of virtually all union members in the United States, members have mobilized together to protect and advance the interests of all workers including protecting our Social Security benefits and lobbying in the U. S. Congress to enact a higher minimum wage.

OR YOU CAN STAY PUT. . .

There's a LOT you can do from the comfort of your living room:

• Write a letter to your state Senator and state Representative about union issues,
• Make calls to your Senators and Representatives about union issues.
• And you can help, simply by asking your co-workers to join MASE/CWA - dues are only $12 monthly by payroll deduction or automatic bankdrafting of your checking or savings account or credit union.
• Of course, by simply belonging to MASE/CWA, you are helping to protect and advance public workers' interests for you and future generations. There is no greater value for public workers in Mississippi. Your membership is the foundation for everything we do!