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The AFT Joint National Public Employee/Healthcare Conference was held in Washington, DC June 11-14.  The theme of the conference was “Fighting for Americas Future, Its Dollars and Sense.”  Over 400 public employees and healthcare workers from around the country attended.  A lobby day was held on June 11 for participants of the conference to lobby their congressmen and senators on the Employee Free Choice Act, healthcare reform, and public safety collective bargaining.

Participants heard from AFT President Randi Weingarten about the economic crisis facing the country and how AFT and its members must mobilize and fight to protect the vital services the public employees provide to the citizens of each our states.  Also addressing the conference was Hilda Solis, US Secretary of Labor.  Some of the workshops available at the conference included: indoor air quality, creative ways to mobilize members, bullying in the workplace, generations, finding common ground, and defined benefit pension plans.

During the AFT Public Employee Luncheon, NDPEA was presented the Legislative Campaign Award for its work with Governor Hoeven and the ND legislature to pass the 5% and 5% salary increase.  The conference also included a COPE (committee on political education) raffle to raise money that will be used to endorse candidates that support AFT and working families.  The grand prize of the raffle was an American Flag that flew over the US Capitol at Senator Obama’s request on Election Day.  NDPEA’s own Mike Frohlich, a member from Bismarck, won the flag and a certificate signed by President Obama.  Congratulations Mike!

NDPEA participants at the conference were Shirley Rux, Jamie Eriksson, Jeff Kolrud, Mike Frohlich, and Gary Feist.

Click on the "Legislative Campaign Award" link below to see the actual award.

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