PPFFA
Paycheck Protection
Posted On: Oct 17, 2014

TO:                         All PPFFA Affiliate Locals/Executive Board

FROM:                  Art Martynuska

DATE:                    October 16, 2014

SUBJECT:             Paycheck Protection

In the past few days we have been faced with an all-out assault by forces determined to cripple labor organizations by stopping our ability to collect union dues through payroll deduction.  Pennsylvania Senator Scott Wagner once again brought about and led the battle in the PA Senate attempting to ram through legislation that would not allow dues deduction from payrolls.

What’s most egregious about Senator Wagner’s brazen attack on Unions are his tactics of trying to bend the rules of the Senate to accomplish his schemes by forcing a special Senate session in the middle of the night.

Team PPFFA was on the ground with other labor groups and the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO to rally and support our legislative friends in the Senate against this calculated attack.

Not only were we able to stop the midnight raid on Unions we were able to soundly defeat the floor vote the next day 28-20.

Credit for this victory needs to be placed at the feet of our legislative team who were in Harrisburg and pounding the floors of the Capitol: Dave Schmidt, Marty Harsh, Darrin Kelly and Mike Stender.  These men worked tirelessly for nearly 18 hours on Tuesday and again for another 12 hours on Wednesday to defeat Senator Wagner and his band of ant-union cronies.

I would also like to thanks Ralph Sicuro and John Gardell, of Pittsburgh Local 1, who were in Harrisburg on other issues for their support and assistance when this crisis reared its ugly head.

This fight is far from over.  We need to get our troops out to vote on Election Day.  We need to encourage them to get their families and friends to support our candidates.  We need to get our PAC funds established so we can help those who help us.  In the next several days you will be receiving our list of endorsed candidates, please share that list with your membership.

Currently, the PPFFA is developing plans for an outreach program to help you and your locals establish a PAC program.  Once completed we will reach out to those locals who do not have PAC’s to get one going.

If nothing else this last battle proved once again that there is strength in numbers and solidarity can overcome enormous odds.

Stay strong, stay safe and get out the vote.


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