The nation's largest trade union for public employees is seeing a wave of membership cancellations after an email was circulated amongst members expressing solidarity with the movement Black Lives Matter. The email, signed by “Oregon AFSCME Board”, read:

"Oregon AFSCME joins in mourning the murder of George Floyd, in demanding the arrest of the remaining two officers involved in his murder and an end to the rampant systemic racism that plagues our nation. We are seeing a response across this country and in protests around the world for not only the lack of action taken in response to George Floyd’s murder, but for Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless more who have been murdered.

Oregon AFSCME’s core vision and values are to fight for equity and justice and against oppression in all forms. In the murder of George Floyd, we saw the abject failure of all of the law enforcement officers involved to perform their fundamental function of protecting life and serving the community. We know our black members and staff are hurting and the Oregon AFSCME Black Caucus will be hosting a virtual meeting for black members and staff to come together. To begin our commitment to this work the full Oregon AFSCME Board will go through a dismantling racism training which focuses on what anti-white supremacy means, what it looks like, and how to stand against it. This training will be available to all members and staff.

We are a family, and our union will fight against acts of white supremacy whether they exist in our workplaces, in our union, or in our community. We will do more than merely add our union’s name to a list or to the statements of others - we will act and we will fight to dismantle white supremacy.

To be silent is to be complicit and we will not be complicit. Black lives matter!

In Solidarity,

Oregon AFSCME Board"

The dissatisfaction seems to come from the perspective that such a gesture is unnecessary and critics have suggested is merely partisan political pandering. Corrections officers who are members of the AFSCME have expressed that they feel betrayed that their board leadership would support such an extremist group that is already working to defund entire police departments, and are concerned of the unfairness and racial inequality present in the BLM agenda.

While still in solidarity with practically everyone in that the death of George Floyd was certainly an injustice, these members who are quitting believe that the AFSCME need not have gotten them involved by making such a statement. An apology was even issued amongst membership after the reaction, anonymously:

"I would like to apologize to any of the members of local 3940 that received this email from Oregon afscme, it is highly offensive and unacceptable. This is not the type of rhetoric we expect to receive from our own union."

Observers have noted the potential division caused by this statement from the AFSCME board, especially considering that those who work in correctional institutions can often be working closely with the police. A 2018 US Supreme Court decision determined that public employees may not be forced to join or pay dues to a union as a condition of employment. More information on how to sever ties with one’s union can be found here


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-06-13 16:48:38

Last Update: 2020-06-13 17:00:55