On the Campaign Front Lines
Pam Campbell
AFT Local 4018
Electing Our Own Bosses
The first time Pam Campbell volunteered for political activity with her local union, AFT Local 4018 in Eau Claire, Wis., it was because she was a skeptic. "In 2004, the AFT put in a $2 dues increase that was going to our COPE Committee for political action," she says. "I wanted to see what it was all about. I wanted to make sure we were getting our money's worth, so I got involved."
She's never looked back. She pitched in when her local—along with the other two unions that represent Eau Claire School District employees—held a concert to raise funds for political action, and she did a little phone banking and canvassing.
This year, Campbell has ramped up her volunteer activity. "I phone bank a couple of times a week, I've canvassed, I've done lit drops. I've been communicating to our members and trying to get them involved," she notes.
Campbell, who lives in Chippewa Falls, is a food and nutrition support specialist in the school district's food and nutrition department. She believes that a lot is at stake in this year's election.
"Number one is retaining collective bargaining in Wisconsin," she says. "It's been threatened. I'm afraid that, because our state legislature has a Republican majority, the only thing that keeps us from being devastated is Gov. Jim Doyle."
Another big issue for Campbell is the so-called Taxpayer Protection Amendment (TPA). It is Wisconsin's version of the "taxpayers' bill of rights," a right-wing scheme to impose harsh limits on taxes and fees even when they don't meet the state's needs. "That would devastate every community in Wisconsin, and not just the school districts," Campbell explains. "They're trying to pass the TPA as a constitutional amendment because they know Jim Doyle would veto it if it were legislation."
Campbell already knows the damage the TPA could do. The Eau Claire School District has had its own version of a TPA for 12 years. The result? "This year, we're $4.5 million in the hole. Next year, it's projected to be $7 million. We made cuts in energy. We're looking at up to 120 job cuts in the district next year. We closed a school to try to cut costs."
A third concern for Campbell is health care costs. Every year, the school district bids out a health care plan to private insurers. "This year, when our insurance came back the first time, there was a 35 percent increase in premiums," she says. "We got it down to 19 percent, and that was a challenge. We need to make health care more affordable for all the citizens of Wisconsin." She is active in an Eau Claire coalition of unions, community organizations and faith-based groups supporting a county ballot referendum that calls on the Wisconsin Legislature to reduce health care costs by 15 percent and guarantee universal affordable health care coverage in the state.
Campbell’s work will only increase between now and Election Day. She’ll canvass, phone bank and do lit drops. She's taking off work on Election Day to participate in get-out-the-vote activity. And, as chair of the PSRP Council (for paraprofessional school-related personnel) of the AFT in Wisconsin, she's written articles for its state newsletter urging members to volunteer for political activity.
Why? "Because it affects you directly. By having a voice, we can select the candidates that represent our values and what we need. Do you want fair taxes? Affordable health care? Good education?"
She adds, "Look at it this way. In the election, we have the opportunity to elect our own bosses."
