Jam-packed conference gives PEF activists up-close look at national issues, players

WORKERS' FRIEND - Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt wows SEIU activists at May political conference in Washington.
- Photos by Olubiyi Sehindemi

By SHERRY HALBROOK
A group of PEF political activists got a leg up on Campaign 2000 when they attended a national political and legislative conference in Washington.

The Service Employees International Union conducted the May event and they "really did a very good job," said PEF Region 11 Political Action Committee Co-Chair Nithia Chatterjie. "I was very impressed."

"It was absolutely worthwhile," said Olubiyi Sehindemi, another PEF Region 11 activist who attended the conference. "We were so busy, Monday was a 14-hour day," said Sehindemi, a senior social service management specialist with the state Office of Temporary Disability Assistance.

In just a few intensive days, they met with fellow activists from throughout the United States, got a preview of the Democrats' star lineup for the new millennium and got down to basics on issues that affect working people and their families.
"It was really a grassroots conference for rank-and-file members who are interested in a better life for working people," said PEF Vice President Jean DeBow, who also attended.

Learning
Chatterjie, a research scientist at the state Institute for Basic Research on Staten Island, said he learned a great deal at the conference.

"SEIU and the AFL-CIO did a great job of educating us on Social Security, Medicare and disability benefits, and other important national issues."

"SEIU brought in top-level speakers to educate us before we went out and met with our congressmen and senators to lobby on these issues," Chatterjie said.

"There were lots of workshops where they presented very clear information and we learned tools to take back to our members," DeBow said. "I learned a lot about what other SEIU locals are doing to fight privatization and how they are dealing with healthcare issues."

LOOKING TO 2000 - Nithia Chatterjie talks with US Sen. Bill Bradley.

Lobbying
EYES ON ISSUES - SEIU President Andy Stern discusses national issues with PEF Executive Board Member Grace Lott.

Chatterjie and others from New York met with Sen. Chuck Schumer to discuss their concerns about the pitfalls of privatizing the investment of Social Security funds.

"We also lobbied for a bill to expand Medicare benefits to cover prescription drugs so that people won't have to choose between buying medicine and food," Chatterjie said.

"And we held a rally in front of the US Labor Department," said Sehindemi. "We want them to require the use of safety needles that retract after use to prevent healthcare workers from being accidentally stuck and infected by used needles." Sehindemi (also known as "Mr. B") said the conference also stressed the need for union members to aid and support a full and complete count in the 2000 Census coming up next year.

"It's important because federal aid is distributed to states mostly on the basis of census," Sehindemi said. "They told us last time the Census missed an estimated 8.4 million minorities, and overcounted other groups."
"These are bread-and-butter issues that affect all of us," Chatterjie said.

Listening
FANS - Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards autographs her photo in the "Women of Hope Almanac" for an SEIU member. At left is Olubiyi Sehindemi ( also known as "Mr. B") and at right is Andy Stern.

Conference speakers and panelists included Vice President Al Gore, Representative Dick Gephardt of Missouri, Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey and former Texas Gov. Anne Richards, among others.

"Dick Gephardt was just fantastic, and really all of the speakers were extremely supportive of SEIU and unions generally," Chatterjie said.

"SEIU is doing a great job representing us in Washington, and you know this is our COPE contributions at work," he added. "I just wish more PEF members would support COPE."

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