District Councils 86 through 90 unite for Eastern Education Conference
Members of District Councils 86, 87, 88, 89, and 90, gathered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for the 2023 Eastern Education Conference on September 29-October 1.
The conference kicked off with remarks from AFSCME Council 13 Executive Director David Henderson, PA State Representative Ismail “Izzy” Smith-Wade-El, District Council 86 & 87 Director Kerri Gallagher, and District Council 89 & 90 Director Tara Wilson.
Attendees also heard remarks from District Council 88 Director Tom Tosti who introduced Adam Rizzo and Paul Dannenfelser from the Philadelphia Museum of Art Union (AFSCME District Council 47). Adam and Paul shared the story of how they and their coworkers won their union in August 2020 and ratified a historic first contract after 19 days on strike in the fall of 2022.
Members in attendance then had the opportunity to take part in several workshops, including “Filling Out Financial Paperwork,” “Officer & Executive Board Roles,” “New Employee Orientation,” “Internal Organizing,” “Gripe vs. Grievance,” “Recruiting Activists & Increasing Local Meeting Attendance,” and “Politics & The Union.”
The five District Councils at this conference represent a combined 35,000+ workers in the eastern half of Pennsylvania, and their sisters and brothers left Lancaster with tools and knowledge that will empower them to continue growing their local unions.
We look forward to seeing the rest of our Council 13 family at the Western Education Conference next month!