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Rate the opt-out mailers

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Illinois

* Opt out of AFSCME…

* Taxpayer-funded mailer to help parents opt out of sex ed…

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 9:56 am

Comments

It’s unfortunate that these mailers work on so many of the ill-informed and angry. The people who drop the union are often the ones who need its services the most. And the kids who don’t take sex ed are the ones who are most likely to need the services of Planned Parenthood.

Actions (in this case, remaining ignorant) have consequences.

Comment by Travel Guy Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 10:03 am
I dunno if you’d call AFSCME a union anymore.

Choosing to ignore their charge and mission, as I’ve been told, to keep members and the money they bring to the union…

… what exactly is AFSCME now since they abandoned the reality of why organized labor was created?

As a pro-labor person, it’s comical that AFSCME is facing these mailers… by not going full pro-labor. Ironic

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 10:05 am
I got an AFSCME opt out mailer. Was wondering why i was getting something for AFSCME when I am a Teamster.

Needless to say, the card ended up in recycling.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 10:12 am
The AFSCME mailer is a B-, turning the arguments in their head.

Pretty good to their end game, but it’s a B- for font size, picture choices, even the “Headline” type language

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 10:15 am
i have to agree with OW, not great choices for the font size, etc. I’m going to go with a C, maybe C+ with a Springfield curve.

Comment by ;) Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 10:16 am
===* Taxpayer-funded mailer to help parents opt out of sex ed…===

For the gall? It’s an A

As a mailer to secure a mailing list (QR code)? It’s an A

The rest is B+ to the purposeful use of the mailing. Even the font is “OK” in its size.

It’s another “this might not be for you” type of mailing that will mine results.

B+

Do I like it?

That’s not the question.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 10:26 am
Nothing a kid likes more than being singled out and having to leave class to go sit somewhere else for all their classmates to see. Thanks Mom and/or Dad.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 10:28 am
Any standards or topics they object to? Please tell me I’m reading too much into this and that doesn’t mean that they can opt out of literally anything.

Comment by MZ Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 10:31 am
Yeah, go ahead and opt-out of AFSCME, then try filing a grievance.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 10:33 am
=Any standards or topics they object to? Please tell me I’m reading too much into this and that doesn’t mean that they can opt out of literally anything.=

Nope, you are pretty much correct. The ILGOP now considers parents educational experts and, per bailey and friends, would legally elevate them to that level.

They do not need the years of schooling and experience, just their emotional reactions.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 10:34 am
I’m asked by the school whether I want to opt my children out of sex ed. I’m not sure why this law is even needed.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 10:39 am
In all likelihood none of the districts in Mazzochi’s district opted into the standards. Of course she doesn’t care about that and scaring people onto her list is the point.

I’ll give the mailer a D, because it’s boring and the rhetoric is not up to her usual apocalyptic standards.

Comment by A Well-Regulated Commenter Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 10:46 am
The opt out propaganda mailings that my spouse has been receiving have not produced their intended effect. Actually, it is producing the exact opposite effect.

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 10:49 am
Trying to understand the need for the Mazzochi mailer at least for our district. When our kids were in freshman health when certain topics were covered we got notification from the district here breaking down the lessons by calendar date and could choose to opt out of all it specific lessons. Parents had that ability already. This is just political theater designed to stir up angw.

Comment by DTownResident Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 10:49 am
Pure manipulative bunk. These organizations like IPI would despise and fight union activists of the past, now they’re holding them up as a positive example. Just like Republicans praise MLK today to appear moderate but would have despised his policies. They’re doing that purposely, to try to bamboozle people. That’s their game.

Unions are popular again. The anti-union demographic is shrinking. Right wing billionaire elites and their “nonpartisan” organizations are furiously trying to turn the tide. But according to BLS, the 2021 public employee unionization rate was the same as in 2018, the year of the Janus decision. We have a governor, GA and president who are pro-union. Where do Republicans stand on unions?

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 11:00 am
“I dunno if you’d call AFSCME a union anymore”

Correct, they are now an election-influencing organization.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 11:07 am
===they are now===

… no different than Bob Sugar, Jerry McGuire… or real life Scott Boras. That’s who AFSCME is.

AFSCME wants the best pay, the longest contracts, and to protect from things that one can lose a job.

That’s really it

Agents will stick around, but once you’re useless, agents drop you.

Agents themselves don’t wavy to be dropped when seeing a payday to representation.

Now, if you wanna discuss the history of organized labor… including the safety, health, and well-being… AFSCME chose to keep “the client happy” and “prevent firing”… even if the reason makes little sense to a labor organization’s mission or charge.

What was it, that Rod Tidwell wanted?

Show him the money.

Superagent, not a labor organization.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 11:21 am
er .. “Freedom Foundation.”

Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 11:51 am
(Last comment is out of context because the comment it refers to is held for moderation.)

Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 11:51 am
==Any standards or topics they object to? ==

Buy I wish I could have had my parents object for me not having to learn about polar coordinates in High School Calculus. I objected because it was hard.

Comment by G'Kar Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 12:04 pm
“I dunno if you’d call AFSCME a union anymore”

Having been a steward I can assure you that they are DEFINITELY still a union. They stand up for their members and make sure that management adheres to the contract. Let’s not forget their defense of retiree health insurance and pensions when SB 1 and SB 1313 went to the State Supreme Court. They stood firm when governor Ruiner tries to foist a contract on the employees that would have facilitated privatization and degraded the employee health insurance. If further evidence is required, just go to the CMS website and check out the pdf of the current contract.

Comment by Gracchus Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 12:33 pm
===They stand up for their members and make sure that management adheres to the contract. Let’s not forget their defense of retiree health insurance and pensions when SB 1 and SB 1313 went to the State Supreme Court. They stood firm when governor Ruiner tries to foist a contract on the employees that would have facilitated privatization and degraded the employee health insurance.===

All things a super sports agent would do, lol

AFSCME is nothing like a union. Not even a little.

The health, safety, and well being wholly ignored to appease Trumpkins… that’s embarrassingly pathetic, against all of why unions exist.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 1:22 pm
==Unions are popular again==

Assume you’re referring to the recent Gallup poll? You should read the fine print.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/398303/approval-labor-unions-highest-point-1965.aspx

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 1:22 pm
Quick question — if sex ed makes people gay, where did all the gay people come from before we had sex ed?

Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 1:22 pm
Gracchus pay no mind to those who scream at clouds. It’s like some in the party on the right who fecklessly label fellow republicans as “RINOS” or republicans in name only. It artificially divides. And makes a minority view seem more valid.
AFSCME is strong dynamic and responsive.
I don’t know about your position but I just got a huge pay raise negotiated in the most recent contract on July 1st.
That’s impactful
I just participated in my Locals election which had a huge turnout. Besides officers and our board, we voted on who we will sent to be our bargaining team representing our Union Local in bargaining. Just today the call went out for our members to put forth their ideas for what we want to bargain hard for. So unlike what OW thinks, this is not a process run my a “super agent”. This is a process driven by members like you and I who democratically elect representatives to the bargaining table.
So yeah, we’re a real union and we’re impactful.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 1:36 pm
OW, are you or have you ever been a member of a union? Were you just a member or an elected officer of a Local? Just wondering if you have the experiential knowledge of being in a union or you’re just pontificating?

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 1:40 pm
- Honeybear -

If you’re not making it about me and not about the argument, you lost already.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 1:42 pm
I just made my argument on the topic.
OW you’re the one continually bring up that Afscme is not a union.
I’m answering your argument by asserting that since you have never been in a union, let alone a local officer, organizer or activist in a union that you might not know what you’re talking about.
Respectfully
Very respectfully
I’m calling you out about a subject of which you only have theoretical and not experiential knowledge about.
It’s as if I were to call you a RINO.
I have not the experience to do that.
It would be profoundly disrespectful.
I feel you are being disrespectful to my union.
You have totally legitimate objections to Afscme
Many of them I share
And yet I feel it’s disrespectful to say Afscme is not a union when I stand as a proud activist and member of it.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 2:06 pm
===you’re the one continually bring up that Afscme is not a union===

If not promoting the health, safety and welfare is a union thing for AFSCME, that’s not a union thing by any charter of such a group.

It’s not.

The “I know” baloney to the ignoring of why the labor movement was created or exists so a bunch of phonies can keep their union leadership job, because appeasing Trunpkins was more important than the charge of why unions are created…

Yeah, I’ll call ya out on “I know”

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 2:10 pm
My apologies OW, I did make my comment on the mailers but I see now it didn’t make it to print. Let me try again

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 2:11 pm
- Honeybear -

It’s always all good.

Be well, keep plugging.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 2:15 pm
But there it is ow…it’s what you think Afscme is not doing that points to your lack of knowledge regarding how a large union works. You’re only seeing the through a very small public keyhole. Your the blind man grabbing the tail of the elephant.
What I can tell you about is I’ve fought like hell for a grievance, or how my friend and union brother spent literally a hundred hours at the negotiating table. Or how my local president just went to Springfield for a committee on our health insurance. It’s a million little actions of thousands of state workers that make the union a union. So you’re still salty over the stance Afscme took about vaccine mandates. Fine, that’s your opinion. I agree with it.
But it doesn’t negate those million little actions done by thousands of Afscme’s , including me, that together, in solidarity, form the union. Yeah, the IDOCs manage to anger me every single time I come into contact with them.
And…
I know without a doubt that they have my back,
And I have theirs.
That’s the solidarity born of being in union.
I just don’t think you get that.
And that’s why you keep erroneously saying we’re not a union.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 2:33 pm
- Honeybear -

With respect,

Would you like me to show you your own words as why the leadership chose to appease Trumpkins over the charge and mission of what a union is?

That’s why this mailer so so comically ON POINT.

Your own words describe a union leadership bent on appeasement to win their own election.

How did that work out?

These mailings from another group. Nothing staved off

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 2:51 pm
Too many words from ZOCK. She must be using old College of DuPage slang slogan chart. Just keep screaming how everyone will be forced to be trans or ??? whatever new ugly dog whistle you have.

Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 3:42 pm
With all due respect to OW, I’m going to back up Honeybear (my Union sister). (I am an active member of the IFT/AFT and also participate in the AFL-CIO.)

From the AFL-CIO web site: “When working people come together, they make things better for everyone. Joining together in unions enables workers to negotiate for higher wages and benefits and improve conditions in the workplace. There are millions of union members in America from all walks of life. These individuals know that by speaking up together, you can accomplish more than you could on your own.”

Yes, the Union should work to provide safe working conditions, but the Union, as a representative of the membership, needs to reflect the wishes of the collective while also trying to educate them. It’s a balance. It’s a member-driven organization. AFSCME is absolutely a Union. (Claiming otherwise distracts from any critique of the flier or Union.)

To the post. The anti-Union flier fails because AFSCME has stood up for what the members want and the members know that. I doubt many will send in that card. They know their Union represents them and their collective wishes and they value that representation.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 4:01 pm
- Pot calling kettle -

It’s all good, no harm, and discussion towards things is important.

The (d)evolution of where the genesis of labor began to where labor now needs to find its place with leadership and membership, that’s part of any aging type of existence m

:)

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 4:12 pm
As was mentioned above, it’s apparently going out to everybody in State government, whether they’re in AFSCME or not, or even if they’re not even in a union. That’s a failure in my book.

Comment by MyTwoCents Wednesday, Aug 31, 22 @ 4:36 pm
== Let’s not forget their defense of retiree health insurance and pensions when SB 1 and SB 1313 went to the State Supreme Court. ==

OW, that’s a bit of revisionist history AFSCME would like you to believe. They were a Johnny come (very) lately to those lawsuits. It was Ralph Kanerva and 9 others (all members of RSEA) that funded the successful retiree health insurance lawsuit.

While I wasn’t part of the initial 10, I was asked if I would join the class when it looked like they might need to expand the number and type of retirees. I’ve previously alluded to this in my writing / commenting on those lawsuits.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Sep 1, 22 @ 8:38 am
It is nice that Honeybear is back to posting on carfax.

Missed ya Chaplain.

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Sep 1, 22 @ 9:05 am