At the annual meeting of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers’ Paraprofessional and School Relate Personnel Conference, public employees announced a campaign to make people aware of the contributions they make to their communities. Shown at the conference are, from left, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 17 President Leonal Hardman, LFT/PSRP Committee Chair Laura Harper, LFT President Steve Monaghan and State Representative Hebert Dixon.
"We Are One" campaign focuses on the value of public employees
(Baton Rouge – April 9, 2010) As their colleagues around the nation face questions about the value of their salaries and benefits, public employees in Louisiana are campaigning to demonstrate what they mean to their communities.
“We have never seen such an attack on public service,” said Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan. “In state after state, politicians are attempting to balance budgets by laying off employees, cutting their salaries and benefits and selling their jobs to the lowest bidders.”
Leonal Hardman, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in Louisiana, said that public employees are important to their communities.
“It’s just wrong to drive a wedge between public servants and the rest of the community,” Hardman said. “We support local businesses, pay taxes and go to church with our neighbors. Our jobs are just as real as those in the private sector. Losing our jobs has a negative impact on the community.”
Hardman and Monaghan both spoke in Baton Rouge at an annual conference for school support staff. They introduced a new campaign aimed at demonstrating how important public employees’ jobs are to their communities.
Around the state, public employees will be handing out fliers expressing thanks for the support they receive from the community. As they pay a bill at a local business or send payment in the mail, they will include the flier that says:
- We are public employees. It is our job to safeguard and guarantee the quality of life that our communities deserve.
- The salaries that we earn are spent in businesses like yours. When we retire, our pensions ensure that we continue to live as productive members of society.
- Our families go to church with yours, shop with you and play alongside you. We are proud to be members of this community.
- Thank you for supporting us, and thank you for the opportunity to serve our neighbors as public employees.