April 11, 2008                                               Volume #29, Issue #11

DOUGLAS COUNTY ELECTION WIN. . .Courthouse employees in Douglas County voted 60-3 for AFSCME
Council 40 representation. Seventy-four employees are in the bargaining unit. Staff Representative Jim Mattson,
Associate Director Jack Bernfeld, Organizer Mary Burpee, and our Research Department deserve particular
credit for this overwhelming victory. Welcome Douglas County Public Workers!

ASHLAND. . .City Hall and Library employees in the City of Ashland, members of Local 216, have a new three-
year contract. Effective 1/1/08, all wages increased 3%. Additional 3% increases are scheduled for 1/1/09 and
1/1/10. The City continues to pay 85% of the premium for single and family health insurance and 90% of dental
insurance. Substantive language changes include clarified promotion and layoff language, establishment of a
reclassification procedure, and language defining and restricting the use of limited term employees (LTE’s).

RHINELANDER. . .DPW, Water, Wastewater, and Parks employees here, members of Local 1226, have a
new two-year agreement. All workers will receive a 4% raise effective 7/1/08. A 2% raise is scheduled for
1/1/09 with an additional increase of 2% on 7/1/09. The City continues to contribute 90% of the single and
family health insurance premiums. The previously agreed to HRA is still in effect. Benefit improvements include
doubling the boot allowance to $100/year and changing the flat-dollar longevity pay to percentages of base
salary (up to 2% after 20 years).

THANK YOU. . .To everyone who participated in this year’s District Conferences. Despite a wild winter
season, the Council’s elected leaders and directors appreciated your willingness to give up a Saturday to
share information and help move this Council and the labor movement forward. We can’t do it without you!

COUNCIL 40 2ND ANNUAL PEOPLE FUN WALK. . .A reminder that the 1-3 mile PEOPLE Fun Walk will
begin promptly at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 19. Meet at the Stevens Point Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference
Center. The exact location will be announced at the Convention. Be sure to wear your best (or worst!)
AFSCME shirt and don’t forget your PEOPLE pledges or money for this fun event.

NO UPDATE NEXT WEEK. . .We will all be at the Council 40 Convention next week, so look for our next
Leadership Update to be mailed 4/25/08.