Tuesday, July 22, 2008                   http://afscme.org/press/19906.cfm

CSEA's Parent Union AFSCME Goes Green: Plans Environmentally-Conscious, Weeklong Convention in San Francisco

The nation’s largest public service union to dramatically reduce paper use, forego bottled water, and serve local, organically grown food during Convention beginning July 28.

Washington, D.C. — The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the 1.6-million-member public service union, is planning their “greenest” convention ever during their 38th International Convention in San Francisco from July 28 to August 1.

The union, nicknamed “the Green Machine,” for their distinctive green T-shirts and rally signs, is making a major effort to host an environmentally-friendly convention when 5,000 delegates and guests arrive at San Francisco’s Moscone West for the biennial, weeklong gathering of union activists. 

“We know the challenges posed by global climate change and other threats to our environment,” said AFSCME International President Gerald W. McEntee. “That’s why we decided to forego bottled water and cut down on paper products.”

Use of computer flash drives will cut waste and costs.

AFSCME will provide every delegate with small computer flash drives containing most of the documents that in previous conventions have been printed for distribution. “We won’t be printing 5,000 copies of the flyers that we’ve done in the past,” notes McEntee. “We’re saving 3.3 million sheets of paper. That’s a lot of trees.” The union estimates that at past conventions, each delegate received nearly 700 pages of printed documents and materials.

“We still need to print some of the documents for our 2008 convention, but the flash drives are cutting our costs substantially,” said President McEntee.

While the union is using paper for printing resolutions, a delegate guide, a daily news update and other materials, many of those documents will be printed on 100-percent recycled paper, using soy-based inks. One of the San Francisco printers contracted to provide this service uses wind power and is a member of the Forest Stewardship Council.

AFSCME’s other environmentally-friendly, convention-related efforts include:

• Reducing landfill waste and saving energy by providing reusable water bottles. By providing reusable, “healthy” water bottles to all convention participants and encouraging their use with water sources for refilling them at the convention, AFSCME will divert tens of thousands of bottles from landfills. This will also save energy that goes into making those disposable bottles. The AFSCME water bottles are free of Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalate – chemicals that pose health risks.

• Providing locally produced foods at a pre-convention reception for delegates and guests on Sunday, July 27. Participants at the AFSCME reception will enjoy dishes made with locally raised food, plus some organically grown items. Biodegradable and compostable utensils, plates and cups will be used. Leftover (unconsumed) food will be donated to local non-profit organizations.

• The union is also providing delegates with rain ponchos made from recyclable, PVC-free plastic. On Wednesday, July 30, delegates will participate in a rally to support University of California employees, members of AFSCME Local 3299, who are fighting to end poverty wages.

“We’re cutting back on paper use, decreasing waste, and taking these other measures to help the environment,” said President McEntee. “By providing documents electronically whenever possible and taking other steps, AFSCME upholds our commitment to go green and help protect our environment.”

McEntee will deliver his keynote address on Monday, July 28.

Senator Barack Obama is expected to speak to the delegates via satellite on Thursday, July 31.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will also address the convention on Thursday, July 31.

Former Vice President Al Gore will address the convention on Wednesday, July 30. His remarks will be closed to the press.

American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO
1625 L Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036-5687
Telephone (202) 429-1145
Fax (202) 429-1120