Legislative Report
2011 will most likely be remembered as the year that the right to collective bargaining
was trampled by a legislative freight train. 2012 is shaping up as an even
more crucial year. The unstable economy and the shifting winds of politics are
combining to create an atmosphere of change that will likely be wild and rough.
The passage of laws that diminish salary and benefits has seemingly taken the
wind out of our sails and left us wondering what could happen next, and what
we may be able to do about it. If the most recent election cycle is an indicator,
we are not likely to do much to help ourselves. Apart from some very localized
and concentrated effort, our members did not rise to the occasion. Throughout
this publication, members have been implored to pitch in and help out. The
response was far less than overwhelming.
The state organization needs you to become more involved. The district organization
needs you to become more involved. And for sure, your local organization
needs you to become more involved. The new year is going to be the most
challenging ever. If the level of individual effort doesn't improve, 2012 may be
remembered as a tougher one than 2011.
The big question among our members for the coming year is probably going to
be; "What is the FMBA going to do?" Here is the answer; "What are YOU going
to do?"