Danny Thompson sent this letter to all 63 members of the Nevada State Legislature
March 30, 2001
I am writing today to express my adamant opposition to Senate Bill 564. This bill proposes to privatize the State Printing Office.
The State Printing Office has long been a critical component of state government, especially in maintaining the efficiencies of the legislature during legislative sessions. This office is comprised of many highly trained print tradesmen who, if this bill should pass, would be lost to private industry, and who could not be replaced.
Currently in Nevada, there are NO apprenticeships or training programs offered in this field. If this legislation should pass, legislators would find themselves at the mercy of outside printers who may or may not be able to meet the needs of the legislature and the public.
During our yearly political convention, the issue of privatization of the State Printing Office was discussed by the delegates in attendance. A resolution in opposition to this proposal was unanimously passed by that body.
With that, on behalf of the 120 different local unions consisting of 155,000 members of the Nevada State AFL-CIO, I request that you vote NO on this misguided legislation.
This proposal was developed as part of the Fundamental Review of State Government. We are well aware of the fiscal needs of the State of Nevada.
However, attempting to solve budget shortfalls through privatization is viewed as nothing more than a union-busting attempt by the proponents of this measure.
Our representatives may be contacting you in the future. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me personally at (775) 882-7490 or you may email me at solidarity@nvaflcio.org.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Danny L. Thompson
Executive Secretary-Treasurer
Communications Workers of America Local 9413/AFL-CIO
CWA 9413 President Craig L. Hansen sent this letter to all 63 members of the Nevada State Legislature
I am writing to express my heartfelt opposition to Senate Bill 564. I was troubled but not surprised that private interests seeking financial gain were able to convince the administration to submit this measure to privatize state printing. To us, it's an old story.
The institutional memory of Communications Workers of America Local 9413 goes back well over 100 years when our predecessors went through the same thing. This body is being asked to repeat a blunder made by the Nevada Legislature 122 years ago.
In 1879, the Ninth Session abolished the State Printshop and sent the work to outside contractors. Nevada history books tell a sordid tale of corruption and deception.
Hard-earned tax dollars entrusted to the state by the citizens of Nevada ended up lining the pockets of avaricious contractors.
Fortunately, the scoundrels were soon ousted. In 1881, the Tenth Session re-established the State Printshop.
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The Typographical Union Label represents craftsmanship at its finest. Our members have proudly affixed that logo to every measure before this body down to this very day, well over a century later. (CRAIG: I took out the 106 years because there's a break in continuity from 1881 to the passage of the union label law in 1895.) The people who work long and hard at the Nevada State Printshop are CWA journeymen who continue that long tradition of pride in their chosen craft by signing their work with that label. Our high standards are reflected in the products and services we provide to the people of the state of Nevada.
On behalf of the more than 1,200 statewide members of the Communications Workers of America -- and all those who came before us to make us the longest-established union in Nevada — I ask you to please vote a "strong no" on Senate Bill 564. Samuel L. Clemens, perhaps our most famous member, wrote to his sister from Virginia City on April 11, 1863.
He told of turning down a quick profit on a mining claim he owned, "not because I think the claim is worth a cent, for I don't, but because I had a curiosity to see how high it would go before people find out how worthless it is."
You will hear a lot of equally questionable claims in the upcoming debate revolving around the buzzword of privatization.
Our response will be rooted in another bit of advice from union man Sam Clemens: "when in doubt, tell the truth."
The facts of this matter will show you the wisdom of opposing SB 564.
Sincerely yours,
Craig
B. Hansen, President
Communications
Workers of America Local 9413/AFL-CIO
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