AME History

WHO WE ARE

The Association of Municipal Employees (AME) is the largest independent Union in Suffolk County. AME represents more than 8,500 full and part-time municipal employees working for Suffolk County. Blue Collar workers and White Collar workers performing literally hundreds of different jobs to keep Suffolk County operating on a day-to-day basis.

For example, people at Audit and Control handle Suffolk County's operating expenses. Child Support track down delinquent parents who have fallen behind in the payment of their children's support. The Civil Service Department is charged with administering Civil Service testing as it operates in Suffolk County. On the Suffolk County Community College Campuses, it takes hundreds of workers to meet the needs of the students. Some tend the grounds, some work in offices, and others protect the campuses from vandalism. Consumer Affairs' workers safeguard the rights of buyers in the marketplace.

A familiar sight to every school child is the friendly Crossing Guard. Like most county employees Crossing Guards bring that extra measure of dedication and professionalism to their work. Fire Rescue is charged with dispatching fire and ambulance calls involving local fire departments throughout the County, while Public Safety Dispatchers handle all 911 Police emergency calls. The Real Estate Division is entrusted with overseeing the properties owned by the County, and the Planning Department assists local communities with improvements.

The three main centers of business are located in Yaphank, Riverhead and Hauppauge. The infirm are cared for with love and affection at the Suffolk County John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility. AME workers provide many useful, and at times, unusual skills and services. Whether in the course of enforcing laws in the Probation Department and Park Police, protecting the quality of life in Suffolk County, such as Public Health Sanitarians when safeguarding the environment, enforcing sanitary codes in our restaurants, or as support personnel working behind the scenes in the Police and Sheriff Departments. When flight 800 went down and forensic assistance was needed, AME members from the Medical Examiners Office were there.

In the Department of Public Works, some of the job requirements are to maintain the vehicles used by other county personnel. Roads have to be maintained so that taxpayers can travel from community to community safely. Buildings have to be maintained and other essential services are provided such as in sewage treatment plants. When a helping hand is needed with social service, health services, or human services, AME members are there to do it. As workers and as taxpayers, they have a vested interest in safeguarding the quality of life in Suffolk County.

HOW AME GOT STARTED

Before there was an AME, Suffolk County workers were represented by CSEA. But as Local 852, their voice was hardly heard in Albany. In 1983, CSEA tried to take over the Local's $4 million Benefit Fund. This led to the leadership being suspended from union activities, and finally, to a successful decertification effort. The next step was to be certified as the official bargaining agent for affected County workers, all 8,500 of them. In 1984, the membership overwhelmingly elected their past leadership from Local 852 to head AME. They adopted a new constitution and bylaws and the dream of an independent union was now a reality. The Benefit Fund had been protected, and a new era was about to begin for Suffolk County workers. As an official Union, headquarters had to be established, staff had to be hired, committees had to be formed, and the work of representing Suffolk County employees had to be started, and the battle to protect our Benefit Fund has fostered it's growth to 12 million dollars today.

AME'S PURPOSE

The main purpose of AME is to negotiate an equitable contract for its 7,000 active members. When contract negotiations are not in progress, there is still much work for the Union leadership to do. Executive Board members work at AME Headquarters full time handling the day-to-day operation. In addition, each one serves as liaison to one or more of the 33 individual units and several standing committees.

The Political Action Committee has taken the most active role in affairs outside AME. AME PAC screens political candidates for their position on issues of importance to AME members. As a democratic union, AME encourages members to participate at every level. Members are able to vote for Executive Board candidates, can elect their own unit officers, and members have the right of approval on contracts. And members can serve on any AME committee.

ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION

Each individual unit is lead by a unit president. The unit presidents, along with the 8-member Executive Board, make up the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is the governing body of AME and meet approximately once a month. Its job is to establish policy for the Association, enforce the members' bill of rights, approve the fiscal budget, and vote on all matters presented to it. AME holds an annual convention attended by elected officers and delegates, and which is open to the membership at large. Issues about the Constitution and Bylaws are addressed at this open forum; which invites direct participation. A variety of workshops and seminars are held during conventions to educate the membership and keep them informed.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION

One of the most important aspects of unionism is representation. Representation in the form of elected officers who make the organization itself accessible. Representation in the form of legal counsel when a member has a problem on the job. Additionally, the Association has protected members' rights in areas of health and safety. Going to the worksite and challenging management in order to safeguard workers' rights is nothing new to AME. Hiring consultants or attorneys with specialized expertise is a common practice.

EXTRA ACTIVITIES

Scholarship awards are awarded annually to members, their children and their grandchildren. Discount privileges, mailings, updated information and many other services are available to AME members. AME members work hard. Serving the county in which they live as best they know how. And AME Executive Officers work hard for its membership. It's a good Union and a great partnership.