President Ripley discussed health care benefits with the membership. He went into detail about how the county provides for employees and briefed members on the current standings of the contract. The meeting also saw him discussing the progression of the union in the near decade since he has been elected. BCFPE is on sound financial footing and is agile and prepared for whatever will come the union’s way in the near future.
President Ripley focused a portion of his remarks on politics. He noted that 2018 was an opportunity for members to “pick our boss.” BCFPE has made endorsements in the race for county executive as well as all county council seats. He discussed the endorsed candidates with membership at the meeting.
He drew the membership’s attention to funding the union’s Committee on Political Education or COPE Fund. He said COPE funding was important because it is how the union uses its voice on political matters in the county. To dramatize how no contribution is too small, he asked the membership to imagine if 800 members all contributed a dollar a paycheck 26 times a year. He wanted members to know the impact just a small contribution could make.
2018-06-20