The National Organization of Legal Services Workers (NOLSW), UAW Local 2320, AFL-CIO is the union representing the majority of those who work in federally-funded legal services programs across the USA. We also represent workers in other types of law offices and in various human services programs.

Last week, the Appropriations Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a bill for FY 2013 that includes an additional $20 million cut to Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funding—which would come on top of the $48 million cut implemented this year. If enacted, the proposed cut will strike another blow to legal services programs all over the country.  If history is any guide, there could also be an amendment offered on the House floor that would eliminate LSC funding altogether.

There is little doubt that if such cuts were to go into effect, NOLSW members will face further layoffs, salary cuts and reductions in benefits. We must take action now to preserve and expand Legal Services! Working together with the UAW Legislative office and other allies in the legal services community we can make our voice be heard in support of continued funding for the Legal Services Corporation.

We are asking every member to contact their Representative in the House by telephone and/or send an e-mail to urge them to vote against any amendment that further cuts or eliminates LSC funding. Please contact your Representative as soon as possible--a vote may be scheduled as soon as Tuesday, May 8th. You can find your representatives telephone and e-mail address here. Attached is a sample e-mail you can use to contact your Representative.

We especially want members to call or write moderate Republicans who voted against the Duncan amendment last year, which would have cut LSC funding altogether. We want them to oppose any further cuts to LSC and to support an increase if an amendment is offered. Attached is a list of those Republicans, as well as those who voted against a proposed amendment in 2009 to eliminate LSC funding.

For members who work in LSC-funded programs, please remember that you CANNOT USE PROGRAM RESOURCES to lobby members of Congress. This includes telephone, e-mail/server, printer/copiers and fax machines.

Together we can make our voice be heard. I hope that each and every member of NOLSW will do what they can in order to PRESERVE AND EXPAND Legal Services for the poor!

Gordon Deane

President

LSC Target List-House.pdf

Sample E-mail House.doc

On April 18, at 8:00, Legal Services Staff Association (LSSA) members in New York City, joined by friends from the recently organized Urban Justice Center (UJC) workers and other NOLSW units, Legal Aid workers from UAW Local 2325, and others, returned to the workplace of the one percenter, Legal Services of New York's  board chair Joe Genova to protest Unfair Labor Practices, contract violations, targeting of senior staff and union activists, and an ideological insistance on more healthcare givebacks.  Seventy-five plus crowd showed up at 8:00 in the morning with a giant inflatable rat.  Everyone seemed to be in good voice and in good spirits delivering chants.  A particular favorite seemed to be "Years of service, skills we've mastered; that's what seniority means, you bastard!".