The summer edition of News From OSA, as always, has a lot of material to read.

However, the print version of this issue is a little different. In previous years, OSA sent out up to a full pound of leaflets, fliers and booklets in our summer mailing but, as of this year, we have reduced the paper content. The mailing package you receive in August will not contain the many articles that have special interest for us. Instead, these articles are now only posted below as part of this online version of News From OSA. We urge you to read them.

2011 has seen a crescendo of attacks on us as civil servants and we need to see some honest analysis to counter the arguments raised against us. There has been an ever-increasing concentration of wealth in the hands of a few Americans. All of the rest of us are standing still or getting poorer. This is not good for our country and, yet, we are roundly criticized for even mentioning it.

We are supposed to accept as our moral guardians the hired spokespersons for the Manhattan Institute, the Citizens Budget Commission or Americans for Prosperity. In each case, these spokespeople for the very rich are quick to decide we should have lower salaries, lesser pensions, worse health benefits, no job protection and, certainly, no unions.

You work hard and are loyal to the public. Our union will continue to speak up on your behalf. You should also speak up. To assist you, you will find many good articles at the links below.

And, since all the mayor seems to want is give backs, we can, and should, make very effort to be present at the Labor Day Parade in New York City. The OSA contingent will be assembling on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 10am on 45th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

If you want to fight on your own behalf and on behalf of your families, a march up Fifth Avenue alongside your brothers and sisters is a fine place to start. Come yourself and, yes, we would love to have you bring your families as well.

You can download a flyer to remind yourself of the date and time of the parade by clicking this link.

And, if you are coming, please RSVP to Katie Guarino or Steven Gewirtz at the union office at 212-686-1229.

There are many coupons you can download below and return to the union to take advantage of a range of workshops and seminars. These workshops will help you understand what it means to be a civil servant, tell you how to avoid disciplinary risks, encourage you to be a more effective writer, train you to be a better driver and help you plan for your retirement, among other subjects of interest. But, the most important coupon is still the one where we ask you for your new phone numbers and any other updated information.

Finally, the next general membership meeting will be held on Thursday, September 22, 2011 at the OSA office, 220 East 23rd Street, Suite 707, between Second and Third Avenues, starting at 6pm sharp. You can find a flyer to remind you of the date and time or to post at your worksite for yourself and colleagues by clicking this link.

All of the material below is posted in PDF format. You can download them by clicking on the links. If you don't have Adobe Reader on your hard drive, you can download it at the Adobe site.

Bits and Pieces.