ASEA Members:
We are excited to announce Bev Gagaring has been promoted to fill the position of ASEA Internal Organizer!
Bev joined the ASEA family in 2014. As receptionist at the Anchorage Headquarters, she quickly became a familiar face and voice for ASEA members who called and visited. In 2015, Bev was promoted to secretary—her skills and dedication made her the right candidate to serve the administrative needs of the union.
Over the last couple of years, Bev was instrumental in reaching out to new employees represented by ASEA and helping the union pivot to virtual new hire orientations—a virtual training called New Employee Member Orientation, or NEMO for short.
She has worked hard to make sure employees new to the union are familiar with ASEA contracts and member benefits as they navigate the choice to become an ASEA member. Bev is motivated to ensure the members of each bargaining unit get the most out of their employment and represpresentation.
As Bev puts it, "I have been on the other side, working without collective bargaining rights or a contract, and I've experienced first-hand the uncertainty and difficulty it causes. I have gone through wage and hiring freezes and pay cuts and could see benefits given and taken away without cause or notice. Advocating for myself in those scenarios was impossible. This is why I love helping ASEA members fully enjoy the advantages of their membership. I love hearing members’ stories about how our contract protects them, how our benefits make a difference in their lives from the Health Trust to Free College benefits, and watching our solidarity topple large obstacles, again and again, and again!”
Bev is excited to get started right away in her new role reaching out to ASEA members and non-members, sharing the value of organizing, solidarity, and having a collective voice. During this transition, we thank members for their patience and ask that you continue to reach out and contact ASEA with questions or issues. Bev wants members to reach out no matter their question or issue. ASEA will always do everything in our power to help. Please call 907-277-5200 or email
And please let us know if you have not received a timely response so we can have the opportunity to address your issue.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read):
Bev is excited to hit the ground running sharing the benefits of membership with new employees and bargaining unit members that have yet to join ASEA. "I have been on the other side, working without collective bargaining rights or a contract, and experienced first-hand the harm it caused my family and me…. This is why I love helping ASEA members fully enjoy the advantages of their membership. I love hearing members’ stories about how our contract protects them, how our benefits make a difference in their lives from the Health Trust to Free College benefits, and watching our solidarity topple large obstacles, again and again, and again!”
Sincerely,
Jake Metcalfe
Executive Director