The measure threatened the jobs of about 200 of the 700 youth specialists in her bargaining unit. Lowman, a political activist, not only helped form a committee to oppose the legislation, she co-chaired it. When their concerns about the layoffs were not addressed, she went to the state capitol and sat in on committee meetings and showed up at legislators' district offices. Lowman also lobbied the Wayne County commissioners who would have assumed responsibility for implementing the program, says Betty Gaston, Michigan Council 25 staff specialist. Through the efforts of Lowman, Local 1327 and Council 25, the final bill allows the union to negotiate with Wayne County to protect the interests of the state bargaining unit as Michigan moves portions of its juvenile delinquency program to Wayne County.
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