U
N
I O
N
A
F
F
A
I R
S
When Women’s Issues
Become People’s Issues
Editor's Note: Pay equity, child care
in the workplace, safety and health,
sexual harassment, m id-life concerns
and stress management are all issues
that are o f considerable importance
to all workers, especially working
women.
These topics were the prim ary
focus o f workshops at the Third
Annual SEIU Women's Conference.
The A p ril 3-5 conference, which was
held in San Mateo, Calif., attracted six
OPEU members—Karen Noonan,
Mary Hiser, Jane Goodenow, Terri
Anderson, Jan Beals and Steve Green
(th e la tte r th re e at th e ir ow n
e xp e n se )—and tw o OPEU s ta ff
members—Eleanor Meyers and Jean
Moyer.
Over the next few months The
Oregon Public Employe w ill report on
these workshops. However, our
coverage o f this im portant confer
ence begins from a slightly different
angle; Steven Green, D istrict 2 Direc
tor, has written an analysis o f the
meeting from the perspective o f a
male.
Why would a man attend a confer
ence dealing with “ women's issues?"
That is a question that I am sure
some of you are wondering; it is one
that several people posed to me
before I went to San Mateo.
analysis
parent families consists of two wage-
earners; not to mention the signifi
ca nt n um bers o f s in g le -p a re n t
families—an increasing number of
which are headed by men.
In short, what this difference
between myth and reality tends to
hide, is that affordable, convenient,
quality child care is an increasingly
important issue to men.
Pay equity, or comparable worth, is
another example of mislabeling of an
im portant people's issue, as one of
interest to women only. Comparable
worth is the concept that different
jobs that require comparable skills,
education and responsibility should
receive equal pay. While it is true that
the job classifications which w ill be
affected by this movement are largely
filled by women, it is also true that
there are significant numbers of men
in these classifications.
In the long run, acceptance o f this
concept w ill be beneficial to the large
number of public employes who hold
jobs for which no job of comparable
duties exists in the private sector. By
accepting comparable worth, jobs
from the private sector, which require
equal skills and entail equal responsi
bilities, can be used when attempting
to support wage adjustment requests.
Finally, the elim ination of sexual
stereotypes is certainly a people's
issue. Men and women are artificially
constrained from undertaking certain
jobs and follow ing certain lifestyles,
because of society's view of what
The fact that such a question is
asked points to one of the biggest
their role should be. Just ask a
divorced man who tried to gain
misunderstandings both men and
women have about the issues of child
care, comparable worth (pay equity)
and sexual stereotyping. They are not
just women’s issues. They are people
issues and important ones at that.
Take the issue of child care. Many
people think of this as strictly a
women's issue, because when think
ing of the family, they automatically
picture the stereotypic American
family. You know, the husband who is
the breadwinner and the wife who
stays at home and raises the two
children. Well, that picture is not
reality. Today the majority of two-
custody of his children in the divorce
proceeding or a woman who entered
a previously all-male occupation,
whether society’s view of their roles
did not frustrate their wants o r lim it
fulfillm ent of their potential.
In closing, I urge men to get
involved in these issues and I caution
women to avoid the temptation to
exclude men from these fights. As
with all issues of importance, we need
each other's help if we are to succeed.
Steve Green
Dist. 2 D irector
Major Motions from April
OPEÜ Board Meeting
That the Union Operation Committee draft
recommendations for choosing members to
attend the SEIU Women's Conference in
Connecticut. May 31 to June 4, and how to cover
costs of sending members.
That a letter be sent to the McMinnville Police
Department at the end of their contract,
informing them, that since they have shown no
interest in supporting OPEU, we will no longer
represent them.
That there be no host District for the 1981
General Council.
Adopted a policy statement rejecting District
3's request that the Board endorse two of Gov.
Atiyeh's revenue-raising proposals and that the
legislature be asked to earmark these funds for
Higher Education and Human Resources
programs They policy statement reads as
follows: "Although the joint CASE/Government
Relations Committee accepts the general
concept herein, because of some ambiguity and
confusion and because certain special interest
groups are favored to the detriment of other
bargaining unit employes, we cannot endorse
this specific resolution.
That a committee be formed by the OPEU
president to act as host for the 1981 General
Council.
Accepted Aldrich. Kilbride. Naas 4 Tstone's
(certified public accountants) audit report of
OSEA Districts and Locals.
Sent a letter to the president of the national
Bank of Detroit, urging him to investigate
whether or not Oregon PERS funds (some of
which his bank invests in Core Industries) are
being used to support the union busting
activities of Mueller Steam Co., a division of Core
Industries.
That OPEU take whatever action is necessary
to o g a n ize th e C u rry C o u n ty S h e riff's
Department
Allocated an additional $250, to the $600
already approved, for the first annual OPEU
Women's Conference.
Extended a $400 loan or advance to OIT Local
and a $400 loan or advance to SOSC Local, until
such time as money is received from the Union
Operations Committee for bargaining expenses.
CATCH THAT
PEPSI SPIRIT
BE A
PEPPER
P e p s i - C o l a — D r P e p p e r B o t t li n g C o .
3011 Silverton Rd., N.E., Salem, Oregon
Phone 363-9221
THE OTHER PEACE
A RESTAURANT & BAR
Featuring Choice Steaks, Prime Rib and Lobster
Sunday Dinner 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
QUALITY COMPLETE DINNERS
From $5.95410.95
WINE & DINE DINNERS
From $7.50-$ 12.50
" With generous servings of wine or beer"
BANQUETS OUR SPECIALTY
Facilities for groups of 25-100/
Private rooms for parties of 10-25
R eservations 585-4454
2410 M ission, S.E., Salem
“LOOK”
TO YOUR CREDIT UNION FOR FINANCIAL NEEDS!
If you’re not a MEMBER —
NOW IS THE TIME TO JOIN!
If you are a MEMBER —
use your CREDIT UNION for all its worth.
No Cost Services
Watts Line
Notary Public
Traveler’s Checks
Consumer Information
New and used R.V. and Auto Guides
$5,000.00 Life Insurance on your loan
$2,000.00 Term Life Insurance on your share account
SAVINGS
A variety of programs to choose from.
LOANS
For all productive purposes.
ALL STATE EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES
ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE MEMBERS
EACH MEMBER ACCOUNT INSURED TO $100,000. BY
ADMINISTRATOR, NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION.
FOR YOUR FINANCIAL NEEDS, CALL YOUR CREDIT UNION.
STATE EMPLOYEES CREDIT UNION
1550 State Street
Salem, Oregon 97308
585-7084
Outside Salem: 1-800-452-7816
Page 9