Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The Oregon public employe. (Salem, Oregon) 1981-???? | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1981)
C O M M E N T A R Y OPEO’s Metamorphosis: A New Political Power? M etam orphosis: Any m arked change, as in character, appearance, or condition. —Webster's New World Dictionary The term seems to fit the Oregon Public Employes Union, the state's second-largest public employe union. A year ago, the organization—then known as the Oregon State Employes Association—was rocked by the indictment of its executive director on federal mail fraud charges. Member ship was sagging, internal strife was embarrassingly evident, and rival unions were making inroads on the association's turf. nipping the hand that fed it. One would hardly call the still fledgling OPEU a powerhouse in the Oregon labor movement or a force at the state legislature. Yet there are signs that OPEU, in shedding its skin, is actually beginning to sound, smell and act like a union. During its annual convention last week in Portland, OPEU delegates approved five actions they hope will increase their clout and help boost membership. • A voluntary $1-a-month check off to finance a special campaign chest with which to support candi dates for legislative and local office. “ OPEO is on track in rebuilding its public image, shoring up its membership rolls and strengthening its flanks against raids by other unions.” OSEA's public image was badly stained and its bargaining clout was perceived as minimal. Staff members admit now they doubted whether the association could survive, especially with wage negotiations approaching against a backdrop of a tight state budget. A year later, OSEA has done more than just change its name. It has cleaned house by electing a new slate of officers headed by • Establishment of a committee to study the idea of a strike fund. • Reduction of membership dues for workers who earn less than $500 a month. • Continued funding of a com mittee to study ways of educating and re cru itin g clerical w orkers—the group of workers who traditionally are the lowest paid and least represented in the union. • Holding of general business p re s id e n t G re e n , a s ta te con ve n tio n s in o d d -num bered years Highway Division worker in Salem. And it has picked a new executive director, soft-spoken Thomas Gal lagher, to succeed the flamboyant Morton Shapiro. More important, OPEU is on track in rebuilding its public image, shoring up its membership rolls and strength ening its flanks against raids by other unions. It’s too early to say the union has succeeded on all fronts. Problems remain, especially those related to money, membership and morale. But it’s fair to say the 14,287-member union is making progress. The changes have come largely as a result of a pivotal decision last November to end the association’s independent status and affiliate with the Service Employees International Union, one of the 10 largest unions within the national AFL-CIO. From its founding in 1943 until last year, OSEA had largely been re garded as something of a toothless tiger. It had a reputation of rarely only instead of annually. Aside from saving money, the change could result in bonafide political con ventions during even-numbered years, during which candidates of both parties would come to court the union’s support. S te ve Systems Division and Water Re sources Department—voted to reject the imposition of “fair share" dues. Oregon's collective bargaining law allows unions to collect monthly fees, in lieu of dues, from non-members who belong to a bargaining unit the union represents. However, such arrangements can be vetoed by majority vote of the bargaining unit. OPEU won a victory on fair share in the central bargaining contract recently hammered out with the state. The agreement allows OPEU to collect fair share payments at each of the 44 state agencies covered by the contract unless workers in those agencies decide otherwise. However, state law also gives workers a 90-day period, which expires Nov. 1, to "deauthorize" the agreement for their agencies. Three agencies—Veterans' Affairs, Justice and Agriculture—will be voting on the Fair Share issue this month. Together, they employ about 1,000 non-management workers. The three agencies that have already voted out fair share represented about one-third as many. From OPEU’s standpoint, a vote to deauthorize fair share amounts to a slap in the face for the union. More critical to the union is an agency's vote to "decertify” OPEU as its bargaining agent. Decertification means that workers in that particular unit are free to hook up with another union or opt for no representation at all. Decertification votes can’t be held until the last 90 days before expiration of a contract. That means OPEU won’t take its real litmus test until ‘If OPEO is serious about becoming a political force at the Legislature, and in local campaigns, it must first reverse the string of losses on fair share votes.” Clearly, the potential is there for OPEU to join the ranks of Oregon political heavyweights. But such clout won't be achieved overnight, despite the euphoric feeling that infected delegates to the Portland convention. Anyone who thinks otherwise need only look at the results of three “ d e a u th orization" elections held during August and September. Workers in three state agencies—the Public Utility Commissioner, Data March or April of 1983. If the union is serious about .becoming a political force at the Legislature, and in local campaigns, it must first reverse the string of losses on fair share votes. Failing that, one can’t help but w onder w hether m etam orphosis works both ways. George Rede Reporter, Salem Statesman-Journal 7Ws article first appeared in the Oct. 4 edition o f the Salem Statesman-Journal. State law requires OPEU to represent a ll em ployes in the bargaining unit. OPEU, or more accurately, we who pay dues, have been footing the bill for everyone. Everyone receives the benefits of the improved wages, insurance and working conditions negotiated by our team. They also receive legal assistance in pursuing grievances and other union services. Anyone who would sign a petition to rescind “ fa ir share” should consider the following: We (OPEU PRESIDENT Steve Green 6663 Doral Dr. SE Salem 97302 VICE PRESIDENT John Clapp 9501 NE 91 Ave. Vancouver, WA 98662 SECRETARY-TREASURER Carol Laizure-Jelllson 2505 Phipps Circle Salem 97303 DIRECTORS 1. KEI QUITEVIS-SMITH 5890 SW 176 Aloha 97007 STEVEN TETERS 3641 SW Halcyon Rd. Tualatin 97062 2. KELLY CLEMENCE KATHRINER 472 Chemawa Rd. N. Salem 97303 BARBARA PALMER 670 Chemawa Rd. N. Salem 97303 3. REBECCA BRAGG 1555 Coburg Rd. #63 Eugene 97401 GERALD ELLIOTT RL 2 Box 466B Monroe 97456 4. TERRI ANDERSON 542 Morion St. Ashland 97520 RUTH MONTGOMERY P.O. Box 213 Medford 97501 5. CHARLES ADKINS 920 W. Duanne Hermiston 97838 RONALD TAYLOR 1129 SW Second St. #9 Ontario 97914 6. RICHARD FRASER P.O. Box 504 Westport 97016 STAFF THOMAS J. GALLAGHER Executive Director ALICE DALE Assistant to the Executive Director F. PETER DE LUCA' Attorney CHUCK MENDENHALL Government Relations Director RALPH JULL Business Manager DOUGLAS CROOKS Editor ELEANOR M. MEYERS Personnel and Classification Analyst GORDON WEBB Director of Field Services Something For Nothing There is a movement afoot to rescind “ fair share.” That is, to reject the portion of the OPEU contract which requires union fees to be paid by all members of the bargaining unit, by all members of the bargaining unit. Those that protest the require ments call it “taxation without their fair share.” The fact of the matter is these employes have been free- loading off the rest of us, and would be doing so once again if deauthori zation succeeds. A better description of the situation would be called "representation without taxation.” OFFICERS members) have already been rep resenting everyone. It would be to their benefit to become a member and have a voice in the union. And we will all benefit from a bigger, stronger union. I urge employes to support “fair share” by not signing a petition to deauthorize "fair share,” to remove their signatures if they have already signed and by voting “ No” if a deauthorization election is held. Nancy Garvin Univ. of Oregon BUSINESS AGENTS PHIL SEAS FAITH DUBIN CAL HACKLER FRED HASLE MARIA KELTNER DIANE LOVELL JEAN MOYER LARRY OGLESBY JOE ROCHE JEFF SCHRADER GAIL WASHINGTON CINDY PARRISH Insurance Administrator DENISE HARMS Membership Administrator Page 11
