Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The Oregon public employe. (Salem, Oregon) 1981-???? | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1994)
Stewards’ meeting trains and honors stewards’ efforts Workshops on eight topics, an address from an aide to the U.S. Secretary of Labor, discussions on or ganizing, and worker participation and the Government Efficiency Act were features of the Stewards’ Conference on August 12,13, and 14 in Salem. Additionally, 15 stewards received outstanding stewards awards at the conference. POLITICAL PROGRAM- Stewards prepared to mobilize Union members for the political challenges ahead of us, both the ballot measures that threaten our jobs and services, and assisting the candidates we are sup porting for the Legislature, for Gover nor, and in local government. WORKER PARTICIPA TION - OPEU President Dawn Mor gan led a discussion on Worker Par ticipation and the Government Effi ciency Act (Senate Bill 1130). Mor gan showed how the role of the Union is critical to worker participation and protecting workers’ rights and ben efits, as she updated stewards on what is happening in OPEU-repre- sented workplaces. WORKSHOPS - Work shops included handling pre-dis- missals, worksite organizing, dis crimination, contract language, workers’ compensation, workplace teams, advance grievance handling, and workplace violence. STEWARDS HONORED - Outstanding stewards honored at the conference included: • District 1 -EdEustice,DMV Local ‘735J • District 2 - Don Contreras, OSH Local 392; OPEU President Dawn Morgan, VRD Local 582; Lee Orton, OSH Local 392; Wendy Stone, DCBS Local 440; and Jack Youngers, DMV Local 735. • District 3 - Lexy Lieurance, UofO Local 085; and Pat Loewinger, CSD Local412. •District4- Phil Newton, SDSD Local 411 ; Debbie Niemeyer, WOW Local 461; and Carla White, JCEA Local 497. »District5 -Mer rily Brotherton, Umatilla County - Sheriffs Local 597; and Marsha Tho mas, WOW Local 461. • District 6 - Fred Biesen, ODOT Local 730; Tim Cummins, CSD Local 412; and Donna Massey, CSD Local 412. Vice President Gore, Kitzhaber, Hightower to speak OPEU General Council Sept. 21-25 Vice President Al Gore is a possible speaker to be added to ap pearances by Democratic candidate for Governor John Kitzhaber and progressive political analyst Jim Hightower to highlight OPEU/SEIU Local 503’s General Council, Sep tember 21-25, in Portland. Also this year, the Union changes the way the Union elects its statewide officers. VOTING PROCEDURES - Beginning with the current elec tion cycle, the statewide offices of President, Vice President, and Sec retary-Treasurer will be elected by a direct vote of the membership rather than by the delegates to the Council. This was necessitated by our repre sentation of private sector workers — such as those at CODA, Children’s Farm Home (See Page 6), and those that have become newly privatized such as OPB. We now come under federal labor relations stat utes, such as the Landrum-Griffin law, which require that union local officers be elected by rank-and-file members rather than a delegate assembly. The Board of Directors took action at its July 9 meeting to modify procedures for electing statewide officers. Because of this change: • Nominations for OPEU President, Vice President, and Sec- retary-Treasurer have been extended to noon on the first day of General Council, September 22, 1994. GORE KITZHABER • The election date for these three officers will be held in early December 1994, the specific dates to be determined by the Council. • The terms of the current officers — none of whom is running for reelection to their current office, have been extended through Janu ary 14, 1995, when the new officers will be installed at a meeting of the Board of Directors. VICE PRESIDENT MAY SPEAK - Gore is scheduled to be in Oregon for a fundraiser for 1 st District Congresswoman Elizabeth Furse. Be cause the fundraiser is scheduled for Septcmben24 and likely will be at the Hilton Hotel, arrangements are in the works for him to speak to General Councildelegates, FEATURED SPEAKER- Hightower, who now produces a ra dio show on progressive and labor- briented issues, will give the key note address to Council. In Oregon, His weekend call-in show can be HIGHTOWER heard on KXL Radio in Portland. KITZHABER FOR GOV ERNOR - Kitzhaber, endorsed by OPEU and the Oregon AFL-CIO for Governor, will speak to delegates during the three-day convention. TRAINING WORK SHOPS - Thursday and Friday, workshops are planned for Media Training, the Anti-Worker Agenda, OPEU History, Jobs with Justice, Health and Safety,and Political Mo tivation for Survival Training. Council committees consider the resolutions submitted by Union members and then make their reports to the Council for action by the del egates. Fridaymoming, delegates who are members of OPEU councils and committees will meet. • OPEU members unable to attend Council will have an oppor tunity to hear Hightower at a Kitzhaber fundraiser Wednesday evening before he speaks to OPEU. More details to come. Join OPEU team in Race for the Cure, Sept. 25 General Council del egates and Portland-area OPEU members wanting an opportunity for exercise, helping a good cause, and Union sisterhood will want to join the OPEU/SEIU Lo cal 503 team entering the Race for the Cure on Sunday, Septem ber 25, the last day of Council. The Race for the Cure is an annual event which raises money for research, education, and prevention of breast cancer. This year’s event features a one-mile coed walk beginning at ,8:30 a.m. and a 5K (about 3 miles) women-only walk/run beginning at 9 a.m. Both events leave from Portland’s Water Front Park, just a few blocks from the General Coun cil site at the Hilton Hotel. OPEU’s Women’s Council has entered OPEU as a team for this event and encourages all General Council delegates, their families, and friends to participate. To register, complete a regis tration form, write “OPEU” in the space for team name, and return it with your check before the September 14 dead line. Registration forms are available at OPEU offices and in a delegate mailing. An OPEU team photo will be taken the day of the race. The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Page 3
