Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The Oregon public employe. (Salem, Oregon) 1981-???? | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2002)
SEIU Local 503, OPEU .. The Backbone of Oregonians for Health Security I ne of the conclusions to the New 1 Strength and Unity Program cam- and Unity is about winning big campaigns and our healthcare campaign is a huge fight." We're taking these steps over the next Several months leading up to the May 21 Oregon Primary Election in the campaign for health security. . . strong supporter of health security for all. ♦ Learning the Health Security platform and making sure you are registered to vote; ♦ Participating in the Union's census; ♦ Contributing to CAPE. paign of last year was that SEIU Register to vote for endorsed legislative Local 503, OPEU members wanted to take oh candidates in your area. You have until April 30 the bigger issues that had been beyond our to register to vote. Mail-in registration cards are reach so far, such as healthcare reform and available at a variety of public places, including protection of quality public services. SEIU Local 503, OPEU Making healthcare security a winning offices. Agree to do some of issue is one of our principal political goals the activities necessary for this year. the health security campaign The quality public services component to succeed, such as partici of this program is being fought out in the pating in phone banks and two (or more) special sessions of the Oregon talking with coworkers and Legislature, as this issue of T h e Oregon family members about the Public Em ployee is going to press. Tax importance of this issue. reform to support quality public services Help elect pro-affordable may also b e partially addressed by the healthcare candidates to special session if lawmakers put a cigarette office. Political action b y tax on the ballot. w o rk in g fam ilies in M aine The Service Employees International was responsible for a cap on Union,(nationally, is trying to put healthcare reform back on the national agenda. Three prescription drug prices. We states have been targeted to lead this move should support those candi ment, including Oregon. dates who support our fight The health security campaign is being for quality, affordable* secure SEIU Local 503, OPEU’s New Strength and Unity Plan Healthcare funded with $1.2 million — half from SEIU health care. Committee leading the campaign. International and half from SEIU Local 503, The SEIU Local 503, OPEU. This is the first campaign of the New OPEU's New Strength and Strength and Unity Program approved by Local Unity Healthcare Committee is chaired by 503 ♦ Building a Coalition. We are working 503 members last summer. When we voted YES President Best and its members are Lynda Clure, f with other groups to educate the public about last July, we voted to invest in our future, to Michael Simpson, Rosanne Richard, Ann the need for quality health security and to hold strengthen our Union, to protect our health care Montague, Alan Youse, Betty Lucht, Jeannette I candidates accountable. benefits, to improve the image of public em Blankenship, Bruce Nobles, Dave Grenbemer, I ♦ Working to get candidates involved in ployees and to ensure adequate funding for our David Roght, Jeri Ruatta and Barney Gorier. the health security platform. SEIU Local jobs and benefits and the services we provide. Leslie Frane, Rich Peppers and Karla Spence 503, OPEU questions candidates and organizes The campaign is being managed by Arthur from staff join the committee, as well as Towers politically on this and a wide variety of issues Towers, the Executive Director of the Oregon from the Oregon Council of Service Employees. that reflect the concerns and interests of our State Council of Service Employees. Towers No other union is as front and center tackling members. Quality managed the successful campaign for homecare public services, workers and quality homecare in 2000, Ballot PERS, tax reform, Measure 99. M aking healthcare security a winning issue is ; and union rights "Oregon was selected for the health security one o f our principal political goals this year. are among the campaign," Towers said, "because Local 503 has questions we demonstrated that it can move a good program. consider before 503 has produced over the years; i f s the I w e make an endorsement. But only by working die healthcare crisis as Local 503 in Oregon and backbone of the health security campaign in I for endorsed candidates and with high partici SEIU across the country. The International has Oregon." pation by our members in the May Primary, will designed a campaign to run over five years to "Along with our reputation for taking on ; we be able to move the health security agenda. expand health security to as many Americans as big issues and winning " said SEIU Local 503, Six candidates are running for Governor of possible. As a target state for 2002; Oregon is the OPEU President Kathie Best, "Local 503 de I Oregon. Ted Kulongoski, endorsed by the first recipient of New Strength and Unity money signed a winning campaignthat attracted the Oregon Council of Service Employees, is a in the country. • attention of the International. New Strength THE OREGON PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PAGE 21
