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