Local Government Members Tackle Varied Issues
ALBANY — Led by Local Government Committee Chair Bessie Johnson, local
government members and leaders tackled healthcare, contract campaigns, unfair labor
practices and politics at a day-long conference here on Saturday, February 23. Former
Linn County Local 390 President John Hawkins (gesturing, above) gave the group
the benefit of his experience. New Executive Director Leslie Frane was in attendance.
Members learned about ways to fight back the healthcare crisis, building relationships
with elected officials, PERS challenges and issues specific to local government.
Marion County Local 294 President Evie Pech (inset) and SEIU Local 503, OPEU
President Kathie Best (in front of the banner) led the group in a discussion of power-
flit contract campaigns.
SEIU Local 503, OPEU Seeks Younger Workers!
EIU Local 503, OPEU is recruiting
younger workers (35 and under) to help
identify what issues our younger workers
are facing. Members are meeting to discuss things
as basic as what it means to be part of a Union, to ;
what are our younger workers’ economic goals,
trends and concerns. We are faced with an aging
workforce and it is vital to Local 503, and the
labor movement, to identify ways to get younger,
workers involved in the. fight. It’s their future,
and our future depends on it. For more informa
tion on joining the Younger Worker Task Force,
please contact Staff Advisor, Abby Solomon at
(503) 581-1505 or (800) 452-2146.
S
a Boost!
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M a n y w orking fa m i ties c
G etyoiirE arnedlncom euiw uit.
w w get the Cbifd Tax. Credit toot
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There is help available for low and moderate income earners w ith both the Earned
Income Tax Credit as well as the new Child Tax Credit. In addition, find som e simple
tips on the Union's website at w ww .seiu503.org
Earned Income Tax Credits you could get as m uch as:
Family Size
Income Under
Federal EITC
2 or more children
$32,121
$4,008
1 child
$28,281
$2,428
N o children
$10,710
$364
Oregon EITC
$200
$121
$10
The Child Tax Credit is worth up to $600 per child if you:
♦ have taxable income above $10,000
♦ claim a tax exemption for a dependent child under age 17
♦ have either a Sodal Security num ber or Individual Taxpayer Identification N umber
(for im m igrant workers)
Lavender
Caucus
EIU Local 503, OPEU Lavender
Caucus is interested in revisiting
the idea of offering nondiscrimina
tion training to both staff and members.
During the past year, caucus
meetings have been held at various loca
tions around the state in an attempt to be
more accessible to members. The next
meeting is scheduled for Sunday, May 19,
in Portland. It will be mid-afternoon at a
location yet to be selected. Those on the
mailing list will be notified as to exact
location once that has been determined.
In addition, the caucus is involved
in Portland Pride as well as other pride
celebrations throughout the state.
The Lavender Caucus has been
part of SEIU Local 503, OPEU for 15
years. It was originally formed as a group
to develop the strategy of education and
organizing around statewide bargaining to
add “sexual orientation” to the nondis
crimination article of the state contract.
After our success, we moved on to
do outreach to gay and lesbian Union
members, creating a stewards’ training
program on how to combat gay and
lesbian discrimination in the workplace
and involve Union members in the
struggle against the Oregon Citizens
Alliance initiatives which would have
deleted parts of our contract.
Throughout the years, we have
been a resource for Union staff and
members who are having problems.
Without the caucus, there would be no
place for them to look for support, bring
their suggestions or plan actions in sup
port of their issues.
Membership in the Lavender
Caucus is open to any Union member,
particularly those who identify as gay,
lesbian, bisexual or transgendered.
Union members interested in
joining the caucus and being added to the
mailing list can contact Elizabeth Duell,
caucus chair, at her e-mail address
(redheadedcyclone@yahoo.com) or phone
(503/362-8351— Portland). The staff
advisor is Penny Ruff, who can be
reached at (503) 408-4090, ext, 117, or
(800) 527-9374.
THE OREGON PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PAGE 27