Joint DAS/Higher Ed Bargaining Conference
SEIU Local 503, OPEU
leaders from the state
system of higher education
campuses have already met
twice to prepare for
bargaining that won’t start
until 2003. FROM THE TOP,
LEFT TO RIGHT:
Bargaining team chair Bart
Lewis, from UofO Local 085,
and SEIU Local 503, OPEU
President Kathie Best, a
member of OIT Local 090,
led the meetings. Both
meetings generated a wealth,
of ideas from a give-and-
take of what worked and
what didn’t including ideas
from; Jim Brobisky, of SOU
Local 084; Betty Lucht, of
OIT Local 090; Melody
Williamson, of WOU Local
082; SEIU Local 503, OPEU *
Executive Director Leslie
Frane, who spoke at the first
leadership meeting; Ellen
Klaastad, of UofO Local 085,
and Zoe Birkle, of PSU Local
089.
As the "dog days" of summer approach, it's not
too soon to start thinking about tide negotiation of
collective bargaining agfeeinents that will affect
nearly 20,000 state employees and higher
education employees.
Consequently, a joint DAS, and Higher Ed
bargaining conference is underway in Salem as
this issue of TKe Oregon Public Employee is
going in the mail. Higher Ed bargaining leaders
have already had two bargaining-related
leadership conferences.
A number of SEIU Local 503, OPEU's local
government and nonprofit contracts expire every
year and in several different months. They
prepare for bargaining as needed. (See story this
page.) The members of Homecare Workers
Local 099 have been at the table hammering out
a historical first contract for some months now.
(See story page 2.)
The joint DAS/Higher Ed bargaining
conference is electing coalition chairs and
members of the central bargaining teams;
planning a strategy for winning a contract;
setting the calendar and prioritizing issues to be
included in the bargaining survey.
In conferences in May and June, Higher Ed
leaders voiced concerns about healthcare, parity,
layoffs and contracting out that have been
problems at each campus over the past year and a
half.
As they look forward to sitting down at the
table for their first bargaining session, bargaining
delegates and team members — whether from
Higher Ed, DAS, local government, homecare or
private nonprofit — are aware that:
• Our work with candidates running for’the
Legislature, Governor, city councils, county
commissions and other elected offices will
have a tremendous influence on what we can
achieve in negotiations. All members should
be active politically from now until
November for a better contract, for a better
Oregon.
• Many of the measures put on the ballot
either by initiative or referral will also affect
our ability to negotiate a fair contract and to
meet the needs of the students and faculty,
our clients and the public generally.
• Our best bargaining proposals will be ;
those that reflect the needs of the members.
Volunteer to circulate bargaining surveys.
Fill out your bargaining survey, help others
with theirs and see that they are returned.
• Our ability to support our position at the
bargaining table will be a reflection of
solidarity in the workplace. Become a
contract action team (CAT) member.
• Even after we go to the table, there will
be several occasions when we will have to
rally at the Legislature, a fras tMe. Higher E&;
board meeting, at a council or commission »c
meeting. Become an activist.
• Become a bargaining delegate. Your
ideas are too important to go unheard. Attend
a bargaining session to show support for the
team and take back what you learn to the
workplace.
At SEIU Local 503, OPEU, we organize
for successfid bargaining. The strength of
our bargaining teams is related to the level of
information and activism of our membership.
SEIU 503 Locals to Hold Joint Bargaining Conference
argaining team members, local officers and contract action team (CAT) members from the
cities of Tualatin, Wilsonville, Tigard and Beaverton will come together July 27 to prepare
for upcoming contract negotiations and hold a joint Bargaining Conference.
The conference will provide a forum to coordinate contract campaign and political strategies
with locals from neighboring cities.
Speakers will include SEIU Local 503, OPEU Executive Director Leslie Frane and SEIU
B
Local leaders and SEIU Local 503 organizers Kathy Davis and Lane Toensmeier are already
meeting to begin preparation for the upcoming negotiations. They will develop a timeline for
membership meetings, electing a bargaining team, surveying members and organizing a contract
action team (CAT).
THE OREGON PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PAGE 5