Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The Oregon public employe. (Salem, Oregon) 1981-???? | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2002)
MarkGronso Kathie Best Candidate’s District and Local: District 4, Local 090 (OIT) Current Agency, Length of Service: Candidate’s District and Local: ODOT, 21 years 4 months District 5/ODOT, Local 730 WHAT ARE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS OFFICE? WHAT ARE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS OFFICE? SEIU Local 503, OPEU Statewide President SEIU State Council President Statewide Secretary-Treasurer - 2 years Higher Ed Bargaining Team Chair - 6 years Current Vice President of SEIU Local 503, OPEU. I am an active ODOT Steward, member of 503’s Board of Director, Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Staff Screening Committee, Funding Quality Public Services Committee and Chairman of the Resolutions Review Committee for General Council 2002. Past Vice President of. ODOT Local 730, past ODOT Statewide Chief Steward and past ODOT District 12 Local 090 (OIT) President - 6 years AFL-CIO Central Labor Council Representative - 8 years Chief Steward. UNION EXPERIENCE NOT ITEMIZED ABOVE? UNION EXPERIENCE NOT ITEMIZED ABOVE? I have been a member of SEIU Local 503, OPEU for 23 years, holding a number of offices before being elected to the one I hold today, Statewide President. I was on strike-with OPEU both in 1987 and 1995. I served as District 4 representative to the Staff Screening Committee for several years. I took a leave of absence from my position at Oregon Institute of Technology in 1994, working to help defeat Measure 8. I have supported and walked picket lines with workers in other unions and currently sit Picket captain Pendleton ODOT Maintenance, 1995 strike. Helped guide the * “Contract Express,” a purple 40-foot tractor-trailer to over 50 worksites creating awareness of Local 503’ s solidarity for the bargaining team during the negotiations of the 1999-2001 DAS and Higher Ed bargaining, Hold a withdrawal card from the UBCJA, member 1972-1980. on the AFL-CIO Executive Committee. WHY ARE YOU SEEKING THIS OFFICE? Being President has enabled me to engage in coalition building, sitting on various boards and committees. As your representative on those committees, I’m a strong advocate for our members, workers’ rights and expanding our pro-worker, pro healthcare agenda. With the state’s budget crisis looming over our heads, huge - increases in healthcare, the need for more workers to have a voice on the job and PERS under constant attack, we need strong leaders with the skills and continuity that I feel I bring to a second term as your President. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR SEIU LOCAL 503, OPEU DURING YOUR TERM OF OFFICE? My goal is to continue our strategies to secure adequate funding for public services, Heel we should continue to grow our Union and increase union density to build the collective strength needed to bring about necessary change, but we must also improve our internal structure by providing members with the necessary tools and resources needed to keep our union strong. Through the Orego nians For Health Security campaign, our goal is to elect pro-worker, pro-healthcare candidates who support our strategies for healthcare reform. WHY ARE YOU SEEKING THIS OFFICE? I have enjoyed my first term as the Vice President of Local 503 and networked with many wonderful people. I have had the latitude to travel throughout the state and seen challenges conquered by members that are very similar, regardless of our various employers. Ilisten intently and try to help anyone with a problem find an acceptable solution. As a Working member of the rank and file it has been very rewarding to have the opportunity to listen, share and care about all my brothers and sisters. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR SEIU LOCAL 503, OPEU DURING YOUR TERM OF OFFICE? I would appreciate the opportunity to serve another term as Vice President with particular emphasis strengthening our internal and political structure. We must continue to organize externally however there are many members that need the tools and support from the union when no stewards are in the immediate area. I have had the opportunity and will continue to •bring issues before the Oregon Legislature and our Congressional delegates it is absolutely essential we make credible connections with these people to strengthen our political agenda. BIGGEST SINGLE ISSUE THE UNION WILL FACE DURING YOUR TERM? I believe adequate healthcare for all our membership will be the BIGGEST SINGLE ISSUE THE UNION WILL FACE DURING YOUR TERM? Our contract negotiations will be especially difficult in 2003-2004 biggest issue we will face over the next 2 years. due to a number of things, including the state’s budget crisis, the skyrocketing cost of HOW WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO RESOLVE IT? healthcare and for our state units, the attacks on PERS. HOW WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO RESOLVE IT? I believe we should continue to lobby the legislature and candidates running for office to support adequate public services, healthcare reform and PERS. And to that end, we By encouraging all members to work with SEIU and Oregonians for Health Security start their initial work to enable opportunities to for bulk purchasing of prescription drugs to bring costs down. I would like to educate myself more about the work that Local 503’s Healthcare Committee has already begun and help communicate the plan to members. can turn out the vote in November and elect those who share our vision. OTHER INFORMATION TO SUPPORT YOUR CANDIDACY: OTHER INFORMATION TO SUPPORT YOUR CANDIDACY: I’m hard working, dedicated and passionate about workers’ rights. If you choose, I would be honored to serve another term as your President T H E OREGON PUBLIC EMPLOYEE VOTERS GUIDE - 1 will work to the best of my ability to continue the work I have done to make our union stronger within. Also continue giving Oregon taxpayers an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.
