The Oregon public employe., September 01, 2002, Page 9, Image 9

At the 51st General Council
A vision that leads to action to victory in November and bargaining tables
Z1
EIU Local 503, OPEU has a vision.
^^It's the vision of a better life for
working people and their families.
It's the hope of living wage jobs. Secure,
quality, affordable healthcare for
everyone. The right to organize and join
a union. A grievance procedure for issues
that arise on the job. Working families
living in comfort and security.
The members of our Union
have a unique opportunity. We
can make our vision a reality. At
our 51st General Council this
past August, 300 delegates
came together for three days to
share ideas and opinions, and
make decisions about our
vision for the future.
Over the course of those
days, resolutions were discussed,
debated and adopted that will
define the goals and mission of
our Union in the Coining years.
Significant time was spent
reviewing the state of the Union,
approving a budget and, through
workshops, learning about a
Delegates heard from speakers from our own Local such as
President Kathie Best (top, third from left) and Executive
Director Leslie Frane (left), SEIU International public division
director Eileen Kirlin (second from left) and Oregon AFL-CIO
President Tim Nesbitt (far right). Delegates had the
bargaining tables in mind when we rallied at OSU (above)
and the election in November
when we heard from Ted
Kulongoski (above right).
number of subjects important to
our members such as PERS, homecare
safety training, labor history, website
District directors and
assistant district direct­
ors were sworn in (a-
bove); delegates favored
and opposed various
resolutions reported on
by committees such as
the Constitution & By-
Laws, here represented
by Joe DiNicola and
Nancy Magill.
design and our healthcare campaign.
Members adopted a number of
resolutions including one that creates a
special committee for the purpose of
examining the current Board/District
structure, exploring other compositions that
maybe more inclusive and representational,
with the goal of preparing a recommendation
to the Board of Directors in 2003 proposing
how we might change our structure. This
Council, making healthcare reform a
statewide officer candidates, and . . . the
will, of course, be done with extensive
decisive issue in the 2002 electoral season.
member input. General Council delegates,
This is a priority of our International Union
band, Soundminds.
This is a
should the Board adopt the committee's
as well, evidenced by the money committed
rewarding journey we've embarked on.
proposal, will make the final decision.
Also adopted was a resolution on
by SEIU to Oregon to help make this a reality.
The degree of success we experience is
The evaluations from General Council
really up to us. SEIU Local 503, OPEU
health security that promotes the
indicate that delegates were overwhelmingly
members have the capacity to turn our
Oregonians for Health Security Campaign,
positive about the Council, the workshops,
vision to action, and eventually, to turn
initiated as a result of the New Strength and
the celebration of victories won, the award's
our actions into VICTORY!
Unity Plan adopted at the 2000 General
banquet, the opportunity to hear from the
challenging,
yet
THE OREGON PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PAGE 9