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See Inside Mr Statewide
Candidate Statements...
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SEIU Local 503, OPEU
PO Box 12159, Salem, OR 97309-0159
In this Issue...
Health care or raises?
We demand both!
Statewide Officer Statements ... .2/3
Healthcare Voters Unite!............... flap
Building a Positive Public Image .. .4
by Leslie Frane, Executive Director, SEIU Local 563. OPEU
SEIU International Convention......... 4
Its that time again!
In a few months, the 30,000 SEIU members
who work tor DAS, the Oregon University
System, and the Home Care Commission
will begin bargaining new contracts.
Our goals are clear
For DAS and OUS, we need to get our steps
back, win fair cost of livirtg increases, and
protect bur health insurance. Sihce health
care cqsts continue to skyrocket, protecting
our benefits will again be a challenge. But
based on conversations with members
throughout the state, I'Ve concluded that
ilnis year, we cannotallow management to
forceps ¿to choose between good health
care and good raises. This year, we need to
win both.
For home care workers, we need to build
on the progress we made in our last
contract. We won health coverage - but
only for employees, not for their families.
We need more than one paid day off a year,
and our wage rate - $8.73 for most home
care workers 8is still too low.
So the stakes are high. But I'm encouraged
by the large numbers of state employees
who have said to me "I was willing td^
Message from the President............ 4
sacrifice last time because of the budget
situation, but ENOUGH ALREADY with the
state solving its budget problems on our
backs." And by home care workers who
have said "Last contract proved that when
we stick together we can make progress.
But we've only just begun."
THE CNIC ROUTE NEEDS
IMPROVING
CNIC (Computer Networking
Infrastructure Consolidation), the
State's plan to consolidate data
centers over the next 2 - 3 years, will
have a significant impact on many
agencies. 70% of the projected
savings in the plan are labor costs.
Yet the plan doesn't identify where
the position reductions will bel
The twelve state agencies affected are
DHS, ODOT, Education, Employment,
DCBS, Forestry, State Police,
Corrections, Veterans Affairs,
Revenue, DAS and OHCS
Winning fair contracts will take tenacity,
statewide action, and lots of membership
participation. Here's how to get involved:
■ Come to the DAS/OUS Bargaining
Conference: July 24.
■ Fill in a bargaining survey (to be distrib
uted in August).
■ Vote for pro-working families candidates
in the November erection.
■ Participate in uni»breaks, purple-up
days, and other contract actions.
■ For DAS & OUS, be ready, as a last resort,
to strike if we need.
GENERAL COUNCIL
AUGUST 18-21, 2004
OSU Alumni Center, Corvallis
In Jackson County members are facing a tough fight to protect their
health insurance and receive a wage increase. In fact, the health insur
ance offer they received would result in a pay cut to more than half of the
members. Members rallied on June 30, the day their contract expired.
Come to SEIU's Strategy Committee
meetings on the first and third
Tuesdays every month at 5:30 p.m.
Represent your agency's issues, share
information, discuss concerns, and
help develop our action plan.
Fo r mo re i nfo contact Do n n a dathaT““
at 503-581-1505, x 140 (1-800-452-
2146) or at glathard@opeuseiu.org
Marion County members vote on their tentative contract agreement -
one that includes fully paid health care, wage and step increases, and
improvements in language. Participation was critical in getting more
than the boss wanted to give. Members held weekly rally/barbecues,
circulated petitions, and wore stickers to pressure county commissioners.
SEIU Local 503, OPEU - STRONGER TOGETHER
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