PRESIDENT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DUTIES OF OFFICE: The Executive Director serves as the chief administrative officer of the
Union and is responsible for carrying out the policies of the union as established by the SEIU
LOCAL 503, OPEU Board of Directors. This includes oversight of programs and employment of
staff for collective bargaining, grievances and unfair labor practices, internal and external
organizing, politics and benefits as well as overall administrative support, including financial
and clerical programs.
DUTIES OF OFFICE: Presides at all meetings ofithe General Council, Board and Executive
Committee. Sets the Board meeting agenda and acts as the Board administrator. Chief
spokesperson for the union. Attends and represents the union at all appropriate national and
regional meetings. Chairs the union's Grievance Appeals Committee. Coordinates the activities
of the District Directors and Assistant DDs. Represents the union at the Legislature and in ballot
measure campaigns, in conjunction with the Executive Director and the Political staff.
J
Randy Davis
Leslie Frane
Joe DiNicola
Mark Gronso
ODOT, 26 years
District 6, Local 730
Executive Director, SEIU Local 503 OPEU, 2.5 years
Oregon Dept, of Revenue, 18 years
District 2, Local 150
ODOT, 23 years 4 months
Districts, Local 730
District 2, Staff
As Executive Director, I've
demonstrated the leadership
our union needs during
these tough times:
[Candidates were instructed
to respond in the
questionnaire format, with
both question and answer
appearing. This candidate
instead submitted his
statement in the
following format.]
• I have the courage to
stand up to management;
• I work 24-7 to empower
our members;
• I have the strategic judgment to fight smart.
I have been a Union activist for over 26 years; I
started out as a member activist in Chapter 8, in
District 8 of OSEA (Oregon State Employee
Association) in 1978. OSEA was the parent organi
zation to the now SEIU Local 503/OPEU. I have
held several offices with in the Union and have
been on several standing committees, I have been
bargaining delegate and/or alternate, General
Council Delegate and/or alternate. I was the ODOT
Coalition Chair for several years. I also was the
ODOT Local 730 President for 11 years. The
biggest and most important qualification I have, is
that I am a dues paying Union member who truly
believes that our Union members come first!
Over the years I have taken numerous trainings;
Shop steward training, Union Stewards Training,
Leadership training, different types of bargaining
training, interest based bargaining, collaborative
Bargaining, (RBO) Relationship by Objectives. I was
a member of the flying squadron during Both
strikes. In 1987,1 coordinated The Tillamook area.
In 1995,1 was a member of the Oregon Public
Employees Union Central Bargaining Team.
To organize our membership into the largest and
most powerful group of Union organizer, in the
history of Oregon. Representing our membership
to the level that they want and that they deserve
while getting a worker friendly legislature no mat
ter what other groups do or want. I don't care
what party they belong to as long as they are
worker friendly.
By hiring and training qualified staff, in contract
interpretation and enforcement, contract bargain
ing, FLSA, BOU and internal Union organizing. By
assigning qualified Union staff to work with and
train the membership in all aspects of their Union
contracts, and how they can enforce them by
working together as a group. If the Executive
Director hires qualified employees and gives them
sound direction in what the expectation are and
then supports them fully, this organization will run
efficiently.
If elected, I will work with our other elected
officials to lead our union toward better contract
standards, more member participation, and a. .
stronger voice for members in our worksites and
in politics.
.. . .
Collective Bargaining:
I've served as co-chief bargainer in DAS and home
care bargaining, and I've advised the chief bargainers
in most of our other bargaining units.
I've negotiated over 100 contracts during my
sixteen years with SEIU.
Contract Administration:
I have extensive experience handling grievances
and arbitrations and training staff and members
in those areas. However, while I respect the
grievance process, I believe that organizing
members in the workplace is equally important.
Addressing worksite problems swiftly and
effectively enhances the union's credibility and
motivates participation.
Internal/External Organizing:
I'm completely committed to building a member-
driven union. That means supporting, training, and
recognizing our stewards and other leaders. I
developed the "New Leadership Academy," in
order to mentor a new generation of leaders who
can help shoulder the burden currently carried by
our dedicated long-time activists.
Under my leadership, we've increased the number
of internal organizers so they can focus more
intensively on the worksites they represent.
We've hired "project organizers" to deal with crises,
in order to avoid re-assigning staff whenever
emergencies hit. I've also overseen successful
union elections that have brought over 2000 new
workers into our union.
Political Activity:
Despite difficult elections and legislative sessions,
we've broadened our members' participation in
lobbying and electoral work. Now, we are working
hard to hold elected officials accountable to their
campaign promises. I've tenaciously defended our
PERS benefits, and I'm proud of our decision to
withhold endorsements from legislators who voted
against our interests on PERS last session.
I feel as a whole we have started to let our
membership down. We have prioritized our goals
and our resources because of outside pressure,
instead of for our memberships best interest. If we
can't convince our membership of our goals, then
we should be willing to go with their wishes, not
Communications:
our own agendas.
Fiscal Management:
My main goal is to put the dues paying members
We've improved the quality of our publications
and website during my tenure. And, we're taking
needed steps to devote resources to improving the
image of public employees in the media.
Along with the Finance Committee, I oversee our
union's $14 million budget.
Staff Supervision:
first.
While I never forget that the members are the
union, I respect the critical role that staff play in
furthering the union's goals. That respect underlies
all of my actions as a supervisor.
• Member since 1986 •
Corporation Tax Auditor •
Revenue Local President
• Steward • General Council
Delegate • District Director,
Statewide Board • Executive
Board Member* Bargained
DAS Central Table 2000-
2002 contract*Organized Worksite actions• Built
Coalitions • Phone-banked • Lobbied • Marched •
Rallied • Picketed »Testified »Activist
Other union experience:
I monitor Oregon Investment Council decisions as
an SEIU Capital Steward. OIC manages $40+ billion
in members' pension assets. I make sure corporate
executives and pension investments meet high
standards of accountability. Our pension dollars
must be managed solely for the benefit of members.
I communicate with Locals and Districts all over
Oregon about anti-worker politicians' illegal
"reform" and $9 billion theft of PERS assets. All
our members must get the pensions they are
promised. I work to protect our pension benefits.
If the PERS contract is only smoke and mirrors, no
Oregon contract will be safe for workers. A deal IS
a deal.
Why / am seeking this office:
We must and we can win for workers. We face
many difficult issues and fierce fights are ahead.
Local 503 won't achieve our Union's goals for fair
contracts with benefits, and dignity and respect on
the job, with only 10% or 15% participation. I
confront worksite problems like yours every day.
While Revenue local President, our membership
increased by 75%; two dozen two-cent contributors
turned into 140, and those numbers continue to
grow. Whether we're talking about Homecare,
Public Employees, Private Non-Profits or Nursing
Homes — we need every one of our members to
get in the game. I plan to win for workers by
involving more SEIU Local 503 members every day
and at every level.
Goals during the term of office:
• Defend quality, affordable healthcare for our
members. • Elect worker-friendly legislators. •
Hold elected officials accountable. • End
Kulongoski's wage freeze. • Build stronger commu
nity coalitions. • Grow our Union by organizing
new workers. • Demand respect for our members
and a voice on the job.
Biggest single issue the union is facing:
Skyrocketing healthcare costs threaten to strangle
our future wages and benefits. Wage freezes and
takebacks are wrong.
How I would propose to resolve it:
We must: • Elect legislators, Governors and
national leaders who stand up for workers. • Roll
back irresponsible corporate giveaways. • Show
how our healthcare fight helps everyone win. •
Build strong coalitions. • Focus on leading our
communities. • Win with the help and support
of our families, friends and neighbors. • Stand
together to fight for fair contracts.
Other information:
We are all in this together. When you vote 'joe
DiNicola for President," you can count on me to
work with you every day to build a stronger and
more effective Union.
PAGE 2
SEIU Local 503, OPEU-STRONGER TOGETHER
Qualifications for this office:
Qualifications for this office:
Vice President SEIU Local
503, OPEU 2000-Present,
V.P. ODOT Local 1997-2000,
Steward 1992-Present, Chief
Steward 1995-Present,
Picket Captain 1995 Strike.
Other union experience:
Local 503 Board 2000-Present, 503 Executive
Committee 2000-Present, 503 Finance Committee
2000-Present, 503 Staff Screening 2001 -2003,
ODOT Coalition Bargaining 1999, SEIU MPO 2000-
Present, NASHTU Panelist 2000, LERC Summer
School 2001, 28 LERC U-LEAD Credits, Leadership
Level I and II, Member United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners, 1972-1980.
Why I am seeking this office:
As Vice President of Local 503 the past two terms I
feel I have gained the knowledge and experience
necessary to move the local forward by listening to
our membership's concerns and to help all workers
gain the respect and dignity they deserve in the
workplace.
Goals during the term of office:
To see 90% of our coworkers vote in all elections.
If we don't show up at the polls we won't win.
When we win we can improve our working lives
by bringing back a decent family wage. The labor
movement and SEIU in particular have the ability
to move politically and win for working families.
To see the mentorship programs in 503 move
forward with particular tough grievances or
worksite issues, utilizing more Project Coordinators
and decreasing the member to organizer ratio so
the organizers aren't spread so thin.
Biggest single issue the union is facing:
We must win acceptable DAS and OUS contracts
at the bargaining table next year with a smart
negotiation strategy. If a good contract settlement
can not be obtained I truly believe we must ALL
stand together collectively and withhold our labor
walking united on the picket lines. Right now
everyone must prepare economically for this
possibility to make us all stronger together.
How I would propose to resolve it:
By mustering some political muscle against a
Governor we elected that totally betrayed us in
the last contract negotiations. We need to have
many more Lobby Days next year at the legislature
getting members to talk one-on-one with their
legislators.
We must proudly identify ourselves in our
communities as members of Local 503 when we
are participating in our many and varied
community volunteer programs. We must project
a positive image to the public to prove we are
providing the best quality public services for the
money and no outsourcing or contracting-out of
our jobs can compete with our skill, talent, and
dedication to our jobs.
Other information:
I will work hard as possible to represent you to the
best of my ability.