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Vision to Action!
SEIU Local 503, OPEU
PO Box 12159, Salem, OR 97309-0159
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also strive to improve corid^ions'for their
clients as well. According to bargaining team
member Erin McIntosh, "Training will be
crucial this time, because if we get better
trailing, we are able tb deliver higher quality
care to our clients."
Contract Campaign 2005 Begins!
by Leslie Frane, Executive Director, SEID Local 503, OPEU
Ninety percent of our members will be bargaining new contracts in 2005. Over the past
few months, SEIU Local 503 members who work for the state, in both the DAS and OUS
bargaining units, and SEIU homecare workers have begun planning for the tough
contract fights ahead of us.
DAS and OUS:
State workers,have held two bargaining
conferences so far. At the f i rst, we adopted
the theme^Refuse to Choose" to highlight
our determination both to win-raises and to
protect'our health insurance. DAS mpfhoers
elected their bargaining team members: Team
chair Greg Ledbetter (DCBS), Anne Webb
(Revenue), PhillMewtuSh (DHS), Rochelle
Begin (Employment), Randy Davis (Oregon
State Hospital), George Goldman (OYA), Cory
McIntosh (DMV), and Rod Stein (0DF,W).
At the second bargaining conference, we
analyzed the result^of our contract surveys.
Winning back Our steps was the top-priority
on the wage front? ^However, bargaining
delegates recognized that all workers are
struggling to keep up with increases in
thelr familles^xpense^. in the words of
Frank Ryals, a bargaining delegate from
Employment, "The important things that /
Everyone needs are costing a lot more
these days, so all state workers need a *
Cost-of-living increase - and the step
increases they were promised when they
were hired. In order for ourcontract to
be acceptable, we need both."
The Challenge:
OUS also elected a strong bargaining team,
composed Of Team chair Maggie Neef (OSU),
Star Holmberg (U of Q)? Sophia Smolen (¿OU),
Michael Q'Coqnor (EOU), Keith Carlton
(WOU), Merrill Frink (OIT), and Jennie"
Rowland (OSU).
Homecare:
State economists are predicting another big
budget deficit for 2005. Winning good
contracts will not be easy. We are putting
together regional strategy groups tGKhelp
plan the campaign to put pressure^ the ‘
state. The strategy groups' fir^t challenge will
be to plan worksite-based activities’ to
Support our DAS bargaining team on
December 6, the first day of fdce,-to-face
negotiations with the’statd. **
The bargaining'CQnference-.j^r homecare .
workers will take place on November 13. t
To prepare, homecare workers are meeting
throughout the state to. elect regional IS
bargaining team rqpresentatfy^s.-and to
disGuSs idj^as for contract- proposals,
^proving.employees' health insurance,
winning family^overage, and.protecting our
hard-won-Workers' Compensation benefits
are key issubs. iAs ^ays, homecare worke^
In this Issue...
Statewide Officer Election Results . .2
Long fought victory for DMV...........2
Lobby Days........................................... 2
Worksites "Purple Up" ....................... 3
Portland Public Schools' Victory .. .4
Message from the President............. 4
General Council Album .. .inside flap
When it comes to health care, members are
equally determined to protect fully-paid
family health insurance premiums and to
avoid increases in out-of-pocket costs:
OUS/DAS Integration: A central table
for a stronger voice
For ten years, We have been trying to
re-unite, DAS and OUS bargaining, since we
have more power together than separately. ,
Now, for the first time since the legislature
spun off the higher education system from
.the DAS unit in 1995, we may have&ggj
opportunity to bargain wages and benefits
for both groups at a central table. Bargaining
delegates are committed to achieve this goal.
CRISIS AT THE PARRY CENTER: Labor Commissioner Dan Gardner, and Representatives Jeff Merkley and
Diane Rosenbaum joined members at a press conference this month to bring attention to a crisis in chil
dren's care at The Parry Center, run by Trillium Family Services. Trillium is refusing to address the issue of
high staff turnover and is insisting on a three-year wage freeze.
SEIU Local 503, OPEU - STRONGER TOGETHER
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