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About The 503 voice. (Salem, OR) ????-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2004)
General Council 2004 DMV members win victory for examiners testing uninsured drivers by Sonya Reichwein, President, DMV Local 735 Since bargaining in 1997, we have been bringing up the issue of drive test insurance. Many DMV workers have been involved in accidents on drive tests. SAIF paid all of the drive examiner's medical bills and for lost wages. But workers hurt in drive tests without auto insurance could not easily get payment for pain and suffering and future wages. Management's "solution" to testing drivers without proof of insurance was a white lie known as the "Drive Test Insurance Certification Form." Applicants who usually did not own the car and were often only 16, provided self-certification of their insurance. Management admitted that about 13% of these forms were lies. They expected us to take a great personal risk by testing these drivers. They were instructing us to enable people to break the law by driving without insurance. DMV region manager contacted the Regional Chief Steward, Laura Zeilinga, to find out if we were serious. Management began to take notice. We have a plan and we persevere Resolutions at www.seiu503.org Members throughout Oregon are “Purpling Up” and sending a message of solidarity We planned to escalate the issue by having employees circulate petitions among customers during lunch hours. We hadn't decided whether we wanted to present these to Management admitted management or the that about 13% of these Governor or both, but we were excited about forms were lies. They organizing around expected us to take a the issue. On Wednesday, June 9, great personal risk by management contacted Victory DMV testing these drivers. a safety officer at They were instructing us members ODOT in compliance to enable people to with our contract. At the October 7 Labor/ They knew we were break the law by driving Management meeting serious. The safety without insurance. management shared the officer determined resuits of their study of that DMV's policy did £ drive test insurance. They not constitute a physical threat or hazard. determined that 91% of drive test We expected this, bài we did not give up. certification forms were accurate, with a 12% margin of error. They also met with Management agreed to collect data at Strong and insurance industry representatives about several field offices and check out the what would be the most accurate way to; , language validity of the self-certification form. We determine insurance coverage They encouraged members to make complaints Article 101.3 of our contract gives us the to ODOT's internal ethics office and I wrote announced that they were rewriting the right to refuse to do something we believe policies and that sometimeWNovember a letter to the head of DMV field services to be a safety risk under certain conditions. or December DMV would no longer accept explaining that it was unethical for them to We brought this up at Labor/Management self-certification forms. require employees to knowingly enable but they did not move on the issue. They customers to break the law. He did not This issue is very important to ow® only agreed to look into it. respond to several letters of protest from members who conduct drive tests. It is a me. Last month I forwarded nay letter to We pursued it as a safety issue because our victory - after the Deputy Director of DMV to contract language is strong and clear. Clint seven years of express concern at such a Holly, at the Gresham DMV field office, discussion, we blatant disregard of employee developed a "Notice to Supervisor" form. took action issues. She responded We got this out to our drive test examiners and we won! that they would with a request that they refuse to take have a response at drive test applicants without proof of their insurance, starting on June 14. Offices in y the October Labor/Management the South Region picked up on this and meeting. began threatening to use the form. The for dear contract (Goto the front page and click on the link to a pdf file.) campaign than before. We're hoping that standing up for a fair contract now will prevent the need to walk out later!" As we enter contract negotiations for state workers, many worksites are already gearing up for the campaign and sending a strong message to management and the Governor that we are united for a fair contract. Medford's DMV office has accomplished something that's never been done before. Their action was recently featured on the seiu503.org website. For the first time, their entire office is wearing purple! Members at the Self Sufficiency office in Medford are displaying purple balloons in every cubicle and wearing their “The Pendleton Department of Justice (DOJ) office is full-blown purple all the time," says Denise Bailey, Child Support Case Manager. Every Wednesday 100% of the members in this worksite wear purple. Every cubicle is. • purple with banners and fresh balloons. To show solidarity they've even decorated a large plant in the office with SEIU items l i ke whistlca and jjbbens.--Membcrs in thi s-- office have made personal commitments to their co-workers who are single mothers . that if a strike is necessary, they'll be there to support them. There are also jars on their desks where members collect strike fund contributions. purple shirts. Solidarity is the strongest weapon we have as a union - and it's especially important when we are bargaining our contracts. We showourstrengt h and un i ty b y w e ari ng purple or "purpling up" on designated days and decorating our work areas with purple Teddy bears carry the message We re ready, Teddy!" to Governor Kulongoski from DHS members in Portland. SEIU materials. How creative can your office or local get? Let us know by e-mailing your stories and pictures to szl@opeuseiu.org The DHS offic.es in Coos Bay-North Bend are having fun"with their efforts to "purple up" by making it competitive. The building that gets the most purple people each Wednesday wins a certificate. Yvonne | Smith and the members in Coos Bay- North Bend are literally "in this to win!" rii Barbara Casey's DHS office in Portland has adopted the theme "we're ready, Teddy" to let Governor Ted Kulongoski know we're preparing for a fight if necessary. Teddy bears with the slogan are on display in their worksite along with other purple items. Members at Employment's Central Office are donning T-shirts and displaying union pennants and flags in thpir cubi cles. Shelley Zander, Revenue Agent with Employment says, "People are much more involved in this contract Members in Employment are "purpling up" to send a strong message about our determination in this round of contact negotiations. m «P Statewide Office Election Results SEIU Local 503, OPEU s newly elected statewide officers are: Executive Director: Leslie Frane President: Joe DiNicola Vice-President: Nancy Padilla Treasurer: Linda Burgin Thanks to all members who voted and all candidates who put their names forward to serve our members as Statewide Officers. Our voices are heard at Lobby Days - Sign up for 2005 "Lobby Day was a very interesting and fun experience," said Judy Cooper from DHS, Hillsboro. "It was very well organized and we got great background information from the political team. We spoke to legislators who were both supportive and not - but the dialogue was always interesting. I would do ;this again and would absolutely recommend Lobby Day to other members." Judy Cooper is one of the more than 150 members from across Oregon Who participated in SEIU Local 503's 2003 member lobby program. 66 Every member ought to take the opportunity to d^this. It's challenging and exciting - a great way to get a sense of the political process. Editor: J. Szliske szl@opeuseiu.org 99 Judy Cooper Child-Welfare. DHS, Hillsboro "The 2003 program was a great kickoff, but we hope to make the program even stronger this year," said political director Arthur Towers. "This is a chance for workers to really make their voices heard." Legislators do not often hear from workers who deliver services on the front line. Lobby Day is an opportunity for members to share their personal experiences on the job, build relationships with legislators, and make a difference in our fight for fair contracts. The 2005 legislative session begins on January 10,2005. If you are interested in being part of the member lobby day program, contact Arthur Towers at 503-581-1505, ext 151. The 503 Voice is published by SEIU Local 503, OPEU. » Salem Headquarters SEIU LOCAL 503 Ä W* 1730 Commercial St. SE PO Box 12159 Salem, OR 97309-0159 503-581-1505 / 800-452-2146/ (Fax) 503-581-1664 OPEU Bend Field Office: 541-385-8471/800-832-0593 Corvallis Field Office: 541-766-4968 Eugene Field Office: 541-342-1055 / 800-521-3446 Medford Field Office: 541 -779-4324/ 800-452-7965 Pendleton Field Office: 541 -276-4983 / 800-452-8146 Portland Field Office: 503-408-4090 / 800-527-9374 www.seiu503.or| SEIU Local 503, OPEU - STRONGER TOGETHER PAGE 3
