^O0S~
Nonprofit Organization
US. POSTAGE PAID
Permit No. 202
Salem, Oregon
PO Box 12159, Salem, OR 97309-0159
In this Issue...
Members win fairness on DAS/OUS contract
Legislative Update
We stood united and won for all
May 21 : Purple Reign in Salem . .2/3
Contract Settlements
Reached....................................................3
by Joe DiNicola, President SEIU Local 503, OPEU
Remember December? Six months ago, the
Governor told us that all state employees
would begin paying out-of-pocket for their
monthly health insurance premiums. He
didn't talk about the increased medical costs
that have been shifted to workers every year
in the form of higher co-pays. He didn't talk
about the increasing costs of prescription
drugs. He certainly did not mention the wage
and step freeze that we have endured for the
last two years. Instead, the Governor drew a
line in the sand.
The State and OUS followed up with their
initial contract proposals. Sure enough, they
called for small raises in both years of the
contract, only to be offset by hefty out-of-
pocket costs for insurance. Those proposals
amounted to a pay cut for almost every
member.
We responded with a very clear message. We
filled the halls of the Capitol and demanded
an end to health care cost-shifting. We took
to the streets for health care action days in
March. We turned out for informational
pickets in all corners of the state in April. On
May 21, we filled the streets of Salem with
purple and brought 5,000 members to the
Capitol mall in our March for Fairness.
We ALL started phoning Ted. On June 30th we
took to the streets again—over 400 members
rocked the Capitol rotunda and the front
...............................2
Nursing Home election updates... .4
page told the news'- the big stack of petitions
said we expected a real raise, not a raw deal.
What was the result? We held the line at
the DAS / OUS bargaining table on health
care premiums, because there will be no
out-of-pocket expense AND we can expect
cost-of-living raises in both years of our next
contract. Plus every worker in every job
classification can now plan on a new ninth step.
We won a fair contract with dignity and
respect for every one of our co-workers. We
protected everyone's health care; our least
paid workers will see a living wage minimum;
and the freeze will be thawed. Everyone who
sacrificed when times were tough will get
three steps during the next two years.
I would like to thank the bargaining team
members for their dedication and tenacity:
Greg Ledbetter (DCBS), Rod Stein (ODFW),
Leslie Frane (SEIU Local 503 Executive
Director), Rochelle Begin, (Employment),
Star Holmberg (UofO), Cory McIntosh (DMV),
Donna Glather (SEIU Local 503 Co-chief
bargainer), Maggie Neel (OSU), Phil Newton
(DHS), George Goodman (OYA), Randy Davis
(OSH), and Anne Webb (Revenue).
And I would especially like to thank you —
and all our fellow members for standing
together for fairness. You made it possible to
win a fair contract for all of us.
Notice of Elections .TT........... .4
Scholarship Winners ............................ 4
July 7,4:45 a.m.
We win!
We have reached a tentative agreement
and have successfully "Refused to
Choose." We have maintained our
health care benefits and won raises.
Additionally, we won on all three of our
fairness issues.
Here's how we won fairness:
■ Protected health care for
all employees, including
part-timers
■ Steps reinstated July 1,2005
■ 2% cost-of-living increases on
July!, 2005 and Dec. 1,2006
■ $50 floor so workers who earn
less than $30,000 per year get
the floor instead of 2%
■ Ninth step added to scale
■ Workers who lost two steps
will get one additional step
in the second year of this
contract
■ One more personal day
■ Selective salary increases for
workers in 33 classifications
99 From the first day of bargaining
we said we needed progress on
both wages and health care.
We met that goal, and we are
proud to recommend this
tentative agreement to our
members for ratification. 99
Greg Ledbetter
More than 400 members flooded into the Capitol rotunda at noon on June 30 to deliver United for
Fairness petitions to the Governor. People heard us from the basement to the fourth floor.
SEIU Bargaining Team Chairand a
consumer advocate at Department of
Consumer and Business Services.
SEIU Local 503, OPEU - STRONGER TOGETHER
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