Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The 503 voice. (Salem, OR) ????-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2006)
DISTRICT 1: District Director (4 positions available) Name Barbara Casey DHS Holly Fries Homecare Gina M. Santacroce DHS Donna Jo Stetzel DHS Joye Willman Homecare Why are you seeking this office, your goals? What are your qualifications for this office? .•__ Other unton expertence: I am a District Director and a strong advocate for members and SEIU goals. I am accountable and outspoken but focused. SDA2 stewards chair and Statewide chair of the DHS Labor/Management committee on CAPE, a Bargaining delegate and General Council delegate. Proudest title however is Member of SEIU 503. Why is easy, SEIU is the voice for working people, their issues. SEIU is the leading voice with Change To Win. Instead of doing the same old thing better SEIU is doing a new thing. I want to be part of that change. My goal is for SEIU to be bold and to continue to organize, continue to speak Truth in securing services for Oregon families and to collaborate with others. SEIU should not always be seen as "the hero" but "the host" to bring others along - gather the people and make them feel welcome. Locals are under representa tive at meetings. Relevancy to members is my issue. A DD must be the entire district voice. Visibility in our community - we need to pur ple up - at schools, churches, and stores. Oregon is conditioned to think labor is a separate entity. We are labor. Visibility at the Legislature, if we ignore politics, politicians ignore us. Will Labor Unions survive and will anyone care? SEIU and our goals are under attack - we have to mobilize the power of working families bringing stability and change to Oregon. Oh yes, we have a new Governor to elect... hmmm.l I will do it. I have done it - the phone banks, the lobby days, the pickets etc. I can ask questions respect fully and expect answers. I am a good steward of SEIU's energy, members and money. Since the inception of the homecare local, I have sat on the council of directors and previous bargaining team. I have spent the last two years on the statewide board as an assistant director. I feel I bring five plus years of union experience. As a leader of this organization I have not only taken part in Homecare but also organizing new Child Care workers. I also act as a steward for Homecare. I hold a position as district director for the Homecare Council. I'm seeking this office to help other homecare workers and get them to see how important forming an union is and what work we have to do together to make it easier for others. We have to all work together. In the last few years we have accomplished a lot but still have more goals to be accomplished. To make people more aware of the union and what it does to help everyone. To let people know that they all benefit from being part of the union. It doesn't matter what job they hold. To let others know we are in this together. I think getting more people to become members. Letting these people know that their opinions and voices count. It takes more than one or two people to get this accomplished. I worked with many political people in the military. I was the ombudsman for several different ships. When the men were over seas I helped their families. I worked with four different admirals as their liaison and attended functions when they couldn't because of other obligations. I learned that we have to fight and stick up for what we believe in. Current officer positions held: Assistant District Director for District 1, Vice-Chair of DHS sub-local 202. Current Statewide CAPE Secretary, Bargaining Delegate, General Council Delegate, and Steward. I attend all Board of Director Meetings. I participate and attend ALL bargaining, and political conferences. Attend ALL steward, chief steward, officer and district trainings and meetings. Conducted worksite contract language trainings through my DHS local, and currently serving as the DHS labor rep for the Statewide Food Stamp Steering Committee and various committees. I also phone bank, canvas, attend Lobby Days and Town Halls. Our health benefits, wages, and working conditions have been under constant attack. Our next Contract will be one of our toughest fights, especially for good health care. If we are to be successful we need strong, dedicated, and experienced union leaders. I meet these qualifications. My primary goals are internal organizing through strong union representation at every worksite, strong accountability of how our union dues are spent, effective communications with ALL members, and preparing NOW for our next contract My goals are to move our District One meetings to all viable areas so that each local, ODOT, ODFW, Homecare, Nursing Homes, DHS, and private-non profit all have access to our District leader ship. To share and receive information so that I can offer "doing good, rather than looking good" in our labor movement. I am committed and focused to enhance our District union movement and to have clarity of vision with honest intent to make it happen. Keeping good and affordable Health Care is the single biggest single issue just ahead of Wages, benefits, and working conditions. We can only be successful if we are strong, focused, and determined to be successful. I will dedicate myself to internal organizing because we are Stronger Together. My ability and commitment to articulate the necessary purpose in which we stand together in solidarity and loyalty, I am forging ahead toward a greater and more effective union. State Worker 10 yrs Social Worker 16 yrs (with no Retirement) Concerned Citizen Advocate for the disabled & Elderly populations Steward - 8 years Chair Sub local - 4years To keep the health care issue in the forefront and support a national Heath Care program that helps all US citizens. That we move quickly to join with other locals to support common issues - i.e. Health Care, pillaging of our retirement systems. Contractingout. Be a step ahead of what the State is trying to do, share Facts with public to help them make an informed choice that benefits workers & their families I believe issues must be brought to the local level. These issues must be presented factually so that public support can be gained - We must educate and inform to get the public support we want. District One Director; Assistant District Director; Current Homecare President; Chair, Homecare Bargaining Team; CAPE Board Member; Delegate to General Council 2000, 2002, 2004; Homecare Council 2000-Present; Active Steward - conflict resolutions; Attend Lobby Days At Capitol; Attend Ratification meetings and joint Contract meetings between Homecare and DHS; Represent union at New Member Orientations (Homecare) Chair, new member benefits committee; Restructure committee member representing Dist.1; CAPE C&B Committee, Chair; Elections committee 2004; Get Out the VOTE Phonebanking Homecare phonebanking; Homecare house visits My goal is to continue representing the members of SEIU 503, OPEU. I want to make sure that the members are connected, involved and To improve our communication with members and work to energize the involvement of every member in District 1. Welcome all new members coming into our union. I believe the Biggest issue for our members is Healthcare. I will continue to speak to the Legislature, give testimony, and work closely with Oregonians for Health Security, CAPE and the political process to help us all attain quality affordable Health care in Oregon. As a dedicated Union member and active team player, I will continue to encourage All members of SEIU 503, OPEU to participate in activities in their areas and in Salem to make our lives stronger by obtaining better benefits, a living wage, Healthcare for all, plus dignity and respect for our members every where in the State. member and the union as a whole do to come together as part of the Big Pictures. DISTRICT 1 : Assistant District Director (4 positions available) What are your qualifications for this office? Name Wanda Eickhoff Justice PAGE 2 Specials Coalitions Bargaining Delegate 2003, 2005; District 1 Labor Day Picnic Committee Chair 2005; General Council Delegate DOJ 2002, 2004; CAPE Committee Member 2002-2004; Northwest Labor Council Delegate 2002-2005; Secretary DOJ Local 137 2002- 2004; Steward 2001-2005; DOJ Labor management 2002- 2004; DCS Labor management 2005-present. Other union experience: As an activist I have participated in Lobby Days at the State Capitol and worksite actions. As a steward, I have won six level three grievances. Growing up in a union family I know the value and power of standing together in unity and solidarity. SEIU Local 503, OPEU - STRONGER TOGETHER Why are you seeking this office, your goals? I am seeking the office of ADD to represent the smaller agencies in my district to have a voice as we work for the future of 503. For the past three years I have attended all District 1 meetings and support the work of the DDs. Together we can increase the participation of members from all locals at the district level. Goals for your District? My goal for District 1 is to get more information to members in a timely manner to spark their interest in participating in actions with positive out comes for working families. Our strength is in numbers. By growing district member involvement our strength will bring results. Biggest single issue/how to resolve? Limited funding for public services due to an antique tax system will continue to impact working conditions as well as fuel increased drives for privatization in the next biennium. Educating mem bers and their families on the issues and the roles they have in the political process is vital to creating an Oregon that works. Change begins with us. Other info: My commitment whenever I hold an office or position on a committee is that I will attend and actively partici pate at every meeting on your behalf.
