Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The 503 voice. (Salem, OR) ????-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2006)
DAS & OUS 2007 Contract Campaign Kick-off l i Saturday, July 22,2006 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Wilsonville Holiday Inn 25425 SW 95th Ave, Wilsonville CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF IN HIS OWN WORDS “ I think the plan (the Oregon Health Plan) is dead... I don't think it's governments role to deliver or pay for health care.9’ "Governor candidates vary on how to deal w ith the Oregon Health Plan." Associated Press, A p ril 23, 2006. In a debate before the Portland City Club, Saxton opposed new regulations on Oregon's payday loan industry, which in some cases can charge annualized interest rates that top 500%: “ I think the market is the better answer.” Statesman Journal, M a y 1, 2006, "After failed bid in 2002, Saxton retools his image." “ I recently proposed an alternative - 1 even called it "radical" - solution, namely reconstituting PERS by either terminating the existing PERS system and starting over, or by terminating the contracts of Oregon's public employees should their unions refuse to negotiate a new contract.” • surveys • elect our central table bargaining team • discuss strategy This conference is for DAS and OUS bargaining delgates, Local officers, stewards, CATs, SEIU Board Members. A ll other members are welcome to attend. W hat are we going to do in the November election? 2:30 p.m. Members will discuss on what's best for our union. For this portion o f the agenda we will be joined by members from Homecare, Local Government, Private Non-Profit, Nursing Homes, & Child Care. General Council HowlSeeR... M y first General Council in 2000 was overwhelming to me — coming into this huge hall filled with people, talking about a ll kinds o f issues. Now I fin d it exhilarating and fun to hear so many different points o f view from so many people. It's democracy in action! Editor: J. Szliske szl@opeuseiu.org S E IU LOCAL 503 Salem Headquarters 1730 Commercial St. SE PO Box 12159 Salem, OR 97309-0159 503.581.1505/ 800.452.2146 Fax: 503.581.1664 Field Offices Portland: 503.408.4090 / 800.527.9374 Bend 541.385.8471 / 800.832.0593 Corvallis: 541.766.4968 Eugene: 541.342.1055 / 800.521.3446 Medford: 541.779.4324/ 800.452.7965 Pendleton: 541.276.4983 / 800.452.8146 This is m y fifth General Council. I think it's a way to do something, get involved, fin d out about how our union works. It's amazing! We're a member-run orgapization and this process is vital. Russ G ilbert, ODOT in 'HoodRiver, checks weight . ..size and safety o f commercial v e h ic lfe I've been to a few General Councils,. It's very exciting. There are tons o f interesting, diverse people. We talk about big issues. It's an opportunity to participate by jo in in g committees and speaking up a t committee meetings or on "the floor." General Council is an im portant process that we can all participate in. Susan Johnson is an Engineering Technician at the City o f Wilsonville, | HI GENERAL COUNCIL Lane County Community College Eugene, August 23 - 26 PAGE 4 _____ By David E. Mears, OSU Transportation Services What does this silly story have to do with the Union? takes constant volunteer efforts by many dedicated union? members to, keep a full box on everyone's counter. The worksite is riddled w ith an onslaught from pollen, cold and flu bugs. Our union contract negotiating team volunteers long hours to free your contract o f managerial mucus. It is a thankless, stressful, undertaking and they need yotir support. The benefits wé all derive from our union have a lot in common w ith that box o f tissue. They are taken fo r granted and go unnoticed unless the box is empty. Or we have a runny nqse. A living wage, fully paid health insuranGe. jo b security, workplace safety, and a quality work environment are sitting on our counter every day. Secured I for us by union members lon'g since retired That's also a lie! They don't need your W p p o r t. YOU need THEIR support. They need'your encouragement and a small token of you rtim e. Wear a union button. Ask your eb-wbrkers to Wear one too. Attend a union meeting and1 offer a few minutes o f help. » t h e right thing to do, like covering your m outh when you cough. The other day, I noticed an empty tissue box on an office counter. I pointed it out, and the person behind the counter cheerfully replaced it w ith a full one. Not that I needed a tissue at that moment, or that the person who replaced the empty box had nothing better to do, or that I am always on 'tissue patrol.' I wouldn't,have even been aware that tissues were available at this counter if the box hadn't been empty. A full box w ould have gone unnoticed. ...did I mention retirement?... and written into regulations and contracts so everyone continues to benefit now and forever w ith out needing to give it another thought. It's a good feeling, isn't it? David Mears is a mechanic i B who keeps campus vehicles 1 / running smoothly at /v Oregon State University in Corvallis. Well, it's all a lieHThe h^rsh tru th is-that the benefits box empties quickly, and it Caroline M itch ell is a homecare worker from Bandon. Eugene Register Guard, June 9,2 005 , "Guest Viewpoint". The 503 Voice is published by SEIU Local 503, OPEU. Why I need a Onion L-R: At the Alamo are Steve Shumate (Homecare), Darlene Wright (Retired, DMV) Carlie Jackson (DHS), Brian Vogt (DHS), Jenny Garner (DHS), Lisa Donoho (staff), and Mary Springer (DMV). We are changing the world! Six SEIU 503 members and one staff member volunteered fo gd to Sah Antonio, Texas to lend their hands and heartsiiy . SEIU Local 5's effort to organize city;and county workers. Texas is a right-to-w ork state, and the fact that the city of San Antonio and the county will not agree to bargaining contract rights, as they have ip Houston, makes it y g r y ,, difficult for workers to have the leverage needed to make gains in th e ir workplace. Although the cost o f living in San Antonio is comparable to Salem, the workforce is paid much less fo r the same w ork done by many o f our members. The federal I m inim um wage o f $5-15 per hour remains the standard in Texas. Mary Springer, 3 volunteer organizer and DMV local member, reported,,"For qt least 10 hours a day fo r tw o weeks straight, we did house and worksite visits, general meetings and shift changes in over 100 degree weather. It was hard, arduous and emotional, but also gratifying. These workers make next to nothing and have no jo b SEIU Local 503, OPEU - STRONGER TOGETHER security o r protectioris." Local 503 members made a difference in changing the balance of power in Texas. They made great strides in gaining membership through this campaign that w ill help workers in San Antonio achieve the leverage they'll need to make real improvements. "The strength o f our union is directly related to the activity o f our members. Apathy leads to poverty," states Carlie Jackson, a volunteer organizer and member o f oyr DHS locefc/'lf we are to overcome our present circumstances, it is up to us as members to become involved. If we don't, we risk striding down the same road that Texas is on right now" They have a saying in SEIU Texas: "If you can change Texas, you can change the w o rld / We took this saying to heart and helped change the w orld one door knock and one worker at a time. To get involved as a volunteer organizer call Michael Alexander: 1-800-527-9374x418. JULY 20 0 6
