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