Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The 503 voice. (Salem, OR) ????-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2006)
SEIU members endorse... HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: A big step forward for safe staffing levels in nursing homes by Judy Byers. Judy works at Evergreen Windsor Manor, a nursing home in Salem. THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE SEIU members who work in nursing homes see the effect of unsafe staffing levels on residents and staff every day. Last summer, SEIU nursing home members decided overwhelmingly that this was the most im portant issue we could work on. Our union decided to bring this forward with a ballot measure and that effort raised the awareness of elected officials and the public. Many officials recognized the need to look at nursing home staffing levels, including Governor Kulongoski. Governor Kulongoski thought that there might be a way that our union, the nursing home industry and his office could work together to find a solution. He formed a Commission that included representatives from our union (Carlotta Davison, a Certified Nurse's Aide from Pendleton, and Leslie Frane, our Executive Director); the nursing home industry; the legislature; advocates for seniors and people w ith disabilities; and the Governor's office. Carlotta Davison and Leslie Frane represented all of us workers on the Commission. Carlotta did an awesome jo b of telling the Commission what a nursing home worker really does and how hard it is to not be able to meet our residents' needs. Residents need nursing home workers to be there for them - to hold their hand, read a book or a Bible scripture. In between this, they need us to take them to the commode, serve them juice, and move them. And often, we're taking care of nine other residents at the same time. When our union took on this fight, I wanted to be a part of it. I got involved because of an incident where my sister-in-law Carol, who is a Nurse's Aide, was left in charge of 25 residents because two co-workers were sick. The residents felt abandoned and Carol was upset that she couldn't do her jo b properly. THE COMMISSION AGREES MORE HOURS NEEDED The Commission has recommended that CNA hours per resident per day be increased from 1.65 to 2.46 hours. This will result in a Endorsed Candidate Cities 3 5 Howard Owens Peter Buckley Cavejunction, Grants Pass 6 8 9 M ike M oran Medford Paul Holvey A rnie Roblan Eugene, Veneta 10 Jean Cowan Blatchley, Depoe Bay, Elmira, Lincoln City, Mapleton, Newport, Siletz, Toledo, Waldport, Yachats 11 Phil Barnhart Dist. smaller resident-to-CNA ratio for every shift. It means CNAs will be more able to give care to residents. These residents are our heritage - our mothers, fathers, and our grandparents. These are human beings we're treating. They're not numbers. One day most of us will need some kind of nursing home care. It could be something unexpected like an accident or fall. We want CNAs to be there to take care of us. Safe staffing levels mean we can provide care safely and have personal time with each resident so they feel valued. I feel good about this. I know it won't happen overnight but I hope it happens by the tim e I need nursing home care. W ith all of us standing together and supporting safe staffing levels, I feel positive that it will change. ■ Next Steps: Funding is key to getting safe staffing levels. We will need to mount a powerful campaign at the State Capitol this winter and spring so that funding for Medicaid reimbursements is in the budget. We'll also need to work with legislators to pass a law that incorporates the Commission's recommendations and changes minimum staffing levels in Oregon's nursing homes. They recognize my walk and smile. Knowing I will stop, reassure, provide comfort. Depending on what's needed, I bring hope, wipes, relief, Kleenex. Small things. Priceless. That's what a CNA does. Rosanne Lesueur Certified Nurse's Aide (CNA), Porthaven Care Center in Portland 12 14 ■ l6 17 18 19 20 21 1 22 23 24 25 26 27 29 30 31 Members meet with our international union President Andy Stern to share ideas about what's happening in America and how we can turn it around. Andy Sieni shares thoughts tram his new bonk “A Country that Works” with membois SEIU International President, Andy Stern, was recently in Portland to promote his new book A Country that Works. He met w ith members to talk about what's wrong in America today - why we are working longer and harder and losing ground. In the book, Andy shares much of his personal story, talks about Change to Win and why we took the radical step of breaking away from the AFL-CIO, and shares his ideas on what we can do to get America back on track. After dinner and discussion, members joined Andy in making phone calls to help elect worker-friendly legislators. To get a copy o f Andy's book, go to www.acountrythatworks.com. IK.. ^tbeRKb"^ ’,h“ C°un,rynat K'<bG',Rich lericaßacfc( ^orks J ^ n c fy S te ELECTION NOTICE: District 3N Assistant District Director SEIU Local 503, OPEU - STRONGER TOGETHER PAGE 3 Coos Bay, Dunes City, Florence, Lakeside, North Bend, Reedsport Brownsville, Coburg, Creswell, Eugene, Sodaville, Springfield Elizabeth Terry Beyer Springfield Chris Edwards Sara Geiser Dan Thackaberry Jim Gilbert Brian Grisham Eugene, Junction City Connie Garcia Brian L Clem Independence, Monmouth, West Salem Betty Komp Jason Brown Sal Peralta Chuck Lee Lee Coleman Tobias Read Chuck Riley David Edwards Brad W itt Corvallis Eastern Marion Co., Lebanon, Sweet Home Silverton and Molalla Aumsville, Salem, Turner Salem Brooks, Gervais, Salem, Woodburn Dallas; western Polk and Benton Counties McMinnville Keizer, Newberg, St Paul Gaston, Sherwood, Wilsonville Beaverton, Portland Cornelius, Forest Grove, Hillsboro Cornelius, Hillsboro, North Plains Astoria, Clatskanie, Columbia City, Prescott, Ranier, Scapoose, St Helens, Verononia 33 34 35 36 37 M itch Greenlick Beaverton, Portland Suzanne Bonamici Beaverton Larry Galizio M a ry Nolan Bev Backa Portland 39 40 41 42 M ike Caudle Canby and Oregon City 43 44 Chip Shields Portland Tina Kotek Jackie Dingfelder Portland 45 46 47 49 51 1 57 i 59 Beaverton, King City, Tigard, Portland Durham. Rivergrove, Tualatin, West Linn, King City, Lake Oswego Gladstone, Johnson City Dave Hunt Milwaukie, SE Portland Carolyn Tomei Diane Rosenbaum Portland Maywood Park, Portland Ben Cannon Portland Jeff M erkley Rob Brading Ryan A Olds Portland rn Nominations open October 23,2006. Close November16,2006,5 pm at Salem HQ. Contact Bobbie Muncrief. Ashland, Jacksonville, Medford, Phoenix, Talent Fairview, Gresham, Troutdale, Wood Village SE Portland, Clackamas, Damascus, Boring, Estacada, Carver, Springwater, Clarkes, Viola, Beavercreek, Fishers Mill, Logan, Redland, Oakland Suzanne Van Orman Tonia St. Germain Jim Gilbertson Hood River, Sandy La Grande, Elgin, Heppner The Dalles, Madras, and John Day |
