Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The 503 voice. (Salem, OR) ????-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2007)
What Members Do Every m em ber o f SEIU Local 503, OPEU knows we stand together to negotiate contracts and raise standards fo r workers. Members stand together to win better wages and w orking conditions. Members stand together to defend contract rights. A full busload of members from Eastern Oregon (pictured with Representative Bob Jenson/R-Pendleton) traveled five hours to talk to legislators about the skills, experience, and dedication that enable them to provide high quality care to the severely disabled residents who live at Eastern Oregon Training Center. W hen services to Oregonians are threatened... SEIII members act fast SEIU member activism is a key reason why, two months after issuing his budget, the Governor reversed his stance and took the proposal to shut EOTC off the table. It's also why federal funding for county services will likely be extended for at least one more year. These two examples illustrate the difference it makes when members step up and speak out on behalf of our clients and communities. Members unite to raise standards In state government, on university campuses, in local governments and private non-profit agencies, members fight fo r dignity and respect. Members unite to raise standards and win better contracts for nursing home workers and childcare and homecare providers. It doesn't matter what kind o f work you do or where you live. From Prineville to Pendleton, Ashland to Astoria, from Clackamas County to Klamath Falls, "When you take one o f us on, you take all o f us on." by Joe DiNicola, SEIIl Local 503, OPEU President Members also know that it takes more than sitting at a bargaining table to improve the lives o f workers and working families. Every legislative session, members fill the Capitol w ith purple and talk to legislators one on one. Members make sure elected officials from city councilors to county commissioners, from state representatives to United States Senators to the Governor all understand that we are the workers who make Oregon work. Members defend public services Members help everyone understand the true cost o f closing a facility o r shutting down public services and how that hurts every Oregonian. Members know that every Oregonian counts on the services we provide, whether it's Driver and M otor Vehicles, Oregon Department of Transportation, the Department o f Human June Mazzei, who helps EOTC residents w ith daily activities, explained that "(this) is about our clients, but it's also about not closing down a very successful facility and starting tw o other facilities west o f the Cascades." SEIU Local 503 members from Oregon's counties are taking action to protect county services and hundreds o f jobs. The law that provides federal dollars to counties that lost revenue when National Forestland was removed from the tax rolls, expired in 2006. SEIU members have been working hard to convince Congress to reauthorize the legislation. All 16 libraries in Jackson County closed April 6. To date, we have petitioned state and federal legislators; met with Congressional representatives; testified before the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee; and w ritten letters to the editor and guest editorials. Four SEIU Local 503 members went to Washington, DC (Amy Blossom and Buck Eichlerfrom Jackson County, Terry Yantis from Curry County, Terry Drever- Gee from Baker County and Aimee W ilson from the SEIU Oregon State Council.) Buck Eichler from Jackson County says, "The sweetest part of our w hirlw ind trip was learning on the flight back, that our bill passed the House. Jackson County Commissioner, Dave Gilmour, said we were instrumental in picking up the votes needed to get the bill passed. There is now a possibility o f a one to five year extension o f the tim ber payments." As we wait fo r w ord from Washington, members in Jackson, Curry and Josephine counties are w orking to pass local levies to provide a safety net if the federal funding is not continued. Joe Members stand together D '^ d e n t w ith nursing home workers in Lincoln City, Medford and M ilton Freewater who provide quality care for some o f the most vulnerable Oregonians and deserve respect fo r the w ork they do. Members help every Oregonian understand that homecare workers provide services and quality care that clients count on to be able to remain in their homes and live with dignity. Members stand together with childcare workers who make it possible for Oregonians to go to work every day, confident their children are safe and well-cared for. Members do what it takes to win big for workers It doesn't matter if elected officials w ork in Salem or in Washington, DC. Members go anywhere and talk to anyone and everyone to help build a better future fo r every working family. Every day, members talk to co-workers, neighbors, friends and families about what matters to all workers. SEIU Local 503, OPEU members take on the big fights at the ballot box and we win. When workers at the Eastern Oregon Training Center (EOTC) learned that the Governor's budget included a plan to close their facility in Pendleton, they sprang into action. They organized a lobby effort that involved nearly twenty-five SEIU members catching a bus to Salem at 4:30 a.m. to meet with legislators. They also wrote letters, made phone calls, and signed petitions. George Harwood, a nurse at the training center, reminded legislators that EOTC residents have severe developmental disabilities, and that many have lived at EOTC fo r their entire adult lives. He urged legislators to recognize the impact that closure w ould have on residents who, by the nature o f their disabilities, "don't handle change very well." Services or libraries in Jackson County, Beaverton and Baker County. Members find creative ways to get their point across at selective salary presentations. Mental Health Specialists (MHS) from Oregon State Hospital came up with the theme, "MHS workers are riding out of town." Where we work, at the Capitol and in the streets, SEIU Local 503, OPEU members do what it takes to win big.for workers. Find out what you can do to help. Talk to any steward, any local officer or any organizer about what you can do to add your voice and make a difference. "When you take one o f us on, you take all o f us on!" SEIU Bargaining Team Chair Cory McIntosh speaks out! This may be a test - we’re holding firm On March 6, 2007, management gave us their opening economic offer for the DAS and OUS contracts. Based on that proposal, it's clear that they do not respect the w ork o f our members. The offer was a 1 % raise in October o f 2007 and another 1% raise in October o f 2008. On health insurance, they offered full timers fully paid health premiums, but only until January 1,2009. After that, if medicai insurance premium rates go up by more than 8%, we w ould either have to start paying fo r our premiums, o r else give up or postpone the one percent raise! Now that the economy is recovering, it's insulting for the State to offer us cost of living adjustments (COLA's) that are less than 1/3 o f the expected inflation rate. As chair o f the DAS Bargaining team, I can tell you that we are holding firm to our core economic proposals. They are: ■ A COLA that keeps up w ith the Consumer Price Index (CPI) -w hich is the best indicator o f the actual inflation rate. This is the tim e fo r us to pull together and show our com m itm ent to making progress fo r ourselves and our families. Turn out fo r your Regional Strategy meetings and bargaining sessions whenever possible. Show management that we're extremely serious and united for a fair contract. ■ A fixed m inim um dollar am ount on the COLA so that low-wage workers see a real increase in their paychecks. Management's proposal did not even address the Union's living wage proposal, which w ould require the State to pay all full-tim e state workers enough to put them above the gross income lim it fo r food stamp eligibility fo r a fam ily o f four. ■ A living wage for all full-tim e State employees so that no full-tim e worker earns less than the gross income lim it fo r food stamp eligibility fo r a fam ily o f four. When the state was having economic problems, our members voted to accept a wage freeze in the 2003-2005 contract. ■ Maintainence o f our current medical insurance, w ith fully-paid premiums for full tim e employees and no increased costs fo r part tim e rs . PAGE 4 Perhaps this offer is a test. A test o f how serious we are about our com m itm ent to our members, to the work we do, and to the need to raise the pay o f our lowest paid workers. SEIU Local 503, OPEU - STRONGER TOGETHER Cory McIntosh Bargaining Team Chair, Salem w ho supports the com puter needs o f all Driver and M o to r Vehicle Service's employees APRIL 2007
