Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The 503 voice. (Salem, OR) ????-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2008)
• To create better channels of communication between the members of the region and the Union to build activism, solidarity and strength. e Organizing the unorganized. Build membership and power by bringing people into the Union. I have been known to speak my mind openly, but I learned along time ago that if one doesn't speak his mind one will be I eft frustrated and resentful. g | I will utilize my skills to do the best possible job I can for the State, region, and locals. Thank you for your Support! Endorsed by Linda Burgin, SEIU Local 503 Secretary-Treasurer and Ann Lucas, Retiree. I have always believed that our freedom to express our ideas is truly at the heart of our Union. As a member of the Board of Directors, I will do all that I can to make this belief a reality for all our members. Deborra Ann Low Regional Seat 19 Corvallis OR 97330 Rosalie Pedroza Salem OR 97309 1 i I believe my personal commitment to the goals of SEIU qualifies me for this important office. An active member for over 16 years, I've served as a Local President, Vice President, Union Steward, Contract Action Team (CAT) member, and delegate to General Council. I've attended bargaining conferences, work site actions, rallies, and marches. I've volunteered countless hours to work beside other rank and file members doing phone banking, door-to- door canvassing, informational leafleting, and political lobbying, because I know the true meaning of "Stronger Together". 1I Offices held: ADD, Director, CAPE 16 years -Secretary-Treasurer and Chair, every Agriculture office, Secretary of AFS WOW Council, Statewide Secretary of DHS Local 200. General Council delegate - 10; 16 years on Marion, Polk, Yamhill Central Labor Council and AFL-CIO General Council delegate and COPE Boards, bargaining delegate for 10 contracts; steward 20 years. 2 27 । was elected by my District to serve on the Women's ” Council. I've attended Labor Education and Research Center (LERC) courses, and Pacific Northwest Labor History Association (PNLHA) conferences. I'm a 16-cents per hour CAPE contributor and participate in CAPE candidate endorsement interviews. A proud member of the Mid-Valley Recall Squad, I'm gathering petition signatures for a Recall election of our President to help restore solidarity after his unprecedented attempt to bust our Union from within. 3 & Women are the backbone of our Union and yet they hold the majority of the lowest paying jobs. Not only should we seek to increase their wages, but spearhead a movement toward reclassifying those currently doing the work of higher paid classifications. 4 I'm excited about the new structure of our Union. Building " our Union’s membership is an important goal, but finding innovative ways to encourage current members to be more engaged and empowered is equally important. 5 Our Union has suffered for nearly a year from the painful ” and costly attacks and law suits waged against us by our current, self-serving, statewide President. We must move past this sad history, rebuild solidarity and get back to the business of improving the working lives of our members along with their active involvement. 6 I believe all our members must have an equal opportunity ” to influence the decision-making, goals-setting and overall direction our Union will take in the near and distant future. (One member who works in the North Valley region) Oregon FairTrade Campaign & Cross Border Labor ” Organizing Committee working to build coalitions with workers across borders to fight free trade agreements. Mexican Solidarity Network working to protect the rights of indigenous people to live on and work their lands; Jobs With Justice. j Continue leading the way for workers rights and making ” our leaders responsive to working families; hold all candidates accountable to stand with us in our struggles and commit to changing the conditions that make those struggles necessary. Design world class services and work with leaders to make them happen. 4 Develop a working communication network. When members are informed, they will take action. Utilize technology to cross Local and industry lines and unite with each other to move programs that make all of us stronger by bringing awareness of the issues that are plaguing our members so we can strategize ways to address them. 5 Our survival as a political force. Fight Bill Sizemore who ” wants to silence our voices and other ballot measures that will deplete the services that make Oregon work; ensure that any worker who wants to join a union will have the right to do that; and expect that any candidate we endorse will get into the trenches with us or they won't get our support. 6 ■ I have marched in Seattle and Cancun against the WTO; walked indigenous lands of Mexico; and met with workers in Columbia and Venezuela and seen first hand their courage in the face of death and annihilation. I'm committed to bringing their spirit with me as we face the fights we have to face in the next 2 years. Rena M Chapel Beaverton OR 97005 1 TO MY FELLOW DHS AND REGION 19 UNION MEMBERS. My name is Rena Chapel. I work for Beaverton Child Welfare. I bring knowledge and a willingness to learn more with a commitment and personal responsibility to all my SEIU work. I am the Chair for DHS Sub-Local 216 Washington County (which includes Child Welfare, Self-Sufficiency, Vocational Rehabilitation, Seniors and Persons with Disabilities (SPD) and CCMU. I am currently serving on the Statewide CAPE Board, Member Rep Committee and SEIU Representative on the Values Operations Team Charter Committee. I chair the Beaverton DHS site union meetings and other DHS union meeting in our district. I chair DHS District 16 Labor/ Management Meetings and a member of the DHS State-Wide Labor/Management Committee. 2 I participate in phone banking, gathering petitions, developing new Stewards, organizing union worksite activities and campaigns. I have attended the SEIU board meetings and understand the decision making process. 3 We need to bring unity to the union. As a board member, I would be a part of that process. I would make sure members voices were heard and communicate SEIU board decisions back to the members. My vision for the future of our union is to get stronger, to encourage and educate our fellow members to play a bigger part and get involved. My goal is to reach out, relate and activate individuals in union activities. I would be your eyes and ears. This would include holding Region meetings in different sites and meeting with individuals in that area. g How do we deal with external and internal organizing? ™ Once we get the members, how do we keep them involved? My vision would be to make sure the union has enough internal organizers in place to help our new and existing membership. DECISIONS MADE TODAY WILL AFFECT US FOR YEARS TO COME. The Board of Directors has a tremendous responsibility to make sure policy decisions are implemented correctly. I am willing to make that commitment. 6 Regional Seat 17 Regional Seat 18 (Two members who work in the Greater Salem region) (One member who works in the West Salem/Polk County region) Randy Davis Farrell Hopkins Salem OR 97301 11 Member of Local 503 for 11 Keizer OR 97307 Trish (Black) Lutgen years and ** Steward for 5 years. General Council delegate in 2004 arid 2006. Institutions and Central Table bargaining delegate for the 2005-07 and 2007-09 contract negotiations. 3 I am seeking to be elected to the newly revised board of ” directors because I want the opportunity to work with a new board that guarantees all sectors of our local a voice. My goals for our local during my term: • To bring all of the sectors together to create unity and strength. • To focus our collective power to make positive change for all working people 4 My goals for the greater Salem region would be: ” • To create open lines of communication between the work sectors/region and the board of directors • To find ways to unite the various work sectors and their multiple work sites in order to create a greater sense of unity in our region 5 L I believe the biggest single issue facing our Union ” is the growing anti-union climate ideas that are being Salem OR 97310 1 h I have been a state worker for four years, ” and I'm currently the Chief Steward for the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). I have enjoyed standing up for my fellow workers at ODE, which includes the Oregon School for the Blind and the Oregon School for the Deaf. I feel that my greatest achievement to date was winning a cross agency (DAS Contract) grievance that gave State Retirees or anyone who terminated their July 1st COLA increase if they left prior to the inception of the new contract. 2 • 2007 Summer Institute for Women Leadership Academy Participant • Political issues at State Capitol i.e., Issue regarding the merging of the deaf & blind schools • Leadership trainings 3 I want to be a board member so that I may help maintain ” our strong union values and fairness for all. I want to do more! Such as unifying the 45,000 members on real issues such as health care reform, electing worker friendly legislators, and building power for working families. promulgated by big business, parts of the legislature, and some private citizens. To resolve this, I believe we must continue our good work through our political actions and our relentless pursuit to get fair minded and labor friendly legislators elected, and support legislation that will allow all people the right to be heard collectively. g : Many of you know me as an out spoken and ardent ” support of our many causes. My goals include engaging more members in the locals, continue/maintain quality healthcare for our workers, and a chance to work with activists beyond local 581. 5 Keeping our SEIU leaders and members unified to achieve ” our common victories. We all need to soul search and identify why we are here - we need to ask, "What is important to us?" We need to remember that we are here to help others, empowering them through education. Personal issues distract us causing us to lose focus on what is important - Achieving victories for the greater good. 1 As a member of the current board of directors (2006-2008), I hope to continue to serve you, the members of our union, in that capacity. I believe I was elected previously based on the strength of my experience as an activist, and for efforts I undertook on behalf of our membership. I strongly believe that it is critical for a board member to possess strong integrity and independence of thought. 2 । have served our members for a number of years now, ” not only as a steward, but also as vice-president and president for one of the largest sub-locals in the state (local 217, "DHS central office", with approximately one thousand represented members). I have represented our interests by opposing frivolous outsourcing efforts, I have a solid working relationship with state management and I am also proud to have helped craft a bargaining agreement with the state that ensured members retained their rights and protections while being moved into a new division (the statewide data center consolidation project, aka"CNIC"). a I am seeking reelection to the board of directors in “ order to continue to fight for the interests of our workers. It's not about political affiliation; it's about doing the right thing for working families. By working to safeguard and improve the lot of our workers, we also work to improve the life of all Oregonians, be it either in terms of hourly compensation, or in fighting to clean up a broken health-case system or defeat predatory lenders who seek to take advantage of us all. Lastly, and also of critical importance, is to work to be a responsible shepherd of union resources. The dues money our members pay is NOT a jackpot for anyone to plunder. Being a board member isn't just about fighting for workers, it's also about being responsible with the resources our members entrust us with. Thank you for considering me for this role.
